Rebranding of Channels from Shaw Media (Lifetime Canada and H2 Canada) - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

thenewdc · 2012-05-30, 06:58 PM

Now, my question still is who is going to pick-up the SyFy brand in Canada?? Someone will undoubtedly grab this franchise. I'm surprised BELL hasn't negotiated the brand, or perhaps the rebrand of SPACE. If BELL is smart they will negotiate it quickly. If another company pulls it off this could adversely affect what we see on SPACE down the road. Does anyone know if their are any current Cat 2 licenses, not yet launched, for Sci Fi type programming??

cm3020prob · 2012-05-30, 07:05 PM

The Cave's licence is digital Cat A, which means all providers in the country must carry it, just like analog specialties launched before 2001. But it can be offered in packages or à la carte. It's highly possible that service providers will move the new H2 in the same package as History.

According to CRTC reports, The Cave is receiving 0.40$ per subscriber per month (900 000 subscribers in 2011) with a small 440 000$ in advertisement revenues. With programming expenses, they're back to zero.
In comparaison, History is receiving 0.31$ per subscriber (7.4 million subscribers) plus 43 millions in advertisement revenues. After programming expenses, they're making 24 million in profits.

With the rebrand and re-packaging, The Cave will make so much money, but programming wise, it'll be the same as Twist TV, which is a copy of Slice with one or two exclusive shows on it just to give a reason to subscribe to it as well. But it's better than what's currently on.

mismag · 2012-05-30, 07:19 PM

It makes no sense whatsoever for Bell to rebrand Space as Syfy as Space has got to be one of the top tv brands in Canada so why spend the money to change it? If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

ryandude_12345 · 2012-05-30, 10:14 PM

I also read that History Television will be rebranding to The History Channel... This seems very good! I wonder if they will be launching LifeTime and H2 in HD? It would be a pretty dumb business move if they didn't.

bigoranget · 2012-05-30, 11:39 PM

I would expect Shaw Media to launch these channels in HD. I think they will likely launch Slice and Action in HD too.

Viper550 · 2012-05-31, 01:32 AM

I'll tell you one thing, this will make those old "History Channel: Not available in Canada" commercials hilarious in hindsight for sure.

Shaw Champ · 2012-05-31, 02:01 AM

The new Ancient Aliens series premiered on H2 in the US I love that quirky show!
I'd like to see Action go HD and the wife Slice HD too in our home.

SMCKINNON24 · 2012-05-31, 07:29 AM

Shaw Media is breathing new Life into its programming. At its advertising upfront in Toronto on Tuesday morning, the company announced that it is pairing with A+E Networks to bring two additional networks into its roster – H2 and Lifetime.

Both channels, which are currently available in the U.S., will launch under the Shaw umbrella in the fall. Lifetime and H2 (an extension of the History brand) will bring many shows to Canadians for the first time, including a reality series following Whitney Houston’s family (The Houston Family Chronicles) and the Jennifer Love Hewitt series The Client List.

thenewdc · 2012-05-31, 07:29 AM

If BELL doesn't eventually do a rebrand of SPACE to SyFy, someone else will cut a deal for the brand, and get all the programming too, so they had better think hard about it or get screwed down the road. The SyFy brand is now in many countries around the world, so they are looking to do deals.

cm3020prob · 2012-05-31, 12:28 PM

Space is sharing a lot of programming with Syfy, owned by NBCUniversal. I don't think importing the branding will do anything more for us, Canadians. Same 14 hours a day of Star Trek and Stargate.

Space was launched as an analog specialty with genre protection. Any Category 2 specialty who attempt to brand as Syfy will air, let's see what's left: wrestling?

Syfy in the US is also sharing shows with Shaw Media: Haven, Lost Girl, Warehouse 13, all aired on Showcase, while sharing shows with Bell Media: Being Human, Alphas, Sanctuary, Stargate, Caprica, etc, all aired on Space.

I'm surprised Slice hasn't launched in HD, it's a flagship specialty, just like Food and HGTV. I don't see why they would upgrade Action to HD: All movies aired there is also scheduled on Showcase HD and MovieTime HD. Rest of the programming is low-rated or have already aired on Showcase HD. No service provider would pick it up. Really.

