Country | Canada |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) (2016–2019) 480i (SDTV) (2001–2019) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Alliance Atlantis (2001–2008) Canwest (2008–2010) Shaw Media (2010–2016) Corus Entertainment (2016–2019) (Discovery Health Channel Canada ULC) |
Sister channels | History Crime & Investigation History2 Lifetime OWN W Network Slice ABC Spark Adult Swim CMT HGTV Food Network |
History | |
Launched | September 7, 2001 |
Closed | December 31, 2019 |
Former names | Discovery Health Channel (2001–2007) Discovery Health (2007–2010) Twist TV (2010–2014) |
FYI (stylized as fyi,) was a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Discovery Health Canada, ULC, a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. Based on the American cable network of the same name, the channel featured lifestyle programming, with a mix of reality, culinary, home renovation and makeover series.
The channel was launched on September 7, 2001, as Discovery Health Channel by a joint venture of Alliance Atlantis and Discovery Communications, which focused on health and wellness-oriented programming. Discovery Health was acquired by Canwest in 2008 which rebranded the network as Twist TV in 2010 before being taken over by Shaw Media. As Twist TV, the channel shifted to reality programming aimed at a female demographic.
After being rebranded to FYI in 2014 and acquired by Corus in 2016, the channel ended its operations on December 31, 2019. In 2024, Rogers Sports & Media entered a new licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (the successor to Discovery Communications) and has planned to relaunch the channel in one of its platforms in 2025.
In January 2000, Alliance Atlantis brokered a deal with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and several Canadian television providers, including both national satellite companies Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice, to distribute News Corporation's cable channel, The Health Network, in Canada. [1] The deal would mark the first time The Health Network would be available in Canada.
The deal struck to sponsor The Health Network's distribution in Canada was a prelude to the fact that Alliance Atlantis and News Corporation would eventually launch a Canadian version of the channel for the domestic market and remove the American channel from the Canadian market. On November 24, 2000, Alliance Atlantis (which would hold 80% majority interest in the channel) and News Corporation (which would hold the remaining 20% interest) were granted a broadcasting licence for The Health Network Canada by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). [2]
Prior to the launch of the network, in September 2001, Discovery Communications (owners of Discovery Health Channel in the U.S.) bought The Health Network from News Corporation for US$255 million. [3] Through that transaction, Discovery Communications would also acquire News Corporation's 20% interest in The Health Network Canada.
As a result of Discovery Communications' newly acquired interest in the service, the network was launched that same month on September 7, 2001, as the Discovery Health Channel. On the same day as the Canadian channel's launch, the American service, The Health Network, was removed from all Canadian television providers. In February 2002, The Health Network was removed from the CRTC's list of foreign satellite services eligible for carriage on Canadian pay television providers, by request of The Health Network's owners. [4]
On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, known as CW Media, bought Alliance Atlantis and through that transaction, acquired Alliance Atlantis' interest in Discovery Health. In 2009, CW Media purchased the remaining interest in the channel from Discovery Communications, bringing its ownership to 100%. [5]
Two deals were announced in late 2009 and early 2010 that affected the future of the Canadian channel. First, Discovery Communications announced that the flagship Discovery Health channel in the U.S. would be replaced by the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in January 2011. OWN later reached an agreement with Corus Entertainment to launch a Canadian version of that channel shortly after the U.S. version's debut. [6] Later in April 2010, Discovery Communications announced an expanded long-term agreement with Bell Media (then CTVglobemedia, Discovery's Canadian partner for most of its other channels) under which Bell holds Canadian broadcast rights to most of the Discovery Communications programming library, including Discovery Health programs, and the right to launch new Discovery-branded channels. [7]
On September 15, 2010, Canwest announced Discovery Health Canada would rebrand as Twist TV on November 1. The rebranded channel would focus on reality shows about "people facing extraordinary situations" aimed at a female demographic including such shows as Nanny 911 , Raising Sextuplets , Dad Camp , and Little Miss Perfect . The name came from the narrative "twist" trope common with reality and non-fiction programming. [5] On October 27, 2010, the channel's ownership changed again as Shaw Communications gained control of Discovery Health as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media. [8] [9] The channel officially rebranded five days later.[ citation needed ] The network was wholly unrelated to the American Twist network with the same format launched in 2021.[ citation needed ]
In June 2014, it was reported that Twist TV, along with sister network Mystery TV, would be rebranded as Canadian versions of FYI and the Crime & Investigation Network under a licensing agreement with A+E Networks. [10] A+E Networks and Shaw Media had previously partnered to rebrand History Television, Showcase Diva and The Cave as Canadian versions of History, Lifetime and H2 in 2012. [11]
The launch of FYI (as well as CI) was intended to draw in more female viewers, the primary audience of Shaw Media's lifestyle networks. [12] In addition to programming from the U.S. service, as well as other Shaw Media-owned channels, the new channel will air shows from other sources. [13] The channel was relaunched on the morning of September 1, 2014 with a free preview to last the rest of the month. [14] A month prior, a Canadian version of the FYI website went online. [15] Over time, the website was updated to include information pertaining to the channel. [16]
