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.
The channel was launched on September 7, 2001 as Showcase Diva as a digital offshoot of Showcase by Alliance Atlantis focusing on films targeting a female audience. After a series of ownership changes, the channel was relaunched into its current name in 2012 with the Lifetime branding licensed by A&E Networks.
History
In November 2000, Alliance Atlantis (via the Showcase Television subsidiary) was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a television channel called Romance Television, described as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service devoted to romance. Programming will include relationship- themed game shows and magazine style programs featuring romantic vacation resorts. Other programs will explore romantic moments in people's lives, as well as classic romantic feature films, epic mini-series and made-for-television movies."[1]
The channel was launched on September 7, 2001 as Showcase Diva, a spin-off of Showcase. Programming consisted of primarily television dramas and films.
On January 18, 2008, Canwest Global[2] acquired control of Showcase Diva through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007.[3] On October 27, 2010, ownership changed again as Shaw Communications gained control of Showcase Diva as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.[4][5]
On May 30, 2012, Showcase Diva changed its name to the Canadian version of Lifetime on August 27, 2012, through a brand licensing agreement with the U.S. channel's parent company A&E Networks. The rebrand would result in the addition of more reality series, talk shows and other original series from Lifetime to the channel's films and television dramas.[6][7][8]
An HD feed was launched on May 29, 2013, along with the never-before-seen HD feeds for H2, Slice, and the DHX-owned Disney Junior service (now known as Family Jr.).
In February 2022, Lifetime was added to streaming bundle StackTV.[9] It was later added in February 2023 to the Global TV app along with the Canadian version of the Magnolia Network.
See also
- List of Canadian specialty channels
External links
References
- Decision CRTC 2000-674 CRTC 2000-12-14^
- Canwest Global receives final CRTC approval for acquisition of Alliance Atlantis CNW press release 2008-01-18^
- CanWest Completes Acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Investor Point 2007-08-15^
- Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media^
- CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties^
- Upfronts: Shaw adds more drama to Global and brings Lifetime to Canada Dose.ca 2012-05-30^
- Shaw Media and A+E Networks extend partnership to bring to Canada two exciting channels in fall Shaw Media press release 2012-05-30^
- Shaw Media and A&E to Launch Two New Specialty Channels Broadcaster Magazine, 30 May 2012, retrieved 30 May 2012^
- STACKTV NOW AVAILABLE ON ROGERS IGNITE TV AND IGNITE SMARTSTREAM Newswire, February 9, 2022, retrieved February 22, 2022^