Concerning Lifetime taking over Showcase Diva, it's a Category B specialty distributed almost everywhere, so it's the ideal candidate.

thenewdc · 2012-05-31, 01:24 PM

I'm still curious if SHAW, Corus, or Rogers have any outstanding unused licenses for Sci Fi type programming.

McPatrick · 2012-05-31, 01:34 PM

so we are getting another history channel? that's all we need another channel showing countless hours of pawn shop shows

thenewdc · 2012-05-31, 03:14 PM

It's the same channel just a rebrand and some new programming

Fry1989 · 2012-05-31, 03:16 PM

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.

As for all the questions about if these two channels will be in HD as well, I would almost certainly count on it, if past rebrands are any indication.

MCIBUS · 2012-05-31, 04:19 PM

Whether to rebrand or not thats not up to me but to the channels owners.

But?

by rebranding is it really worth it?

So you change the name IE Space to SYFY, unless you get 100% of their programing whats the point?

So you get the name big deal.

Having Dish, Bravo in the US is not the same as Bravo here. There is programing thats on Bravo(US) that plays on Slice in Canada.

So the Cave (yet again, first Men TV, then The Cave, now H2),unless you get 100% of H2 US programing you'll never be the same.

Like wise with Showcase Diva rebranding as Lifetime. Unless you get 100% of the US version(every single show they broadcast) you won't be the same.

You can't even have the exact same schedule as the US version.

Why Canadian Content rules.

So you can rebrand as much as you want it'll never be exactly as the US version because:

1) can you get 100% of their programing?
2) can you have the exact same schedule 24/7/365 of the US version?

And con-tray to popular believe TCM US & TCM Canada are not the same. Perhaps 99.9% the same but every so often on a given month there's one movie on TCM US that at the same time TCM Canada will show a different movie at that time.It doesn't happen often but it does occur.

So rebranding is worth it? or not?

2012-05-30, 07:05 PM	#17
cm3020prob Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 277	The Cave's licence is digital Cat A, which means all providers in the country must carry it, just like analog specialties launched before 2001. But it can be offered in packages or à la carte. It's highly possible that service providers will move the new H2 in the same package as History. According to CRTC reports, The Cave is receiving 0.40$ per subscriber per month (900 000 subscribers in 2011) with a small 440 000$ in advertisement revenues. With programming expenses, they're back to zero. In comparaison, History is receiving 0.31$ per subscriber (7.4 million subscribers) plus 43 millions in advertisement revenues. After programming expenses, they're making 24 million in profits. With the rebrand and re-packaging, The Cave will make so much money, but programming wise, it'll be the same as Twist TV, which is a copy of Slice with one or two exclusive shows on it just to give a reason to subscribe to it as well. But it's better than what's currently on. __________________ CM-3020 with CM-7777

2012-05-31, 02:01 AM	#22
Shaw Champ Join Date: May 2010 Location: AB. LG47"LE5500/Toshiba 32E200U /BDC6500/ Shaw Gateway Posts: 823	The new Ancient Aliens series premiered on H2 in the US I love that quirky show! I'd like to see Action go HD and the wife Slice HD too in our home. __________________ Shaw Employee, Opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

2012-05-31, 07:29 AM	#23
SMCKINNON24 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rogers Cable, Scarborough, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,298	Shaw Media is breathing new Life into its programming. At its advertising upfront in Toronto on Tuesday morning, the company announced that it is pairing with A+E Networks to bring two additional networks into its roster – H2 and Lifetime. Both channels, which are currently available in the U.S., will launch under the Shaw umbrella in the fall. Lifetime and H2 (an extension of the History brand) will bring many shows to Canadians for the first time, including a reality series following Whitney Houston’s family (The Houston Family Chronicles) and the Jennifer Love Hewitt series The Client List. __________________ Rogers Digtal Cable,PVR8642HD/PVR8000, VIP ULTIMATE+TMN Playboy, Hustler, Super , WWE 24/7, BELL TV 9241PVRHD,

