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41-492: It was launched on January 1, 1995, as Life Network under the ownership of Atlantis Communications . Atlantis was acquired by Alliance Communications in 1998 and Life Network was relaunched as Slice on March 5, 2007. In 2008, Canwest and Goldman Sachs acquired Alliance Atlantis, and the channel's ownership was later sold to Shaw Media in 2010, and ultimately, Corus in April 2016. For most of its recent history, this channel aired

82-563: A European co-financing and distribution deal with German studio TV-Loonland AG . The distribution deal was valued at $ 14 million. In 2001, the company purchased Salter Street Films , which produced a number of television shows for both the Canadian and international market. However, soon after the acquisition, Salter Street was disbanded and its active projects were transferred to Alliance Atlantis' own television production/development division. Citing lower profits, Alliance Atlantis later closed

123-409: A consortium of Baton Broadcasting, Shaw Communications , Astral Media (later acquired by this channel’s current ownership) and Les Films Rozon. Through various acquisitions over the years, the network is solely owned by Bell since 2001. CTV Comedy Channel originally sourced most of its programming from the U.S.-based cable network Comedy Central . In the years since the channel's inception, and with

164-415: A continuation of Corner Gas as an adult animation series, Corner Gas Animated . The network has historically had a relationship with Paramount Global -owned Comedy Central in the U.S. In June 2007, Comedy's parent company (then known as CTVglobemedia ) announced a deal for exclusive Canadian rights to the entire Comedy Central library of past and present programs on all electronic platforms, under

205-521: A multi-year agreement with Viacom. For several years, Canadians attempting to visit Comedy Central websites were redirected to the Comedy Network's website. Conversely, American IP addresses trying to link to the Comedy Network page were redirected to Comedy Central's page. On August 2, 2010, TV Land Canada was rebranded as Comedy Gold, turning the channel into an offshoot of The Comedy Network. Comedy Gold originally focused primarily on sitcoms from

246-511: A number of Canadian specialty services, which, in addition to those listed above, later included Food Network , Discovery Health (now FYI Canada), BBC Canada , BBC Kids and more. Throughout the years, the company had purchased assets of several bankrupt studios, including Norstar Entertainment, Telescene, Peace Arch, Cinemavault, Odeon Films and in 2005, had bought out the television library of Fireworks Distributing Corporation from CanWest Global Communications . In 2007, Alliance Atlantis

287-478: A result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media. Slice ultimately became the de facto Canadian home to most reality programs from the U.S. cable network Bravo , not to be confused with the Canadian arts-focused channel of the same name (later renamed CTV Drama Channel ). On June 10, 2024, rival broadcaster Rogers Sports & Media announced an agreement with NBCUniversal to relaunch

328-431: A selected number programs from U.S.-based Bravo . Most of the programs that were aired were lost to the newly relaunched Bravo channel (not to be confused with the former arts channel of the same name ) by Rogers Sports & Media in 2024. In June 1994, Your Channel Television Inc., a company majority owned by Atlantis Television Ventures Inc. (Atlantis Communications), was granted a television broadcasting licence by

369-484: The Alliance Cinemas banner until January 1, 2021; the theaters under the chain are now owned by Cineplex Entertainment . Alliance Atlantis was formed in 1998 from the merger of two former production companies, Alliance Communications (founded in 1984) and Atlantis Communications (founded in 1978). As President and Board Director of the subsequent combined Alliance Atlantis, Lewis Rose was responsible for leading

410-670: The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a channel called YOU: Your Channel , described at the time as broadcasting "programming consisting of documentaries and information programming." The channel was grouped into five themes, "Habitat" stressing programming for the home and environment; "Bodyworks" covering fitness, health and nutrition; "Food Plus" including programs related to cooking and food; "Explorations" dealing with travel, adventure and nature; and "Relationships" focusing on parenting, child care, careers and personal relationships." The channel

451-586: The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The channel launched on October 17, 1997 as The Comedy Network , and used the slogan "Time well wasted", a parody of the slogan of U.S. channel A&E 's at the time, "Time well spent". Through various acquisitions over the years, Shaw, Astral and Les Films Rozon sold their interest in the service to Baton, which became Bell Globemedia in 2001, and renamed CTVglobemedia in 2007. BCE gained control of The Comedy Network on April 1, 2011, through its takeover of CTVglobemedia, in effective changing

