Super Channel (Canada)

Super Channel
Launched November 2, 2007
Owned by Allarco Entertainment[1]
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Slogan See it here (primary)
See it first (Super Channel Fuse)
See it together (Super Channel Heart & Home)
See it again (Super Channel Vault)
See it playing (Ginx eSports TV Canada)
Se it now (Super Channel On Demand)
Country Canada
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters Edmonton, Alberta
Website Super Channel
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV 326–329 (SD)
1277–1280 (HD)
Shaw Direct 616–619 / 260–263 (SD)
151 & 152 / 651 & 652 (HD)
Cable
Available on most Canadian cable systems Consult your local cable provider for channel availability
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TV 380–383 (SD)
582–585 (HD)
Bell Fibe TV 326–329 (SD)
1326–1329 (HD)
Bell MTS 217–220 (SD)
1217–1220 (HD)
Optik TV 9417–9420 (SD)
417–420 (HD)
SaskTel 210–213 (SD)
500–503 (HD)
VMedia 334–337 (HD)

Super Channel Entertainment Network (as of 2018; or Super Channel for short) is a Canadian English language Category A premium cable and satellite television channel that is owned by Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc. Super Channel's programming primarily includes theatrically released, first to television motion pictures and television series, along with documentaries and other niche programs. All programming is unedited and commercial free.

The current Super Channel service was launched in 2007, and is not affiliated with the two pre-existing English-language premium channels which used the name at various times prior to 2001, which were later known as Movie Central (in Western Canada; defunct since March 2016) and The Movie Network (in Eastern Canada, and operating nationally since March 2016). The Allards were the original owners of what was last known as Movie Central, and later re-acquired rights to the Superchannel trademark. Prior to 2016, Super Channel was the first and only general-interest English-language pay television service authorized to operate nationally. (Officially, Family Channel and its multiplex channel Family Junior are also national pay television channels, but those services operate as de facto basic tier specialty channels in most areas and on some providers.)

Super Channel is available on nearly all major cable and satellite providers including Telus Optik TV, Bell TV, Shaw Direct, Access Communications, Cogeco, Rogers Cable, Shaw Cable, Eastlink and other providers. Super Channel was granted as a "must carry" service by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), meaning all television service providers must carry the service on their systems.

History

Allarco was one of four applicants for new pay television licences that were considered at a public hearing held by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on October 24, 2005.[2] Its competing applicants were:

  • BOOMTV, to be operated by the Archambault unit of Quebecor Media. While it was expected to compete directly with the existing general-interest services – The Movie Network and Movie Central (TMN/MC) in English Canada and Super Écran (SE) in French Canada – Archambault indicated that its services would have regularly favoured first-run dramatic series. Archambault was also the only applicant for a French-language service, but indicated that this licence would be worthless without an English counterpart.[3]
  • The Canadian Film Channel, proposed by Channel Zero Inc. It proposed to broadcast 100% Canadian content and be funded entirely by the operators of TMN/MC, in an amount equal to 12.9% of these services' gross revenues, to be required by condition of licence. Neither incumbent indicated approval for such a use of its revenues.[4]
  • Spotlight Television, to be controlled by George Burger, a former executive at Alliance Television, and professional sports mogul Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of the private investment company Kilmer Van Nostrand, which proposed a premium service much in the same vein as The Movie Network/Movie Central.[5] It is believed that, had Spotlight's application been successful, it would have been branded as a Canadian version of the American service HBO; an "HBO Canada" channel was launched in October 2008 under the auspices of TMN/MC.[6]

The Allarco application was approved on May 18, 2006, while the other three applicants were rejected.[7]

The Allard family were also the original owners of Movie Central, which during their stewardship until 2001 was known as "Superchannel", rendered as a single word title unlike the current service (for a time in the 1980s, First Choice (now The Movie Network) had also used the "Superchannel" name under a co-branding agreement). The "Movie Central" name was adopted shortly after Corus Entertainment acquired the service, but Corus maintained ownership of the "Superchannel" trademark. Just before the new channel's launch, the Allards re-acquired the rights to the "Superchannel" name under undisclosed terms.[8]

Super Channel was launched on November 2, 2007 on Bell TV as a six-channel service.

Super Channel original logo from 2007 to 2018

Super Channel's parent company, Allarco Entertainment, entered into the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act on June 18, 2009.[9] On August 31, 2010, its creditors unanimously approved a restructuring plan for the company under the act. The restructuring plan, which needed approval of the court,[10] was later approved.

On May 26, 2016 Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc., the parent company of SuperChannel, filed for bankruptcy a second time. The next round of submissions to the court are due April 21, 2017 meaning the creditor protection is still open.[11] As part of this process 96 of the 135[12] licensed content agreements were terminated.

