TV Land Canada
Encyclopedia
Comedy Gold is a Canadian
English language
Category B specialty channel
that focuses primarily on sitcoms from the 1970s to 1990s. It is wholly owned by Bell Media and is an offshoot of The Comedy Network
.
In August 2001, before the channel had launched, Craig Media announced it has reached a deal with US
-based MTV Networks
, to launch Retro as a domestic Canadian version of the US specialty channel, TV Land
. The channel launched in September 2001 as TV Land Canada with a slate of programming focusing on sitcoms and dramas. MTV Networks would purchase a minority share in the service months later.
In April 2004, CHUM Limited
announced it would purchase Craig Media for $265 million CAD
. Included in the sale were Craig's 80.1% interest in TV Land Canada. The sale was subject to CRTC approval and was approved on November 19, 2004. The transaction was completed on December 1, 2004.
In July 2006, Bell Globemedia
(later CTVglobemedia) announced that it would purchase CHUM for an estimated $1.7 billion CAD
, including TV Land Canada. The sale, also needing approval from the CRTC, was approved on June 8, 2007, with the transaction completed on June 22.
On June 21, 2010, it was announced that TV Land Canada would be re-branded as Comedy Gold, an offshoot of The Comedy Network
, effective August 2, 2010. The rebranded channel focuses primarily on sitcoms and sketch comedy programs from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Viacom sold back their stake in the channel to CTV after the rebrand took place.
Ownership changed hands once again when on September 10, 2010, BCE (a minority shareholder in CTVglobemedia) announced that it planned to acquire 100% interest in CTVglobemedia for a total debt and equity transaction cost of $3.2 billion CAD. The deal which required CRTC approval, was approved on March 7, 2011 and closed on April 1 of that year, on which CTVglobemedia was rebranded Bell Media.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Category B specialty channel
Specialty channel
A specialty channel can be a commercial broadcasting or non-commercial television channel which consists of television programming focused on a single genre, subject or targeted television market at a specific demographic....
that focuses primarily on sitcoms from the 1970s to 1990s. It is wholly owned by Bell Media and is an offshoot of The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
.
History
On November 24, 2000, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted Craig Media, through its subsidiary Craig Broadcast Systems Inc., permission to launch a national category 2 digital specialty channel tentatively known as Retro; a channel described as being "devoted to classic television programming".United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
, to launch Retro as a domestic Canadian version of the US specialty channel, TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
. The channel launched in September 2001 as TV Land Canada with a slate of programming focusing on sitcoms and dramas. MTV Networks would purchase a minority share in the service months later.
In April 2004, CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited was a media company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1945 to 2007. Immediately prior to its acquisition, it held full or joint control of two Canadian television systems — Citytv and A-Channel — comprising 11 local stations, and one CBC Television affiliate, one...
announced it would purchase Craig Media for $265 million CAD
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
. Included in the sale were Craig's 80.1% interest in TV Land Canada. The sale was subject to CRTC approval and was approved on November 19, 2004. The transaction was completed on December 1, 2004.
In July 2006, Bell Globemedia
CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia , was one of Canada's largest private media companies. Its operations include newspaper publishing , television broadcasting and production , radio broadcasting , and their respective Internet properties.Originally established by BCE and the Thomson family in 2001 combining CTV Inc.,...
(later CTVglobemedia) announced that it would purchase CHUM for an estimated $1.7 billion CAD
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
, including TV Land Canada. The sale, also needing approval from the CRTC, was approved on June 8, 2007, with the transaction completed on June 22.
On June 21, 2010, it was announced that TV Land Canada would be re-branded as Comedy Gold, an offshoot of The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
, effective August 2, 2010. The rebranded channel focuses primarily on sitcoms and sketch comedy programs from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Viacom sold back their stake in the channel to CTV after the rebrand took place.
Ownership changed hands once again when on September 10, 2010, BCE (a minority shareholder in CTVglobemedia) announced that it planned to acquire 100% interest in CTVglobemedia for a total debt and equity transaction cost of $3.2 billion CAD. The deal which required CRTC approval, was approved on March 7, 2011 and closed on April 1 of that year, on which CTVglobemedia was rebranded Bell Media.