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492-467: The 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. On July 24, 2019, a representative of Bell Support revealed that Comedy Gold would be shutting down anywhere between August 30 and September 1; it did so on the latter date. Prior to Comedy Gold's shuttering, on August 28, 2019, Wow Unlimited Media revealed that they would have completed their acquisition of Comedy Gold's broadcast license on August 30, 2019. As part of Bell Media's suite of Go apps for all its main channels,

533-481: The 2017–18 season, with the network aligning its primetime lineup with reruns of sitcoms (such as Friends ) to target a wider range of viewers (including women), and provide a stronger lead-in to its first-run programs later in the night. On June 7, 2018, during the CTV upfronts, it was announced that The Comedy Network would eventually rebrand as "CTV Comedy", as part of a realignment of several Bell Media channels under

574-837: The AAC Fact unit. Alliance Films was a major motion picture distribution/production company which serves Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Formally known as Motion Picture Distribution LP, it was re branded and relaunched in 2007 due to the break-up of its preceding company, Alliance Atlantis, which was sold off piece by piece to Canwest Global , GS Capital Partners , along with several other smaller companies. Alliance Atlantis and Vivafilm home video releases were manufactured and distributed by NBCUniversal 's Universal Pictures Home Entertainment . Entertainment One (eOne) later acquired Alliance Films on January 9, 2013 for $ 225 million and merged Alliance Films and all of their subsidiaries under

615-846: The Bravo brand in Canada in September 2024, and that its platforms would carry new seasons of Bravo original programming going forward. As a result of the Rogers deal, Bravo originals are being phased out from the Slice schedule in early fall 2024 as ongoing seasons end, and being replaced by reality and true crime content from alternate sources such as Lionsgate Television , Paramount Global , and We TV (including new seasons of existing Slice acquisitions such as Love After Lockup , and new additions such as The Braxtons and Tia Mowry : My Next Act ). One notable acquisition

656-1170: The CTV name. On June 8, 2019, it was revealed The Comedy Network would relaunch as CTV Comedy Channel on September 12, 2019. CTV Comedy Channel primarily airs sitcoms and stand-up comedy programming (including anthologies and specials), with much of the latter coming from the channel's association with the Montreal-based Just for Laughs comedy festival. The network also produces its own original programming, with several series (such as Puppets Who Kill , Odd Job Jack and Kevin Spencer ) developing cult followings and loyal fan-bases. Puppets Who Kill , Comedy Now! , The Gavin Crawford Show , and several other Comedy original series have gone on to win Canadian Comedy Awards , including CTV 's Corner Gas , which has also won six Gemini Award wins, seven Leo Award wins, and an International Emmy nomination. The channel subsequently produced

697-538: The North American Broadcasting Association (NABA). The company ceased to exist in 2007 as the broadcasting division was acquired by Canwest Global Communications and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs that year. The motion picture division was then spun off and operated independently as Alliance Films , headquartered in Montreal (subsequently sold to Entertainment One and later, Lionsgate ), and

738-475: The companies launched History Television and HGTV Canada respectively. Earlier that year, Alliance Atlantis teamed up with Hallmark Cards to create Crayola Kids Adventures, a series of three direct-to-video adaptations of well-known children's novels. Atlantis had also been a major investor in YTV in its first few years before selling out to Shaw Communications and later, Corus Entertainment from 1999. In 1998,

779-499: The company purchased 75% of Cineplex Odeon Films . In 1999, Kinowelt purchased an interest in Alliance Atlantis' UK distribution arm, which was soon renamed to Momentum Pictures in 2000. Also that year, the company secured the Canadian rights to distribute features by Destination Films. Also in 2000, it purchased the rights to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from Disney's Touchstone Television . Another major deal in 2000

820-421: The company's name to Bell Media. Over the years, the channel has gone through multiple rebrands; from 2001 to 2005, the logo was given a "crudely drawn" look; the logo's colors were removed, leaving the logo black (although the logo's colors can still be seen on the channel's website). In 2005, the channel's logo was changed from 2D to 3D; the logo's colors were brought back. On November 1, 2011, The Comedy Network

