Comedy Gold (TV channel)

Comedy Gold
Launched September 7, 2001 (2001-09-07)
Owned by Bell Media (until 2018)
Wow Unlimited Media (2018-present)
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Slogan Comedy Shines
Country Canada
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Formerly called TV Land (2001–2010)
Sister channel(s) The Comedy Network
Website Comedy Gold
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV Channel 637
Cable
Available on many Canadian cable systems Consult your local cable provider for channel availability
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TV Channel 265
Bell Fibe TV Channel 637
Bell MTS Channel 162
Optik TV Channel 501
SaskTel Channel 142
VMedia Channel 637
Zazeen Channel 119

Comedy Gold is a Canadian English language Category B cable and satellite specialty channel owned by Wow Unlimited . An offshoot of The Comedy Network, the channel focuses primarily on sitcoms and sketch comedy programs from the 1970s to 2000s.

History

On November 24, 2000, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted Craig Media (previously known as 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".[1]

Logo as TV Land used from September 7, 2001 to August 1, 2010.

In August 2001, before the channel had launched, Craig Media announced it had reached a deal with U.S.-based MTV Networks, to launch Retro as a domestic Canadian version of the American classic television-focused cable channel, TV Land.[2] The channel was launched in September 2001 as TV Land, with a slate of programming focusing on sitcoms and dramas. MTV Networks purchased a minority share in the service months later.

In April 2004, CHUM Limited announced it would purchase Craig Media for CAD$265 million; Craig's 80.1% interest in TV Land was included in the sale.[3] The sale was subject to CRTC approval and was approved on November 19, 2004.[4] The transaction was completed on December 1, 2004.[5] In July 2006, Bell Globemedia (later CTVglobemedia) announced that it would purchase CHUM, including TV Land Canada, for an estimated CAD$1.7 billion.[6] The sale was approved by the CRTC on June 8, 2007,[7] with the transaction completed on June 22.

Comedy Gold logo used from August 2, 2010 to June 2012.

On June 21, 2010, it was announced that TV Land would be rebranded as Comedy Gold, becoming an offshoot of The Comedy Network, effective August 2, 2010. The rebranded channel would focus primarily on sitcoms and sketch comedy programs from the 1970s through the 1990s.[8] Viacom sold its stake in the channel back to CTV after the rebrand took place.[9]

The channel's ownership changed hands once again when on September 10, 2010, BCE, Inc. (a minority shareholder in CTVglobemedia) announced that it planned to acquire 100% interest in CTVglobemedia for a total debt and equity transaction cost of CAD$3.2 billion.[10] The deal was approved by the CRTC on March 7, 2011,[11] and was finalized on April 1 of that year, on which CTVglobemedia was rebranded Bell Media.[12] In June 2012, Comedy Gold unveiled a new on-air look consisting of a new logo and new on-air presentation, aligning with the relaunched Comedy Network, which itself had unveiled a new on-air rebrand in November 2011.[13]

In June 2017, Wow Unlimited Media announced a strategic partnership with Bell, under which it would acquire an unspecified category B service from Bell to re-launch as a channel targeting children and young adults, in exchange for a minority equity stake in the company.[14][15] In an October 2017 interview, Bell Media president Randy Lennox revealed that the channel would be Comedy Gold.[16] The sale to Wow Unlimited Media was approved on July 9, 2018.[17]

Programming

Comedy Gold focuses primarily on sitcoms and sketch comedy programs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s (such as Full House, Night Court, The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show); it also carries some Canadian-produced programs (such as Inside the Box and Second City Television).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Decision CRTC 2000-548; CRTC; 2000-12-14
  2. ↑ TV Land, MTV and Craig Broadcast Systems to Launch New Canadian Services in September; PR Newswire; 2001-08-21
  3. ↑ CHUM buying TV broadcaster Craig Media for $265M; CBC; 2004-04-12
  4. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-502; CRTC; 2004-11-19
  5. ↑ CHUM completes $265 million purchase of Craig Media and financing Fasken Martineau
  6. ↑ Bell Globemedia acquires CHUM; Fasken Martineau; 2006-07-12
  7. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-165; CRTC; 2007-06-08
  8. ↑ CTV tweaks TV Land Canada's focus, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2010
  9. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  10. ↑ Bell Canada (2010-09-10). "Bell to acquire 100% of Canada's No.1 media company CTV". CNW Group. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  11. ↑ CRTC approves BCE's purchase of CTVglobemedia Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Bell completes acquisition of CTV, launches Bell Media business unit Archived April 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. CNW 2011-04-01
  13. ↑ Comedy Gold Reveals New Look in Time for All-New Freeview, Beginning Today Archived 2013-01-15 at Archive.is Bell Media site, retrieved July 10, 2012,
  14. ↑ Reid, Regan (June 8, 2017). "Wow Unlimited to acquire channel from Bell Media". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Bell confirms Wow channel deal". C21media. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
  16. ↑ "The Cartt.ca Interview: Bell Media president Randy Lennox talks rich uncles, teeter-totters and Ty Cobb". Cartt.ca. Retrieved 2017-10-30. (subscription required)
  17. ↑ "Comedy Gold – Acquisition of assets". CRTC. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.