Home Network

Last updated
Home Network
Country Canada
Broadcast areaNationwide
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerHGTV Canada, Inc. (80.24%, via Corus Entertainment – managing partner)
Scripps Networks, LLC (17.96%; Warner Bros. Discovery)
Sister channels Flavour Network
W Network
History
LaunchedOctober 17, 1997;27 years ago (October 17, 1997)
Former namesHGTV Canada (1997–2024)
Links
Website Home Network
Availability
Streaming media
StackTV Internet Protocol television

Home Network is a Canadian English-language discretionary cable and satellite specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. Home Network broadcasts programs relating to real estate, home and garden design, and renovations.

Contents

This channel was launched as HGTV Canada on October 17, 1997 under the joint ownership of Atlantis Communications and E. W. Scripps Company. Atlantis merged with Alliance Communications to form Alliance Atlantis Communications in 1998 and the stake of HGTV was then acquired. After several ownership changes throughout the years while maintaining the same format, the channel has been owned by Corus since 2016.

As HGTV, the network's programming drew partially from the U.S. version of the channel, but it also carried original Canadian-produced series, some of which have in turn also been picked up for broadcast by the U.S. network or others internationally, as well as a smaller selection of home renovation programming acquired from other producers in the United States or the United Kingdom.

In June 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced that it had acquired Canadian rights to Warner Bros. Discovery factual and lifestyle television brands beginning in 2025, including HGTV. Rogers announced its intent to relaunch HGTV as a new discretionary specialty channel on January 1, 2025. Corus announced that it would continue to operate its existing HGTV channel under a new brand, replacing HGTV U.S. programming with other acquisitions to accompany its existing Canadian productions. The new brand was later announced as Home Network, which launched on December 30, 2024.

History

As HGTV Canada

In September 1996, Atlantis Communications subsidiary Your Channel Television Inc., owner of Life Network, and minority partner E. W. Scripps Company were granted a television broadcasting licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a channel called HGTV-TV Canada. The decision described the channel as focused on "programming that presents practical, hands-on advice and instruction about homes and gardens", and would "revolve around five key themes: building and remodelling, decorating and interior design, gardening and landscaping, crafts and hobbies and special interests." [1]

HGTV Canada logo used from 1997 to 2012 HGTV Canada Logo.svg
HGTV Canada logo used from 1997 to 2012

The channel was launched as HGTV on October 17, 1997. [2] Channels also launched that day were History Television, Teletoon, and Prime. In June 1998, [3] Atlantis Communications announced that it planned to merge with Alliance Communications, another fellow television and film producer and broadcaster, owners of History Television and Showcase at the time, [4] to form a new company called Alliance Atlantis Communications. The CRTC approved the merger in May 1999. [4]

On January 18, 2008, [5] a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media [6] acquired control of HGTV through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007. [7]

On October 27, 2010, the channel's ownership changed again as Shaw Communications gained control of HGTV as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media. [8] [9]

A high definition feed launched on January 31, 2011, which was eventually made available through all major television providers. [10]

HGTV Canada logo used from 2012 to 2015 HGTV Canada 2012 logo.svg
HGTV Canada logo used from 2012 to 2015

On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment, making HGTV Canada a sibling to additional channels such as W Network.

As Home Network

HGTV Canada logo used from 2015 to 2024 HGTV Canada logo.png
HGTV Canada logo used from 2015 to 2024

On June 7, 2024, Corus announced it had been informed by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) that the latter would be ending its trademark licensing and program output agreements for some WBD-branded channels at the end of 2024. [11] Three days later, Rogers Sports & Media announced it had reached an agreement with WBD for the Canadian rights to its lifestyle brands including HGTV beginning in January 2025. [12] Rogers subsequently announced it intends to launch its own HGTV linear channel on January 1, 2025. [13]

Corus said in its June announcement that it intended to continue operating many of the affected channels under new brands with their existing Canadian programming along with "alternate foreign content supply". [11] In September, Corus announced that the current HGTV channel would relaunch as "Home Network" on December 30, 2024; its new schedule will feature new and renewed series featuring Canadian personalities such as Bryan Baeumler and Scott McGillivray (who have direct relationships with Corus despite also having been featured on the American HGTV channel), as well as new international acquisitions. Some repeats of HGTV U.S. programming will continue airing into 2025. [14] [15]

The CRTC lists Scripps Networks, LLC (an in-name-only subsidiary of WBD) as holding a 19.76% stake in the Corus subsidiary that holds Home Network's license; [16] it is not yet known if WBD will divest its stake in the channel due to its change of Canadian partner.

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In June 2024, Rogers Communications announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), under which it will hold the rights to the channel brands and programming of WBD's factual and lifestyle television networks. The agreement will trigger a major re-alignment of Canadian specialty television, ending the long-term associations between the brands of WBD predecessors Discovery, Inc. and Scripps Networks Interactive with Bell Media and Corus Entertainment respectively.

References

  1. ↑ "Decision CRTC 96-607". September 4, 1996. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. Reports Increased Revenues And Gross Profit for Third Quarter Ended December 31, 1998 Archived August 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Alliance Atlantis Communications press release 1998-02-24
  3. ↑ Merger creates film, TV giant Toronto Star 1998-07-22
  4. 1 2 Decision CRTC 99-106 1999-05-20
  5. ↑ Canwest Global receives final CRTC approval for acquisition of Alliance Atlantis CNW press release 2008-01-18
  6. ↑ Goldman's happy ending at CanWest The Globe and Mail 2010-05-03
  7. ↑ CanWest Completes Acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Archived 2012-04-23 at the Wayback Machine Investor Point 2007-08-15
  8. ↑ Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media [ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties Archived 2013-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ HGTV Launches in High Definition + February Marathons Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine , Channel Canada, 2011-02-02
  11. 1 2 Corus Entertainment (June 7, 2024). "CORUS PROVIDES UPDATE ON PROGRAMMING AND TRADEMARK OUTPUT ARRANGEMENTS" (Press release). Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (June 10, 2024). "Rogers scoops Warner Bros. Discovery rights from Corus and Bell". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Rogers deal to shift Discovery Science, OWN, Animal Planet channels to streaming, on demand". Cochrane Eagle. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  14. ↑ "Can lifestyle channel reboot lay foundation for a Corus turnaround?". C21media. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  15. ↑ Nino Gheciu, Alex (September 18, 2024). "Corus announces two new lifestyle networks after Rogers scoops up Food Network and HGTV". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Ownership Chart 32i: Corus Media Holdings - Discretionary Services" (PDF). CRTC. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
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