861-430: The eventual shuttering of its sister channel in 2019, the network would move some of its programming from the latter to sister channel Much before rebranding to its current name on September 12, 2019. In September 1996, 1155636 Ontario Inc. (a company majority controlled by Baton Broadcasting , with the remaining interests held by Shaw Cable and Astral Broadcasting .) was granted a television broadcasting licence by

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902-526: The former Atlantis sales office in Amsterdam. As part of the merger deal, Robert Lantos , founder of Alliance, signed a deal for film and TV production with Alliance Atlantis through his own firm, Serendipity Point Films. At the time of the merger, both companies had launched various Canadian specialty television services; in 1995, Alliance launched Showcase Television while Atlantis launched Life Network (which has since been renamed "Slice"); in fall 1997

943-645: The international distribution rights to the Degrassi franchise, to DHX Media . In 2017, producer Steven Paul announced that he would acquire the non-family assets of Echo Bridge Entertainment, including the international distribution rights to Alliance Atlantis' library (with the exception of its children's programs that are still owned by DHX Media/WildBrain) and later folded it into SP Releasing, in turn licensed most of Alliance Atlantis, Cineplex Odeon Films, Echo Bridge and PM Entertainment libraries to FilmRise for digital distribution and online streaming. eOne in turn

984-529: The international television distribution division was sold to Echo Bridge Entertainment . All of the former Alliance Atlantis specialty networks, except for the now-defunct BBC Kids , are now owned by Corus Entertainment . The films division was later acquired by Entertainment One group and folded into eOne on January 9, 2013. Most of the assets of eOne, which included Alliance Atlantis' films division and television library, were later acquired by Lionsgate on December 27, 2023. The Alliance name survived under

1025-553: The latter brand. Most of the assets of eOne, as well as Alliance Films libraries was subsequently bought by Lionsgate in late 2023. CTV Comedy Channel CTV Comedy Channel (often shortened to CTV Comedy ) is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by BCE Inc. subsidiary Bell Media which focuses primarily on comedy programming and operates two time-shifted feeds, running on Eastern and Pacific Time Zone schedules. The channel first launched on October 17, 1997 as The Comedy Network by

1066-464: The majority of its production arm, aside from the highly profitable CSI: Crime Scene Investigation family of series, which it co-produces with CBS Television Studios . It briefly maintained Salter Street's long-running This Hour Has 22 Minutes before transferring the show to the Halifax Film Company , made up of former Salter Street employees. It's primary business became its ownership of

1107-537: The merger in May 1999. Plans to relaunch the channel as Slice were announced in November 2, 2006 by Alliance Atlantis Communications. The new name and programming reflects Life's shift towards a more entertainment-based schedule with what Alliance Atlantis called "addictive" programming. The name was revealed in a 2006 Life Network online survey on future programming strategies. The channel was relaunched on March 5, 2007, although

1148-676: The most likely bidder. A similar announcement was made previously regarding the Motion Picture Distribution unit, which is also expected to be sold separately while finding a bidder to acquire most parts of the company. On January 10, 2007, it was announced that Alliance Atlantis would be acquired by a consortium of Canwest Global and GS Capital Partners , an affiliate of Goldman Sachs . Following Canwest seeking creditor protection in late 2009, Shaw Communications subsequently took over most of Alliance Atlantis's former broadcasting assets as of October 27, 2010. after CRTC approval for

1189-412: The network would have been required to air monthly, increase the amount of animated programming it could air from 10% of its lineup per day to 20% per month, and allow it to air films that were not Canadian-made. Bell argued that the network was at a disadvantage against BiteTV and Teletoon , because Comedy was unable to give its animated acquisitions a larger amount of exposure (such as marathons) due to

1230-482: The on-air branding appeared intermittently during a "sneak preview" on March 3 and 4. On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media, acquired control of Slice through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007. On October 27, 2010, ownership changed again as Shaw Communications gained control of Slice as

