Hollywood Suite

Last updated
Hollywood Suite
Hollywood Suite.png
Country Canada
Broadcast areaNational
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerHollywood Suite Inc.
History
LaunchedNovember 23, 2011;12 years ago (2011-11-23)
Links
Website Hollywood Suite
Availability
Streaming media
Amazon Prime Channels Over-the-top TV

Hollywood Suite is a group of four Canadian specialty channels, each either majority-owned or wholly owned by Hollywood Suite Inc., a privately held broadcasting company based in Toronto, Ontario, founded by Jay Switzer Jeff Sackman, Michael McLaughlin, Cathern Tait, and David Kines. [1] [2]

Contents

The four channels are primarily devoted to classic films, with each of the four channels devoted to a specific decade. Additionally, the networks air a select number of current-day scripted television series, award shows, and original non-scripted series, regardless of their decade demarcations. [3]

Its channels are separately licensed services (in contrast to competing premium television services in Canada, which at the time of launch, were Category A-licensed and whose additional channels are treated as multiplex channels operating under a single CRTC license), the four channels are typically bundled together in a single channel package.

History

On July 2, 2010, Jay Switzer (co-founder of Hollywood Suite), was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for four new specialty channels, including "Velocity" and "Adventure", which would be "devoted to the entire genre of action and adventure, including selections from crime fiction, and epic and heroic drama." [4] [5] as well as "KISS" and "The Love Channel", which would both be "devoted to romance, love and relationships." [6] [7]

The four channels launched on November 23, 2011 under the blanket branding Hollywood Suite, with all four channels typically distributed as a single package; the channels were marketed as providing a "pure" and "high quality" service at a lower cost in comparison to other premium television services in Canada. [3]

Channels

Hollywood Suite consists of four multiplex channels focusing on films, and in some cases TV series, from the 1970s (and earlier), 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s (and later) respectively. The service also offers a video on-demand channel, as well as TV Everywhere app Hollywood Suite Go. [8]

The four channels were previously formatted with either a theme, or featuring films from specific studios under brand licensing agreements; they originally launched as WarnerFilms (focusing on Warner Bros. productions), MGM Channel (focusing primarily on MGM films), Hollywood Storm (which focused primarily on action-oriented films), and Hollywood Festival (which focused primarily on romantic films). On May 31, 2012, Hollywood Suite announced it had reached a partnership with Sony Pictures Television to re-launch Hollywood Storm and Hollywood Festival as AXN Movies and Sony Movie Channel respectively. At the time of the rebrand, AXN Investments took a 46.66% ownership in the two channels. [9] The rebrand occurred on September 4, 2012. [10]

In September 2015, Hollywood Suite announced that it would re-launch its channels on November 2, 2015, dropping the studio-based brands in favour of dedicating each channel to a specific decade. [8]

Free previews for all four Hollywood Suite channels occur during December to early January, on every major TV provider, but as premium channels are apt to be bundled into tiers by Canada's major providers and not offered separately, only a few smaller providers which still offer them under premium pricing carry these preview periods.

Ownership

Hollywood Suite Inc.
Type Private
Industry Media
Founded2010
FoundersDavid Kines
Jay Switzer
Jeff Sackman
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Key people
David Kines (President)
Website hollywoodsuite.ca

According to CRTC records as of May 2022, the largest shareholders in Hollywood Suite Inc. are actress Ellen Dubin (widow of previous co-owner Jay Switzer) at 22.11%, Farmhouse Productions owner Kent Sobey (a relative of deceased previous shareholder Donald Sobey) at 15.38%, and ThinkFilm founder Jeff Sackman at 14.23%, with other shareholders holding combined interests of 50.05%. [11]

Sony subsidiary AXN Investments holds a net 46.66% interest in a subsidiary which owns the 90s and 00s Movies channels (formerly AXN Movies and Sony Movie Channel respectively), with the 70s and 80s Movies channels remaining wholly owned by Hollywood Suite. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comedy Gold (TV channel)</span> Canadian specialty television channel

Comedy Gold, formerly known as TV Land Canada was a Canadian English language specialty channel that was owned by Bell Media focused on sitcoms and sketch comedy programs from the 1970s to 1990s.

