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CTV Sci-Fi Channel

Coordinates:43°38′59″N79°23′25″W/ 43.649701°N 79.390233°W/43.649701; -79.390233
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the unrelated Latin American channel, seeSpace (Latin American TV channel).For other uses, seeSpace (disambiguation).
CTV Sci-Fi Channel
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format1080iHDTV
(downscaled toletterboxed480ifor theSDTVfeed)
Ownership
OwnerBell Media
Sister channelsCTV
CTV Drama Channel
CTV Comedy Channel
CTV Life Channel
CTV News Channel
CTV 2
Z
History
LaunchedOctober 17, 1997;26 years ago(1997-10-17)
Former namesSpace (1997–2019)
Links
Websitewww.ctv.ca/sci-fi

CTV Sci-Fi Channelis a Canadian English-languagediscretionaryspecialty channelowned byBell Media.The channel primarily broadcastsspeculative fictionand related programming.

The network was launched on October 17, 1997 asSpaceunder its original parent companyCHUM Limited.Its slogan,The Imagination Station,continued to be used informally by its fans for many years after its retirement. In 2007, Space was acquired by CTVglobemedia, after acquiring CHUM Limited, while theCitytvstations were sold toRogers Media.The channel adopted its current name in 2019.

History

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Final logo of Space, used from 2013 to 2019

The channel was licensed by theCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission(CRTC) in 1996.[1]It launched on October 17, 1997 at 6:00 p.m.ET(3:00 p.m.PT), asSpace:The Imagination Station, launching under the ownership ofCHUM Limited,airing the filmForbidden Planet,followed by a commentary on that film by authorRobert J. Sawyer,followed by the filmMars Attacks!.The Sawyer commentary was the first example of the interstitial materials — mostly produced byMark Askwith— that became SPACE's signature: short, snappy, mini-documentaries on science fiction and science topics shown between programs, collectively known as "SPACE Flow". Daily installments includeSpace News(formerlySPIN,for "Space Information and News" ).[2]

CTVglobemedia took over Space on June 22, 2007, as a result of a takeover ofCHUM Limited.[citation needed]At the same time, theCitytvstations were sold toRogerslater that year. Ownership changed hands once again when on April 1, 2011,BCE Inc.gained 100% control of CTVglobemedia's non-publishing assets that it did not already own, placing Space under the ownership ofBell Media.[citation needed]

On February 8, 2011, theReeves-Stevensessubmitted a letter to theCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission(CRTC) in support of an application by CTVglobemedia to renew the broadcasting license of Space.[3]

On July 6, 2011, ahigh definitionsimulcast of Space was launched.[4]It is available through all major television providers in Canada.

On March 4, 2013, Space introduced a new logo to coincide with the premiere of the channel's new original co-productionOrphan Black.A Bell Media executive explained that the branding was designed to reflect upon the broadening of the sci-fi genre beyondouter spaceand "people in polyester onesies running around with taser guns", by portraying the new logo in the form of real-life objects with a "phenomenaltwist "to symbolize the" space around you ".[5]Through Bell Media's acquisition ofAstral Media,Space is now co-owned with the French-language, sci-fi channel, Ztélé (since renamedZ).

On June 7, 2018, it was announced that Space would be rebranded as "CTV Sci-Fi", as part of a re-alignment of several Bell Media specialty channels under theCTVbrand.[6]The following year, it was revealed the channel would instead rebrand asCTV Sci-Fi Channelon September 12, 2019.[7]

Programming

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CTV Sci-Fi Channel's programming includes scripted television series and films primarily focused on thescience fiction,fantasy,superhero fiction,horror,andparanormalgenres, often in amarathonformat outside of prime time. The channel's original programming has included in-studio shows (including the daily newsmagazineInnerspace), scripted dramas, as well as shows co-produced with the U.S. channelSyfy,from which the channel also acquires the bulk of its programming.

The channel holds the linear television rights to theStar Trektelevision franchise in Canada, holding library rights to pastStar Trektelevision seasons and movies, and having acquired the rights to the newerStar Trekera run,Star Trek: Discovery,produced for theParamount+streaming service.[8][9][10][11]

Current programming

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Original

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Acquired

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Former programming

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Original

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Acquired

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Former Annual events

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  • The Spacey Awards:Space previously presented its own awards called the Spacey Awards to the best in sci-fi, fantasy and horror films, TV shows, and video games. Some of the awards are voted on by viewers and the others by Space.
  • Santa Claus Conquers the Martians:Aired for many years in December 25.
  • The Twelve Days of Space-mas: Twelve days of marathons, either of popular Space programs or of similarly-themed, sci-fi or fantasy films. This normally includes theDoctor WhoChristmas special onChristmas Day.

References

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  1. ^Decision CRTC 96-605CRTC 1996-09-04
  2. ^Space: The Imagination Station launch(incomplete), October 17, 1997
  3. ^"Intervention Documents".services.crtc.gc.ca.
  4. ^SPACE HD to Launch July 6
  5. ^"Bell Media's Space gets a new look".Marketing Magazine.Retrieved4 March2013.
  6. ^"Magnum P.I. reboot, new Jann Arden comedy on CTV's fall lineup".Toronto Star.Retrieved2018-06-07.
  7. ^"Upfronts '19: Bell Media finalizes specialty rebrands".Media in Canada.June 5, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 14,2019.
  8. ^"International Broadcasters Set for New Star Trek Series".StarTrek.com.July 18, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on July 20, 2016.RetrievedJuly 19,2016.
  9. ^"New Star Trek series to premiere on CTV, then air on Space and Z".The Globe and Mail.The Canadian Press. 18 May 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2017.Retrieved27 May2018.
  10. ^Lewis, Michael (23 April 2018)."Canadians get limited version of new CBS streaming app".The Toronto Star.Archivedfrom the original on 28 May 2018.Retrieved27 May2018.
  11. ^White, Peter (May 14, 2019)."Canada's Bell Media Acquires Rights To CBS All Access' Patrick Stewart-Fronted 'Star Trek' Spin-Off – LA Screenings".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on May 14, 2019.RetrievedMay 17,2019.
  12. ^Rubinoff, Joel (2006-09-23)."This revolution will be televised".Waterloo Region Record.Archived fromthe originalon 2024-02-20.Retrieved2024-02-20.
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43°38′59″N79°23′25″W/ 43.649701°N 79.390233°W/43.649701; -79.390233

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