Séries+

Séries+
Séries+ logo in 2016
Launched January 31, 2000
Owned by Corus Entertainment
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Country Canada
Broadcast area National
Headquarters Montreal, Quebec
Sister channel(s) Historia
Showcase
Website Séries+ (in French)
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV Channel 132 (SD)
Channel 1860 (HD)
Shaw Direct Channel 755 (SD)
Channel 383 / 242 (HD)
Cable
Available on many Canadian cable systems Check local listings, channels may vary
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TV Channel 866 (SD)
Channel 966 (HD)
Bell Fibe TV Channel 122 (SD)
Channel 1122 (HD)
Bell MTS Channel 422 (SD)
Optik TV Channel 8059 (SD)
Channel 2059 (HD)
SaskTel Channel 263 (SD)
Telus Quebec Channel 46 (SD)
Channel 546 (HD)
VMedia Channel 117 (SD) (QC)
Zazeen Channel 208 (HD)

Séries+ is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel devoted to scripted comedy and dramatic programming. The channel is owned by Corus Entertainment.

History

On May 21, 1999, Alliance Atlantis Communications (AAC) and Premier Choix Networks (a division of Astral Media) were granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a national French-language specialty television service called Canal Fiction, described as a "service devoted to drama."[1]

The channel was launched on January 31, 2000 as Séries+ at 6pm EST.[2]

On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media purchased AAC and gained AAC's interest in Séries+.

Original logo of Séries+ and the logo used for Séries+ HD, however with specific markings to identify it as the HD logo.

On October 27, 2010, Shaw Communications completed its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media, giving it control of CW Media's 50% interest in Séries+.[3][4]

On March 4, 2013, Corus Entertainment announced that it would acquire Astral Media's stakes in Séries+ and Historia, as well as several other properties, under separate transactions with the two companies. The purchase was tied to Bell Media's pending takeover of Astral Media; an earlier proposal had been rejected by the CRTC in October 2012 due to concerns surrounding its total market share following the merger, but was restructured under the condition that the companies divest certain media properties.[5] In a separate deal, Corus also acquired Shaw's interests in Séries+ and Historia, giving it full ownership.[6] The deals were approved by the CRTC on December 20, 2013[7] and Corus officially become the full owner of the channel on January 1, 2014.[8]

On October 17, 2017, Bell Media announced its intent to acquire Séries+ and Historia from Corus for $200 million, pending regulatory approval. Corus cited the two channels as not being part of the company's "strategic priorities" at this time; the deal came shortly after an announcement that Corus no longer planned to commission original programs for the two channels.[9] On May 28, 2018, both transactions were blocked by the Competition Bureau, as it violated a condition of the Astral Media purchase which bars Bell from re-acquiring any of the properties it divested for 10 years.[10] As a result, Bell and Corus mutually agreed to shelve the sale.[11]

Séries+ HD

On October 30, 2006, Séries+ HD, a HD simulcast of Séries+'s standard definition feed, was launched.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Decision CRTC 99-109
  2. ↑ LES CHAINES TELE ASTRAL AND ALLIANCE ATLANTIS PRESENT A NEW FRENCH LANGUAGE SPECIALTY CHANNEL Alliance Atlantis press release 2000-01-19
  3. ↑ Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media
  4. ↑ CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties Archived 2013-12-20 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Bell moves closer to Astral with sale of TV assets". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Corus Entertainment (2013-03-04). "Corus Entertainment Expands Interests in French-language Specialty Television Market through Major Deals with Bell and Shaw Media". Retrieved 2013-03-31.
  7. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-738". CRTC. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Press Release - Corus Entertainment Completes Purchase of Historia, Séries+ and TELETOON Canada Inc". Corusent.com. 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  9. ↑ Faguy, Steve (October 17, 2017). "Corus agrees to sell Séries+ and Historia to Bell Media for $200 million". Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Analysts predict steeper Corus dividend cut after watchdog blocks $200-million sale of TV stations to Bell". Financial Post. 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  11. ↑ "Corus and Bell end channel sale after rejection by Commissioner of Competition". Financial Post. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  12. ↑ La haute définition en français Infopresse 2006-10-30 (in French)
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