Sundance Channel was a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment that aired various films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Channel (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian cable channel

Family Channel is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by WildBrain. The network primarily airs children's television series, teen dramas, as well as other programming targeting a family audience. Despite having its own headquarters in the Brookfield Place office in Financial District, the channel is transmitted from Corus Quay.

Crave is a Canadian premium television network and streaming service owned by the Bell Media subsidiary of BCE Inc.

Cooking Channel is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel majority-owned by Corus Entertainment. Dedicated to programming related to food and cooking, it serves as a spin-off of Food Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movie Central</span> Former Canadian premium TV channel

Movie Central was a Canadian English language Category A premium cable and satellite television channel that was owned by Corus Entertainment. Movie Central was designated to operate west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, including the territories. Although the channel's name implies that it focuses solely on theatrically released motion pictures, Movie Central's programming included original and foreign television series, made-for-cable movies and documentaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AXN</span> Pay television channel (launched 1997)

AXN is a pay television channel owned by Sony Pictures Television, which was first launched in September 1997 in Asia. Local versions have since been launched in several parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV2 (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian television channel

MTV2 is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel focused on lifestyle and general entertainment programming aimed at youth and teen audiences. The channel is owned by Bell Media, with the MTV2 name and branding used under an agreement with the Paramount Networks Americas division of Paramount Global.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stingray Juicebox</span> Canadian television channel

Stingray Juicebox is a Canadian discretionary music specialty channel owned by Stingray Group. It is a commercial-free channel that broadcasts music and music videos aimed towards children and teens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makeful</span> Canadian pay television channel

Makeful is a Canadian pay television channel owned by Blue Ant Media focused on lifestyle programming relating to do-it-yourself projects such as food, design, style, and crafts in connection with maker culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Channel (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian premium TV channel

Super Channel Entertainment Network is a Canadian English language premium cable and satellite television channel 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.

GameTV is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pet Network</span> Canadian broadcast channel

The Pet Network was a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Stornoway Communications. The channel broadcast entertainment and information programming for children and adults primarily related to pets in the form of feature films, documentary films, television dramas, cartoons, docuseries, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ATN Movies</span> Television channel

ATN Movies is a Canadian Category B Hindi language specialty channel owned by Asian Television Network (ATN).

Starz is a Canadian English language premium television network owned by Bell Media.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channel Zero (company)</span> Canadian broadcasting and media group

2308740 Ontario Inc. is an independent Canadian broadcasting and media group, which holds assets in television broadcasting and film distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cult Movie Network</span> Television channel

The Cult Movie Network is a Canadian-based English language online video-on-demand service consisting of programming devoted to cult films from a variety of genres, primarily horror, but also including fantasy, comedy, and action, among others. The channel is owned by the Cult Movie Channel Inc., a company owned by Dieter Kohler.

The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2012. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.

A discretionary service is a Canadian specialty channel which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, may be carried optionally by all subscription television providers. It replaces the previous category A, category B, category C, and premium classifications.

References

  1. ↑ "Hollywood Suite Inc. | LinkedIn". ca.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  2. ↑ Hollywood Suite: Four New Canadian Movie Channels James Bawden blog 2012-02-21[ better source needed ]
  3. 1 2 Kelly, Brendan (2011-08-24). "Canadian broadcaster to launch 4 hi-def movie channels". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  4. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-450 CRTC 2010-07-02
  5. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-449 CRTC 2012-07-02
  6. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-451 CRTC 2010-07-02
  7. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-452 CRTC 2010-07-02
  8. 1 2 "Hollywood Suite to go by the numbers in rebranding its movie channels". Cartt.ca. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "Hollywood Suite brings Sony brands into its stable". Cartt.ca. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  10. ↑ Hollywood Suite Launches Two HD Movie Channels Broadcaster Magazine 2012-09-04
  11. 1 2 Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (May 19, 2022). "Ownership Chart 235: Hollywood Suite" (PDF). Retrieved May 27, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.