On February 15, 2017, it was announced that Ginx TV would launch a linear gaming channel in Canada as a replacement for one of Super Channel's multiplex channels.[13] Replacing Super Channel 4, Ginx eSports TV Canada launched on May 4, 2017 with a live Canadian edition of The Bridge, a late night talk show.[14]

On February 22, 2017, Super Channel announced it had acquired the Canadian broadcast rights to the Legends Football League, as part of a three-year deal in which Super Channel will be the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of all LFL games through the 2019 season. The LFL will be used to launch the "Super Channel SPORTS" sub-brand that will be used for all sporting events and sports-themed programming.[15] Super Channel 1 debuted LFL Football Night on April 22, 2017.[16]

On April 4, 2017, Super Channel announced that it would rebrand Super Channel 3 as Super Channel VAULT on April 28, 2017. The channel is described as offering programming based on "a collection of hand-picked, fan-favourites, critically-acclaimed films."[17]

In 2018, after emerging from creditor protection, Allarco announced the rebranding of SC1 and SC2 as Super Channel Fuse and Super Channel Heart & Home.[18] The channel has also adopted the tagline Entertainment Network.[19]

Channels

List of channels

Depending on the service provider, Super Channel provides up to eight multiplex channels – four 24-hour multiplex channels, all of which are simulcast in both standard definition and high definition – as well as a subscription video-on-demand service (Super Channel On Demand). Super Channel broadcasts its primary channel and multiplex channels on an Eastern Time Zone schedule, operating a singular feed for all channels, this results in the difference in local airtimes for a particular movie or program between two geographic locations being three hours at most.

Channel Description and programming
Super Channel FuseThis channel carries general interest movies, television series, documentaries and concerts.
Super Channel Heart & HomeThis channel is similar to Super Channel Fuse, but it focuses on a family-oriented selection of programming.
Super Channel VaultThis channel airs a collection of hand-picked, fan-favourites, critically acclaimed films.
Ginx eSports TV CanadaThis channel is devoted to eSports-related programming.

Other services

Super Channel HD

Super Channel HD is a high definition simulcast feed of Super Channel that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format. In addition to its main channel, Super Channel also operates high definition simulcast feeds of all three multiplex channels. Initially, Allarco launched two high definition feeds upon the launch of the service in November 2007: Super Channel HD 1 and Super Channel HD 2. Super Channel HD 1 simulcasted the standard definition feed of the same name, while Super Channel HD 2 initially aired programming from the three remaining SD feeds. In February 2013, Allarco launched HD feeds for the two remaining channels, Super Channel 3 and Super Channel 4, with each HD channel now simulcasting their standard definition equivalent.

Super Channel On Demand

Super Channel operates a subscription video-on-demand television service called Super Channel On Demand, which is available at no additional charge to new and existing subscribers of Super Channel. Content featured on the service includes movies, acquired foreign series and special features previously seen on the linear television network. Super Channel On Demand's rotating program selection incorporates select new titles that are added daily to existing content. Super Channel On Demand launched in February 2008, on Cogeco Cable systems in Ontario. It is available nationally by satellite providers Shaw Direct and Bell TV, and regionally by cable providers Rogers Cable, Access Communications, Cogeco, Novus, Shaw Cable, Westman Communications, Source Cable, Eastlink and Vidéotron, and IPTV providers Telus TV, Bell Aliant TV, Bell Fibe TV, MTS TV and SaskTel.

Programming

Super Channel has positioned itself as a complementary service to currently, The Movie Network and, formerly, Movie Central. The channel offers a diverse selection of television series, theatrically released and first to television movies[20] and niche programming. Its lineup includes various top American and Canadian series as well as international series, primarily from the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Programming has also included critically acclaimed documentaries, concerts, and foreign films.[21]

List of programs broadcast by Super Channel

Includes current programming.

Canadian Originals

Acquired Series

References

  1. ↑ Allarco Entertainment 2008, Inc.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2005-6 July 21, 2005
  3. ↑ BOOMTV licence applications
  4. ↑ TCFC licence application
  5. ↑ Spotlight licence application
  6. ↑ HBO Canada coming, but with a catch, Grant Robertson, The Globe and Mail, September 23, 2008
  7. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-193, May 18, 2006
  8. ↑ Is this a new pay-TV service or a rerun?, Barbara Shecter, National Post, July 30, 2007
  9. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (June 18, 2009). "Super Channel files for bankruptcy protection". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. ↑ Allarco Entertainment 2008 (Super Channel) plan meets creditors approval, Digital Journal, 31 August 2010
  11. ↑ PWC CCAA Notice
  12. ↑ Inside Super Channel’s post-CCAA filing programming strategy
  13. ↑ "First 24-hour eSports Channel to Launch in Canada". Canada NewsWire. June 18, 2009.
  14. ↑ Super Channel kicks off eSports net, May 5, 2017
  15. ↑ "Super Channel kicks off new sports programming sub-brand with the acquisition of popular US sports franchise, Legends Football League". Canada NewsWire. February 22, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Super Channel Lands LFL for New Sports Sub-Brand". Worldscreen. February 22, 2017.
  17. ↑ Super Channel VAULT to launch April 28 CNW press release 04-04-17
  18. ↑ "Allarco exits creditor protection, rebrands Super Channel". RealScreen, April 11, 2018.
  19. ↑ https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/super-channel-to-rebrand-679386373.html
  20. ↑ Super Channel Website
  21. ↑ Super Channel website
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