Rebranding of Channels from Shaw Media (Lifetime Canada and H2 Canada) - Page 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

thenewdc · 2012-05-31, 04:42 PM

The programming doesn't have to be identical, but having access to the more popular first run stuff is really what's important. The daytime scheds of most U.S. specialty channels have nothing but garbage, same show on all day. I have both because I use a U.S. address Slingbox at a relatives house, so I get it all anyways. In many other countries around the world they have all the popular U.S. branded channels, all with unique schedules.

cm3020prob · 2012-05-31, 06:30 PM

We have FX Canada, but Anger Management went to CTV.

We have BBC Canada, but it's of very poor quality compared to BBC America.

We have IFC (Independant Film Channel), which airs movies from major Hollywood studios such as 20th Century Fox, and is nothing compared to the american IFC.

We have MTV Canada, which participates with international versions, but it cannot air music videos since it's its licence requirements come from their "talktv" years. That's a great example of stretching licence limits to the maximum.

Star! (owned by CHUM) was a canadian version of E!, but once it fell into CTV's hands, Canwest created a conventional E! network with CHCH and grabbed their whole catalog. Once the network folded, Star! adopted the E! brand.

We have a canadian version of HBO, but the US version of HBO acts like our Movie Network during the day, airing movies.

TCM and Spike are operated in the US but running a seperate canadian feed for when they can't acquire broadcast rights in Canada. Same goes for TLC, CNN, A&E, MSNBC, BET, etc.

Importing a "brand" doesn't necessarily mean quality. The programmer must be motivated into running the channel to success.

thenewdc · 2012-05-31, 07:58 PM

As far as FX Canada is concerned, until contracts are up, we'll see programming scattered on other channels, but that will change.

SaladGoat · 2012-06-01, 12:15 AM

It was my understanding that The Cave (formerly Men TV) was a Category 1 digital channel, meaning that its carriage was mandatory and that it had to deliver what it was licenced for - in this case, programming directed at men. They even launched a challenge against Spike TV a few years ago, saying that it was a service of a similar nature, which is forbidden when it comes to category 1.
Now they are going to show history stuff? How does that fit in with "programming for men"? Just curious if you think this is going to fly under the radar or if Rogers and/or Bell are going to file a challenge?

Fry1989 · 2012-06-01, 12:55 AM

CanCon rules and rebranding to a Canadian version of a US channel vs having a distinctly Canadian channel about the same subject, is not the problem. The problem is laziness on the part of Canadian companies. My fiance is in his home country of Australia right now, and he was just telling me about how Nat Geo Australia had a really good documentary on the Australian & New Zealand Army Corp for ANZAC Day, something that would probably never be produced or air on the US Nat Geo. All over the place there are "local versions" of US channels that show a good amount of US programming and local-based programming.

The problem comes here where there's no direct incentive for our providers to spend the money they have to, to import good US programming and produce good Canadian programming too, when they can get away with doing it at the start, then just repeating the same stuff over and over until we end up with all-day marathons of crap. There's no regulatory organization that keeps these providers in check for that nonsense.

In any case, I'm excited for the rebrand, it will at least bring in SOME fresh new stuff, and from what I've read about H2 in the US, it's stayed away from reality-based history programming like it's sister History Channel and focused more on real history programming, which I'm actually interested in.

McPatrick · 2012-06-01, 01:29 AM

hehe thats kinda funny. H2 is the channel the original history channel was supposed to be. it reminds me of when MTV released MTV2 just for music videos

PFD · 2012-06-01, 08:05 AM

The problem comes here where there's no direct incentive for our providers to spend the money they have to, to import good US programming and produce good Canadian programming too, when they can get away with doing it at the start, then just repeating the same stuff over and over until we end up with all-day marathons of crap. There's no regulatory organization that keeps these providers in check for that nonsense.

This.
That's the problem with all these upper tier digital channels. They're just filler that keep making money.

cm3020prob · 2012-06-02, 12:28 PM

Shaw Media is motivated in producing a minimum of original shows for HGTV, Food and Slice, one or two original scripted dramas for Showcase, and that's about it. They also cheap-produce fillers like Ad Persuation, that counts as canadian content they can spread on 4 or 5 of their specialties.

TVtropolis licence is aimed towards 50 years and older, but it's not the primary advertisers target audience. Reaching 6 million homes, Shaw Media programs comedies on it (they can say "older people like those!"), advertisers pay big money, they make money. That's the only reason it's still operating today. It's programming is shallow, just like DejaView.

