CTV Sci-Fi Channel
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerBell Media
Sister channelsCTV
CTV Drama Channel
CTV Comedy Channel
CTV Life Channel
CTV News Channel
CTV 2
Z
History
LaunchedOctober 17, 1997 (1997-10-17)
Former namesSpace (1997–2019)
Links
Websitewww.ctv.ca/sci-fi

CTV Sci-Fi Channel is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts speculative fiction and related programming.

The network was launched on October 17, 1997 as Space under its original parent company CHUM Limited. Its slogan, The Imagination Station, continued to be used informally by its fans for several years after its retirement. In 2007, Space was acquired by CTVglobemedia, after acquiring CHUM Limited, while the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers Media. The channel adopted its current name in 2019.

History

Final logo of Space, used from 2013 to 2019

The channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1996.[1] It debuted on October 17, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT), as Space: The Imagination Station, launching under the ownership of CHUM Limited, airing the film Forbidden Planet, followed by a commentary on that film by author Robert J. Sawyer, followed by the film Mars Attacks!. The Sawyer commentary was the first example of the interstitial materials — mostly produced by Mark 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 include Space News (formerly SPIN, for "Space Information and News").[2]

CTVglobemedia took over Space on June 22, 2007, as a result of a takeover of CHUM Limited. At the same time, the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers later 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 of Bell Media.

On February 8, 2011, the Reeves-Stevenses submitted a letter to the Canadian 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, a high definition simulcast 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-production Orphan Black. A Bell Media executive explained that the branding was designed to reflect upon the broadening of the sci-fi genre beyond outer space and "people in polyester onesies running around with taser guns", by portraying the new logo in the form of real-life objects with a "phenomenal twist" to symbolize the "space around you".[5] Through Bell Media's acquisition of Astral Media, Space is now co-owned with the French-language science-fiction channel, Ztélé (since renamed Z).

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 the CTV brand.[6] The following year, it was revealed the channel would instead rebrand as CTV Sci-Fi Channel on September 12, 2019.[7]

Programming

CTV Sci-Fi Channel's programming includes scripted television series and films primarily focused on the science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, horror, and paranormal genres, often in a marathon format outside of prime time. The channel's original programming has included in-studio shows (including the daily newsmagazine Innerspace), scripted dramas, as well as shows co-produced with the U.S. channel Syfy, from which the channel also acquires the bulk of its programming.

The channel holds the linear television rights to the Star Trek television franchise in Canada, holding library rights to past Star Trek television shows and movies, and having acquired the rights to the newer Star Trek show, Star Trek: Discovery, produced for the Paramount+ streaming service.[8][9][10][11]

Current programming

Original

Acquired

Former programming

Original

Acquired

Former Annual events

  • The Spacey Awards: Space previously presented its own awards called the Spacey Awards to the best in sci-fi, fantasy and horror films, TV series, and video games. Some of the awards are voted on by viewers and the others by Space.
  • Santa Claus Conquers the Martians: Aired for several years at Christmas.
  • The Twelve Days of Space-mas: Twelve days of marathons, either of popular Space programs or of similarly themed science-fiction or fantasy movies. This usually includes the Doctor Who Christmas Special on Christmas Day.

References

  1. ↑ Decision CRTC 96-605 CRTC 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. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "Magnum P.I. reboot, new Jann Arden comedy on CTV's fall lineup". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  7. ↑ "Upfronts '19: Bell Media finalizes specialty rebrands". Media in Canada. June 5, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  8. ↑ "International Broadcasters Set for New Star Trek Series". StarTrek.com. July 18, 2016. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved July 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. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Lewis, Michael (23 April 2018). "Canadians get limited version of new CBS streaming app". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  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. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.

43°38′59″N 79°23′25″W / 43.649701°N 79.390233°W / 43.649701; -79.390233

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