A YouTube channel went online August 28, 2014; on that day, sneak peeks of FYI programming aired on Lifetime and Slice. [17] On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment. [18]
In June 2019, at the Corus Entertainment upfronts, Corus Entertainment announced its Fall 2019 schedules of its top-performing specialty channels. However, FYI was not included in the upfronts. [19]
In October 2019, Corus announced that FYI would be shut down at midnight on December 31, 2019, after which the channel space created in 2001 by Discovery Health Channel ceased to exist. [20] The channel's license was surrendered to the CRTC on February 4, 2020. [21]
The closure of the channel and its revocation of license did not put an end of the Discovery Health Channel in Canada. However, in June 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced it entered a licensing agreement to Warner Bros. Discovery (the successor to Discovery Inc.) to hold the Canadian rights to WBD's lifestyle and factual brands after Corus opted not to renew the agreement. [22] Among them is the possible relaunch of Discovery Health Channel, then renamed to Discovery Life, in one of its platforms in 2025. [23]
In late 2016, Corus launched FYI HD, a 1080i high definition simulcast of the standard definition feed. The HD feed was available on Bell Fibe TV, Bell MTS and Optik TV. On August 8, 2018, it launched on Shaw Direct. The HD feed shut down on December 31, 2019.
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Canadian media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon, and Sydney.
BBC Canada was a Canadian English language specialty channel that mostly broadcast television series originally produced by the BBC, the public-service broadcaster of the United Kingdom. The channel was owned by Corus Entertainment and BBC Studios (20%).
Lifetime is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel based on the eponymous American basic cable channel owned by Showcase Television Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. It broadcasts films, television shows and reality series aimed at women.
Corus Entertainment, Inc. is a Canadian mass media company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio, Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. Corus is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Ontario.
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The History Channel is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel that primarily broadcasts programming related to history and historical fiction. It is owned by History Television, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment.
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SériesPlus is a Canadian French language specialty channel devoted to French-language scripted comedy and dramatic programming. The channel is owned by Corus Entertainment.
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IFC was a Canadian English language specialty channel. The channel was owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel broadcast independent films, documentaries, and television series. Its name was licensed from the American company AMC Networks, the owner of IFC. The channel ceased operations on September 30, 2019.
History2 is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Men TV General Partnership, a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment dedicated to airing historic and non-historical programming of military, science, and technology interest.
National Geographic is a Canadian English language television channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It is a licensed version of the U.S. basic cable network of the same name It features documentary and human interest programming that explores the natural world. The service, like its international counterparts, is based on National Geographic Magazine.
Historia is a Canadian discretionary service owned by Corus Entertainment. The network broadcasts French-language programming related to history and historical fiction, and is a sister network to the English-language History; both channels operate as Canadian licensees of the U.S. network History.
Dusk was a Canadian English language specialty channel. Dusk broadcast programming consisting of films, television dramas, and reality TV, and documentary-style television series from the thriller, suspense and supernatural genres.
Magnolia Network is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel that broadcasts lifestyle programming related to home design, renovations, and food. The channel's brand and much of its foreign programming is licensed from its American namesake, Magnolia Network. The channel is a joint venture between HGTV Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Shaw Media, Inc. was the television broadcasting division of Shaw Communications. It owned the Global Television Network, which broadcasts nationally via 13 television stations, as well as 19 specialty channels including Slice, HGTV Canada, Showcase, Food Network Canada, and History. Shaw Media consisted of the broadcasting assets of the former Canwest. Shaw Media properties were acquired in April 2016 by sister company Corus Entertainment.
Crime & Investigation is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment.
MovieTime is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It primarily broadcasts films, with 250 titles per month and back-to-back movies on the weekends. Unlike other Canadian movie channels, MovieTime operates as an advertiser-supported service.
Adult Swim is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Showcase Television, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily airs animated and live-action comedies targeting a teenage and young adult audience. Its branding is licensed from the Adult Swim programming block broadcast by Warner Bros. Discovery's Cartoon Network; it is the first full-time television channel to use the "Adult Swim" brand.