Summer Olympics 2012 in London. CTV owns the broadcast rights of the games, but you'd think BBC Canada, owned by Shaw Media with 2.6 million subscribers, would offer alternative special programming around the event and whatever is happening around London? Wrong. Same regular programming, like if the olympics was a bicycle run in London Ontario.

The main History Channel is watched by majority by men, so it just makes sense to rebrand The Cave to H2. Their programming quality should shift from "horrible" to "bad" in the next few months, which is an improvement.

thenewdc · 2012-06-02, 01:13 PM

Branding is the key to success. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more rebrands down the road.

Fry1989 · 2012-06-02, 03:33 PM

It does seem to be the new trend.

Smoothfonzo · 2012-06-03, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fry1989

I for one like the SPACE brand, and would be sad to see it rebranded to Syfy. I don't think a rebrand is neccesary for SPACE to bring more programming from Syfy into Canada.

Same here. Honestly, the sci-fi fans I'ved talked to in the U.S are quite jealous of SPACE's content and programming, going so far as to say that a U.S version of the channel would be quite welcome. This, I think, is an example of where the genre protection is doing the channel favours, compared to SyFy, where they've wandered away from their home genre, showing wrestling and reality shows. SPACE is the only network to have at one time aired all Trek series as part of their day's regular schedule. I count the SPACE channel as an example of a superior channel to its U.S counterpart. So, what it has is a unique identity that we should be proud of having.

alebowgm · 2012-06-03, 04:02 PM

What I find interesting with the rebranding of Showcase Diva to Lifetime Canada is that Lifetime is actually on the CRTC list of foreign stations allowed to be carried by BDUs in Canada. If they had wanted to, they could had cut out the middle man, but my guess is Shaw is paying more money for licensing and first right of refusal on programming compared to what they would had got per subscriber from the BDUs.

Meanwhile, I hope Shaw ponies up and brings AMW as part of this.

ryandude_12345 · 2012-07-27, 10:18 AM

Will these channels be launching in HD?

thenewdc · 2012-07-27, 10:27 AM

I have no doubts they will launch in HD, mind you whether your provider will carry the HD channel is another issue.

ryandude_12345 · 2012-07-27, 10:57 AM

Hopefully since Rogers and Shaw Media are pretty close, maybe we will see H2 and Lifetime in HD at launch? Since Rogers are the only provider other than Shaw carrying Nat Geo Wild maybe there are good ties there? Hopefully so!

@thenewdc, from your insider that your info on Nat Geo Wild launching June 5th, does he have any other info on HD channels coming to Rogers soon? Very anxious to see more!

2012-05-31, 06:30 PM	#32
cm3020prob Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 277	We have FX Canada, but Anger Management went to CTV. We have BBC Canada, but it's of very poor quality compared to BBC America. We have IFC (Independant Film Channel), which airs movies from major Hollywood studios such as 20th Century Fox, and is nothing compared to the american IFC. We have MTV Canada, which participates with international versions, but it cannot air music videos since it's its licence requirements come from their "talktv" years. That's a great example of stretching licence limits to the maximum. Star! (owned by CHUM) was a canadian version of E!, but once it fell into CTV's hands, Canwest created a conventional E! network with CHCH and grabbed their whole catalog. Once the network folded, Star! adopted the E! brand. We have a canadian version of HBO, but the US version of HBO acts like our Movie Network during the day, airing movies. TCM and Spike are operated in the US but running a seperate canadian feed for when they can't acquire broadcast rights in Canada. Same goes for TLC, CNN, A&E, MSNBC, BET, etc. Importing a "brand" doesn't necessarily mean quality. The programmer must be motivated into running the channel to success. __________________ CM-3020 with CM-7777

2012-06-02, 12:28 PM	#38
cm3020prob Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 277	Shaw Media is motivated in producing a minimum of original shows for HGTV, Food and Slice, one or two original scripted dramas for Showcase, and that's about it. They also cheap-produce fillers like Ad Persuation, that counts as canadian content they can spread on 4 or 5 of their specialties. TVtropolis licence is aimed towards 50 years and older, but it's not the primary advertisers target audience. Reaching 6 million homes, Shaw Media programs comedies on it (they can say "older people like those!"), advertisers pay big money, they make money. That's the only reason it's still operating today. It's programming is shallow, just like DejaView. Summer Olympics 2012 in London. CTV owns the broadcast rights of the games, but you'd think BBC Canada, owned by Shaw Media with 2.6 million subscribers, would offer alternative special programming around the event and whatever is happening around London? Wrong. Same regular programming, like if the olympics was a bicycle run in London Ontario. The main History Channel is watched by majority by men, so it just makes sense to rebrand The Cave to H2. Their programming quality should shift from "horrible" to "bad" in the next few months, which is an improvement. __________________ CM-3020 with CM-7777

