A.Side TV

Aux was originally owned by Glassbox Television and launched as both a website, built on an Internet television model, and a programming block on sister channel BiteTV (which became Makeful in August 2015). Both the website and the programming block launched on November 24, 2008[1] and focused on music related programming featuring independent, and new and emerging artists in alternative, hip hop, indie rock, indie pop and other similar genres.

Aux logo

In February 2009, Aux participated with CBC Radio 3 and Exclaim! to launch "X3", a new collaborative cross-promotional platform which saw all three outlets air or publish content spotlighting a particular "Artist of the Month". X3 artists of the month have included K'naan, Malajube, Thunderheist, Japandroids, Apostle of Hustle and The Rural Alberta Advantage.[2] The project ceased in 2012.

Glassbox Television received approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch Aux as a national English-language category 2 specialty channel on March 6, 2009.[3] The channel was launched on October 1, 2009 exclusively on Rogers Cable[4] (in Ontario and New Brunswick, and shortly thereafter in Newfoundland and Labrador). Later, other providers such as Shaw Cable, Shaw Direct, EastLink, and Source Cable launched the channel on their systems.

In April 2010, the CRTC denied an application by Glassbox to launch a French-language version of Aux, as Astral Media had filed an intervention against the Glassbox application suggesting that the channel would be in competition with the established music video networks MusiquePlus and MusiMax.[5]

On April 11, 2011, it was announced that Blue Ant Media would acquire a controlling interest in Glassbox Television. Blue Ant Media initially acquired a 29.9% stake in the company, with the option to expand their stake up to 75% which would give the company controlling interest.[6][7] The company would later be purchased outright by Blue Ant Media in the summer of 2012.[8]

On June 4, 2013, Aux launched a high definition simulcast feed of its originating standard definition channel.

On April 6, 2017, Blue Ant Media, along with Shed Creative Agency, announced that the channel would be rebranded A.Side TV, later confirmed to launch on May 30, 2017,[9]. The purpose of the rebrand was to align the channel with the newly formed multi-platform music brand, A.Side, which launched on May 18, 2017 and focuses on music and pop culture content aimed at millennials.[10] Blue Ant Media will continue to operate the channel, while Shed will manage content for the A.Side website and social media platforms.[11]