CTV Nature Channel

Last updated
CTV Nature Channel
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
Headquarters 9 Channel Nine Court, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Programming
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner
Sister channels CTV
CTV2
CTV Comedy Channel
CTV Drama Channel
CTV Life Channel
CTV Sci-Fi Channel
CTV Speed Channel
CTV Wild Channel
Oxygen
USA Network
History
LaunchedAugust 15, 2001;23 years ago (2001-08-15)
Former namesDiscovery Civilization Channel (2001–2010)
Discovery Science (2010-2025)
Links
Website CTV Nature

CTV Nature Channel is a Canadian discretionary specialty channel owned by CTV Specialty Television, a joint venture between Bell Media and ESPN Inc., with minority interests owned by Warner Bros. Discovery via licensee Discovery Science Canada Company. [1] It broadcasts factual and reality-style series related to science, nature, and history.

Contents

The network was originally launched on August 15, 2001 as Discovery Civilization Channel, a digital cable spin-off from Discovery Channel based on the U.S. network of the same name (now Investigation Discovery), focusing on programming related to history and international culture. On September 27, 2010, the channel relaunched as Discovery Science, becoming a Canadian version of Science Channel.

On January 1, 2025, the channel relaunched as CTV Nature Channel, due to Bell losing the rights to Warner Bros. Discovery factual and lifestyle brands to Rogers Sports & Media (who will primarily distribute Science Channel programming through its streaming and on-demand platforms, foregoing a new specialty channel).

History

CTV Nature Channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on December 14, 2000 as Discovery Civilization Channel Canada. [2] The application was granted to CTV Inc., and was later transferred to its subsidiary, CTV Specialty Television Inc., in which ESPN owns a 20% interest. The channel was originally described in regulatory documents as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service dedicated to bringing the diverse people and cultures of the world to Canadian viewers. The service will be dedicated to exploring and understanding the roots of human development and learning from other cultures and traditions." [2]

The channel was launched on August 15, 2001 as Discovery Civilization Channel, with programming devoted to human civilization and history. The channel was intended to be a Canadian version of a U.S. channel of the same name, which was later reformatted and renamed as Discovery Times, and later became Investigation Discovery.

Previous logo until 2021. Discovery Science Canada 2011.PNG
Previous logo until 2021.

On June 4, 2010 CTVglobemedia announced that Discovery Civilization Channel would be rebranded as Discovery Science on September 27, 2010, serving as a Canadian version of the U.S. network Science Channel. [3]

On June 10, 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced it had reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for Canadian rights to its lifestyle brands beginning in January 2025, which were subsequently confirmed to include Discovery Science. [4] [5] This led to a lawsuit by Bell, which claimed the move would violate previous non-compete clauses with WBD; the matter was settled out of court in October. [6] [7] Rogers announced that Science Channel content would move to its on-demand and streaming platforms including Citytv+, rather than a new linear channel. [8]

Discovery Science logo from 2021 until January 1, 2025. Discovery Science 2017 Logo.svg
Discovery Science logo from 2021 until January 1, 2025.

On October 17, 2024, Bell Media announced the channel would rebrand as CTV Nature Channel on January 1, 2025. CTV Nature will take over much of Discovery's previous mandate within the Bell Media portfolio as it transitions to a general entertainment format under the USA Network brand, repurposing certain Canadian factual series previously commissioned by Bell, as well as other content related to science, nature, and history from third-party distributors. [9]

HD feed

On June 17, 2011 Bell Media announced that it would launch Discovery Science HD, a high definition (HD) simulcast of the standard definition feed, by the end of 2011. [10] The channel was launched on December 15, 2011 on Bell Fibe TV and on September 11, 2012 on Telus Optik TV. [11] Shaw Direct began using it on August 8, 2018.

International distribution

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References

  1. ↑ "Ownership - BCE - Bell Media - Discretionary Services (other than Mainstream Sports)" (PDF). CRTC. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  2. 1 2 Decision CRTC 2000-553; CRTC; 2000-12-14
  3. ↑ Discovery to Launch Three New Channel Brands In Canada Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , CTV press release, June 4, 2010
  4. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (June 10, 2024). "Rogers scoops Warner Bros. Discovery rights from Corus and Bell". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Rogers announces licensing deals with NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery". CityNews.ca . June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (June 28, 2024). "Bell files injunction against Rogers in Warner Bros. Discovery content battle". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  7. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (2024-10-08). "Bell Expands Warner Bros Discovery Pact For HBO & Max Content And Ends Legal Action Over Rogers Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  8. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (August 28, 2024). "Rogers outlines plans to launch new channels". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ Bell Media (October 17, 2024). "Bell Media Brings Powerhouse Brands USA Network and Oxygen True Crime to Canada" (Press release). Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  10. ↑ Discovery Channel and Bell Media Factual Networks Announce Fall 2011 "Must See" Highlights Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine CNW 2011-06-17
  11. ↑ Animal Planet HD, Investigation Discovery HD and Discovery Science HD Launch Today Bell Media press release 2011-12-15
  12. ↑ Flow Cable channel lineup
  13. ↑ Cable Bahamas channel lineup Archived August 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Flow Cable channel lineup Archived June 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ VTR Digital Cable channel lineup
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