2012-06-03, 04:02 PM	#42
alebowgm Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,919	What I find interesting with the rebranding of Showcase Diva to Lifetime Canada is that Lifetime is actually on the CRTC list of foreign stations allowed to be carried by BDUs in Canada. If they had wanted to, they could had cut out the middle man, but my guess is Shaw is paying more money for licensing and first right of refusal on programming compared to what they would had got per subscriber from the BDUs. Meanwhile, I hope Shaw ponies up and brings AMW as part of this. __________________ Windsor:CM4228+4220HD to 1.Samsung LNT3242H+2.AccessHD DTA1080D [RCA DTA800+CM7775+DTB-H260F in storage] GTA:LN40B750

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2012-05-31, 04:42 PM	#31
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,309	The programming doesn't have to be identical, but having access to the more popular first run stuff is really what's important. The daytime scheds of most U.S. specialty channels have nothing but garbage, same show on all day. I have both because I use a U.S. address Slingbox at a relatives house, so I get it all anyways. In many other countries around the world they have all the popular U.S. branded channels, all with unique schedules.

2012-05-31, 07:58 PM	#33
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,309	As far as FX Canada is concerned, until contracts are up, we'll see programming scattered on other channels, but that will change.

2012-06-01, 12:15 AM	#34
SaladGoat Rookie Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 3	It was my understanding that The Cave (formerly Men TV) was a Category 1 digital channel, meaning that its carriage was mandatory and that it had to deliver what it was licenced for - in this case, programming directed at men. They even launched a challenge against Spike TV a few years ago, saying that it was a service of a similar nature, which is forbidden when it comes to category 1. Now they are going to show history stuff? How does that fit in with "programming for men"? Just curious if you think this is going to fly under the radar or if Rogers and/or Bell are going to file a challenge?

2012-06-01, 12:55 AM	#35
Fry1989 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Orillia, Ontario Posts: 543	CanCon rules and rebranding to a Canadian version of a US channel vs having a distinctly Canadian channel about the same subject, is not the problem. The problem is laziness on the part of Canadian companies. My fiance is in his home country of Australia right now, and he was just telling me about how Nat Geo Australia had a really good documentary on the Australian & New Zealand Army Corp for ANZAC Day, something that would probably never be produced or air on the US Nat Geo. All over the place there are "local versions" of US channels that show a good amount of US programming and local-based programming. The problem comes here where there's no direct incentive for our providers to spend the money they have to, to import good US programming and produce good Canadian programming too, when they can get away with doing it at the start, then just repeating the same stuff over and over until we end up with all-day marathons of crap. There's no regulatory organization that keeps these providers in check for that nonsense. In any case, I'm excited for the rebrand, it will at least bring in SOME fresh new stuff, and from what I've read about H2 in the US, it's stayed away from reality-based history programming like it's sister History Channel and focused more on real history programming, which I'm actually interested in.

2012-06-01, 01:29 AM	#36
McPatrick Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 327	hehe thats kinda funny. H2 is the channel the original history channel was supposed to be. it reminds me of when MTV released MTV2 just for music videos

2012-06-01, 08:05 AM	#37
PFD Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,053	The problem comes here where there's no direct incentive for our providers to spend the money they have to, to import good US programming and produce good Canadian programming too, when they can get away with doing it at the start, then just repeating the same stuff over and over until we end up with all-day marathons of crap. There's no regulatory organization that keeps these providers in check for that nonsense. This. That's the problem with all these upper tier digital channels. They're just filler that keep making money.

2012-06-02, 01:13 PM	#39
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,309	Branding is the key to success. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more rebrands down the road.

2012-06-02, 03:33 PM	#40
Fry1989 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Orillia, Ontario Posts: 543	It does seem to be the new trend.

2012-07-27, 10:18 AM	#43
ryandude_12345 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 214	Will these channels be launching in HD?

2012-07-27, 10:27 AM	#44
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,309	I have no doubts they will launch in HD, mind you whether your provider will carry the HD channel is another issue.

2012-07-27, 10:57 AM	#45
ryandude_12345 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 214	Hopefully since Rogers and Shaw Media are pretty close, maybe we will see H2 and Lifetime in HD at launch? Since Rogers are the only provider other than Shaw carrying Nat Geo Wild maybe there are good ties there? Hopefully so! @thenewdc, from your insider that your info on Nat Geo Wild launching June 5th, does he have any other info on HD channels coming to Rogers soon? Very anxious to see more!