Super Écran
Encyclopedia
Super Écran is a Canadian French language
Category A premium television service that broadcasts nationally via satellite or cable subscribers. The network is owned by Astral Media
. It is the French language equivalent to The Movie Network
and Movie Central
.
.
Premier Choix had a difficult time attracting enough subscribers, as did a regional Quebec-based pay-television network called TVEC which was licensed in November 1982. Rogers Cable
in Toronto couldn't add the channel until September 1983, and Videon Cable in Winnipeg didn't have the additional channel capacity to add it until its dispute with Manitoba Telecom Services
(MTS) over ownership of the cable plant was settled.
In the early years, before RDS
and MusiquePlus
were licensed, programming consisted of 70% movies and 30% sports.
TVEC (Télévision de l'Est du Canada Inc.) was licensed in November 1982 as a regional French-language pay-tv channel from Quebec
, serving Quebec, eastern Ontario
, and Atlantic Canada
(New Brunswick).
In February 1984 these two channels combined to form Super Écran.
In the late 1980s, Premier Choix: TVEC was awarded licenses for French-language satellite-cable (specialty) networks. These include: Canal D
similar to A&E
and Canal Famille
, similar to Family Channel Canada.
The network was granted authorization for national distribution across Canada in 1996.
On October 30, 2006 Astral Media launched an HD
simulcast of Super Écran.
and Movie Central
however, the four multiplex channels do not have certain focuses or themes. Super Écran 1 and 2 are also made available in high-definition. A video on demand
service, Super Écran Sur Demande, is also offered for digital cable
and satellite subscribers, featuring programming from the Super Écran channels.
Canadian French
Canadian French is an umbrella term referring to the varieties of French spoken in Canada. French is the mother tongue of nearly seven million Canadians, a figure constituting roughly 22% of the national population. At the federal level it has co-official status alongside English...
Category A premium television service that broadcasts nationally via satellite or cable subscribers. The network is owned by Astral Media
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
. It is the French language equivalent to The Movie Network
The Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
and Movie Central
Movie Central
Movie Central is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service. Movie Central is designated to operate west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, including the territories...
.
History
Originally launched on February 1, 1983 under the name Premier Choix, the channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to provide a national 24-hour a day French-language pay television service. It was owned and operated by First Choice Canadian CommunicationsThe Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
.
Premier Choix had a difficult time attracting enough subscribers, as did a regional Quebec-based pay-television network called TVEC which was licensed in November 1982. Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable Inc., a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., is Canada's largest cable television service provider with about 2.25 million television customers, and over 930,000 Internet subscribers, in Manitoba, Southern & Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.The...
in Toronto couldn't add the channel until September 1983, and Videon Cable in Winnipeg didn't have the additional channel capacity to add it until its dispute with Manitoba Telecom Services
Manitoba Telecom Services
Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. , or MTS , formerly Manitoba Telephone System, is the primary telecommunications carrier in the Canadian province of Manitoba and the fourth largest telecommunications provider in Canada with 7000 employees...
(MTS) over ownership of the cable plant was settled.
In the early years, before RDS
Réseau des sports
Réseau des sports , is a Canadian French language Category C specialty channel showing sports and sport-related shows. It is available in 2.5 million homes, and is owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc....
and MusiquePlus
MusiquePlus
MusiquePlus is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media operating from Montreal, Quebec.MusiquePlus is devoted to music and music related programming from various genres including pop, rock, RnB and focuses on a younger demographic than its sister station, MusiMax...
were licensed, programming consisted of 70% movies and 30% sports.
TVEC (Télévision de l'Est du Canada Inc.) was licensed in November 1982 as a regional French-language pay-tv channel from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, serving Quebec, eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
, and Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
(New Brunswick).
In February 1984 these two channels combined to form Super Écran.
In the late 1980s, Premier Choix: TVEC was awarded licenses for French-language satellite-cable (specialty) networks. These include: Canal D
Canal D
Canal D is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media. Canal D focuses on documentary programming primarily in the form of documentary-style television series that focus on a variety of topics such as crime, biographies, nature, science, and more.-History:In June...
similar to A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
and Canal Famille
VRAK.TV
VRAK.TV is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel aimed at youth audiences. VRAK.TV is currently owned by Astral Media.-History:...
, similar to Family Channel Canada.
The network was granted authorization for national distribution across Canada in 1996.
On October 30, 2006 Astral Media launched an HD
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
simulcast of Super Écran.
Multiplexes and programming
Super Écran offers an extensive variety of hit Hollywood and Canadian movies as well as hit television series from HBO and Showtime as well as original content. Super Écran operates four multiplex channels, numbered from 1 to 4. Unlike The Movie NetworkThe Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
and Movie Central
Movie Central
Movie Central is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service. Movie Central is designated to operate west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, including the territories...
however, the four multiplex channels do not have certain focuses or themes. Super Écran 1 and 2 are also made available in high-definition. A video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
service, Super Écran Sur Demande, is also offered for digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
and satellite subscribers, featuring programming from the Super Écran channels.
International distribution
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon - distributed on SPM Telecom systems.