HGTV (Canadian TV channel)
 | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment |
| History | |
| Launched | December 30, 2024 |
| Replaced | HGTV Canada (original) |
| 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 as a joint venture between Corus Entertainment (which serves as managing partner and owns 80.24% majority control through licensee HGTV Canada, Inc.) and Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns the remaining 19.76%).[1] HGTV broadcasts programs relating to real estate, home and garden design, and renovations.
This channel was launched 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.
The network's programming draws partially from the U.S. version of the channel, but it also carries 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, it was announced that Rogers Sports & Media had acquired the Canadian rights to all Warner Bros. Discovery lifestyle and factual brands; as a result, the channel will rebrand as Home Network on December 30, 2024, which will replace HGTV U.S. programs with other acquisitions to accompany its existing Canadian productions. Rogers is scheduled to launch a second iteration of HGTV under its ownership on January 1, 2025.
History
[edit]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."[2]
The channel was launched as HGTV on October 17, 1997.[3] Channels also launched that day were History Television, Teletoon, and Prime. In June 1998,[4] 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,[5] to form a new company called Alliance Atlantis Communications. The CRTC approved the merger in May 1999.[5]
On January 18, 2008,[6] a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media[7] acquired control of HGTV through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007.[8]
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.[9][10]
A high definition feed launched on January 31, 2011, which was eventually made available through all major television providers.[11]
On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment, making HGTV Canada a sibling to additional channels such as W Network.
On June 7, 2024, Corus Entertainment revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery's brand licensing and programming agreements with Corus for their Discovery-branded lifestyle networks would expire after December 31, 2024. Rogers Sports & Media would announce three days later that they would take over the rights to those brands in the country, including HGTV; on August 28, Rogers announced they would relaunch HGTV in Canada on January 1, 2025. Corus confirmed that it would continue to operate the affected channels with their existing Canadian-produced content, but under new names and "alternate foreign content supply"; the Corus-owned HGTV channel will rebrand as Home Network on December 30, 2024.
Programming
[edit]Noted personalities who have been featured in HGTV Canada programming have included Mike Holmes, Drew and Jonathan Scott, Bryan Baeumler, Chris Hyndman and Steven Sabados, Sarah Richardson, Sebastian Clovis, Scott McGillivray, Samantha Pynn, and Damon Bennett, among others.
Some of its original Canadian-produced series have also been acquired by the U.S. version of the network; in particular, Property Brothers has been among the U.S. version's top programs.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Corus Specialty Services" (PDF). Corus. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
- ^ "Decision CRTC 96-607". September 4, 1996. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ 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
- ^ Merger creates film, TV giant Toronto Star 1998-07-22
- ^ a b Decision CRTC 99-106 1999-05-20
- ^ Canwest Global receives final CRTC approval for acquisition of Alliance Atlantis CNW press release 2008-01-18
- ^ Goldman's happy ending at CanWest The Globe and Mail 2010-05-03
- ^ CanWest Completes Acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Archived 2012-04-23 at the Wayback Machine Investor Point 2007-08-15
- ^ Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media[permanent dead link]
- ^ CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties Archived 2013-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ HGTV Launches in High Definition + February Marathons Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine, Channel Canada, 2011-02-02
- ^ "HGTV Will Never Upset You: How the Network Beat CNN in 2016". Bloomberg. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.