1271-507: The restriction. The CRTC rejected its arguments in response to complaints by the two networks cited and other unions, due to their differing natures of service and because Bell's proposed changes were intended primarily to decrease the amount of Canadian content it airs in favour of more U.S.-originated programming. By September 2013, The Comedy Network had moved a number of acquired Comedy Central programs to its sister channel Much . Further changes to The Comedy Network's schedule occurred in

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1312-632: The sale was announced on October 22. Alliance Atlantis (CW Media) became part of the Shaw Media division. Corus Entertainment acquired Shaw Media on April 1, 2016. Entertainment One would later acquire Alliance Films on January 9, 2013 and all of their subsidiaries from Goldman Sachs Group, similar to the purchase of Maple Pictures a year prior. eOne subsequently adopted the 2004 Alliance Atlantis fanfare, still in use by Alliance Films, for their own logo. On November 20, 2014, Echo Bridge Entertainment sold Alliance Atlantis' children's programs, including

1353-446: The teams which arranged the merger financing of $ 545 million and which achieved in excess of $ 20 million in savings and synergies from the combination of the two companies in the year following the merger. (The merger was also parodied on Made in Canada , when that show's Pyramid Productions merged with a company called Prodigy.) After the merger, the company laid off 15% of their staff (much of them from pre-merger Aliiance), and closed

1394-575: Was The Daily Show , which had not been aired on linear television in Canada since it was dropped by its long-time home of CTV Comedy Channel in 2023. Alliance Atlantis Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Canadian media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada . Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax , Los Angeles , London , Dublin , Madrid , Barcelona , Shannon , and Sydney . Alliance Atlantis

1435-423: Was a renewal of their distribution pact with Artisan Entertainment , including Canadian distribution of Artisan material, and UK theatrical distribution of Artisan films via Momentum Pictures. The company expanded its business with its launch of its children's production label AAC Kids in 1999, and its nonfiction production label, AAC Fact in 2000. These labels were dissolved in 2003. In 2000, AAC Kids signed

1476-476: Was acquired by U.S. toy maker Hasbro in 2019. On August 3, 2023, Hasbro announced that it would sell most of eOne's assets, including the copyrights and Canadian distribution rights to the library of Alliance Atlantis, to Lionsgate (which Hasbro attempted to acquire in 2017). The deal closed on December 27, 2023. Specialty Channels Websites NOTE: Channels marked in BOLD lettering indicates Alliance Atlantis

1517-460: Was launched on January 1, 1995, as Life Network . The channel broadcast programs in themes focusing on such areas as food, gardening, and home design. In June 1998, Atlantis Communications announced that it planned to merge with Alliance Communications, another fellow television and film producer and broadcaster, owners of History Television and Showcase at the time, to form a new company called Alliance Atlantis Communications . The CRTC approved

1558-526: Was named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers , as published in Maclean's magazine, the only broadcaster to be included on the list. On December 20, 2006, the company announced that it was "exploring strategic alternatives", effectively putting the company up for sale. Expected bidders included Canwest Global , Corus Entertainment , Astral Media , and Rogers Communications . The rights to CSI were expected to be sold separately, with CBS Paramount Television as

1599-469: Was relaunched with a new look, consisting a new simplified logo and revamped on-air presentation. Their longtime slogan was also retired on this date. On July 12, 2012, The Comedy Network launched a high-definition simulcast feed available through all major TV providers. In August 2013, the CRTC denied an amendment to The Comedy Network's license, which would have reduced the amount of Canadian-produced content

1640-580: Was the managing partner. Proposed but never launched Alliance Atlantis owned a chain of cinemas called Alliance Cinemas . The chain owned movie theatres in British Columbia and Ontario and is based in Toronto . This division of Alliance Atlantis developed and distributed various television programmes to Canadian, American and International broadcasters. The programs ranged from series, lifestyle and documentaries. Some documentaries were produced through

1681-399: Was the result of a merger of two companies: Atlantis Communications , founded in 1978 by Michael MacMillan , and Alliance Communications , founded in 1984 by Stephen Roth, Denis Héroux , John Kemeny , Robert Lantos , Andras Hamori and Susan Cavan as Alliance Entertainment. Alliance Communications and Atlantis Communications merged to form Alliance Atlantis in 1998 which was a member of

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