2012-05-31, 12:28 PM	#25
cm3020prob Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 277	Space is sharing a lot of programming with Syfy, owned by NBCUniversal. I don't think importing the branding will do anything more for us, Canadians. Same 14 hours a day of Star Trek and Stargate. Space was launched as an analog specialty with genre protection. Any Category 2 specialty who attempt to brand as Syfy will air, let's see what's left: wrestling? Syfy in the US is also sharing shows with Shaw Media: Haven, Lost Girl, Warehouse 13, all aired on Showcase, while sharing shows with Bell Media: Being Human, Alphas, Sanctuary, Stargate, Caprica, etc, all aired on Space. I'm surprised Slice hasn't launched in HD, it's a flagship specialty, just like Food and HGTV. I don't see why they would upgrade Action to HD: All movies aired there is also scheduled on Showcase HD and MovieTime HD. Rest of the programming is low-rated or have already aired on Showcase HD. No service provider would pick it up. Really. Concerning Lifetime taking over Showcase Diva, it's a Category B specialty distributed almost everywhere, so it's the ideal candidate. __________________ CM-3020 with CM-7777

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2012-05-30, 06:58 PM	#16
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,308	Now, my question still is who is going to pick-up the SyFy brand in Canada?? Someone will undoubtedly grab this franchise. I'm surprised BELL hasn't negotiated the brand, or perhaps the rebrand of SPACE. If BELL is smart they will negotiate it quickly. If another company pulls it off this could adversely affect what we see on SPACE down the road. Does anyone know if their are any current Cat 2 licenses, not yet launched, for Sci Fi type programming??

2012-05-30, 07:19 PM	#18
mismag Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 134	It makes no sense whatsoever for Bell to rebrand Space as Syfy as Space has got to be one of the top tv brands in Canada so why spend the money to change it? If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

2012-05-30, 10:14 PM	#19
ryandude_12345 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 212	I also read that History Television will be rebranding to The History Channel... This seems very good! I wonder if they will be launching LifeTime and H2 in HD? It would be a pretty dumb business move if they didn't.

2012-05-30, 11:39 PM	#20
bigoranget Veteran Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hamilton Posts: 2,937	I would expect Shaw Media to launch these channels in HD. I think they will likely launch Slice and Action in HD too.

2012-05-31, 01:32 AM	#21
Viper550 Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 160	I'll tell you one thing, this will make those old "History Channel: Not available in Canada" commercials hilarious in hindsight for sure.

2012-05-31, 01:24 PM	#26
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,308	I'm still curious if SHAW, Corus, or Rogers have any outstanding unused licenses for Sci Fi type programming.

2012-05-31, 01:34 PM	#27
McPatrick Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 326	so we are getting another history channel? that's all we need another channel showing countless hours of pawn shop shows

2012-05-31, 03:14 PM	#28
thenewdc Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,308	It's the same channel just a rebrand and some new programming

2012-05-31, 03:16 PM	#29
Fry1989 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Orillia, Ontario Posts: 543	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. As for all the questions about if these two channels will be in HD as well, I would almost certainly count on it, if past rebrands are any indication.

2012-05-31, 04:19 PM	#30
MCIBUS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,066	Whether to rebrand or not thats not up to me but to the channels owners. But? by rebranding is it really worth it? So you change the name IE Space to SYFY, unless you get 100% of their programing whats the point? So you get the name big deal. Having Dish, Bravo in the US is not the same as Bravo here. There is programing thats on Bravo(US) that plays on Slice in Canada. So the Cave (yet again, first Men TV, then The Cave, now H2),unless you get 100% of H2 US programing you'll never be the same. Like wise with Showcase Diva rebranding as Lifetime. Unless you get 100% of the US version(every single show they broadcast) you won't be the same. You can't even have the exact same schedule as the US version. Why Canadian Content rules. So you can rebrand as much as you want it'll never be exactly as the US version because: 1) can you get 100% of their programing? 2) can you have the exact same schedule 24/7/365 of the US version? And con-tray to popular believe TCM US & TCM Canada are not the same. Perhaps 99.9% the same but every so often on a given month there's one movie on TCM US that at the same time TCM Canada will show a different movie at that time.It doesn't happen often but it does occur. So rebranding is worth it? or not?