Playmen TV

Playmen TV
Country	Canada
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Ownership
Owner	Fifth Dimension Properties

Playmen TV is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel. It is a premium adult entertainment television channel aimed at gay men, with programming consisting mainly of adult films and adult-related television series.

Playmen TV's licensee is 4510810 Canada Inc. which is wholly owned by Fifth Dimension Properties Inc., a company wholly owned by Stuart Duncan, majority owner of Ten Broadcasting.

History

see OutTV (Canada) article for further detailed information.

The original concept for Playmen TV was founded in 2004, when then-owners of PrideVision TV, a then fledgling Canadian general entertainment digital cable television channel aimed at LGBT audiences, decided to launch a 24-hour gay male adult subscription channel. The owners decided to launch the service to allow better distribution for PrideVision, which at the time was airing pornography after midnight EST, which led many cable and satellite television providers to market PrideVision as a standalone premium channel rather than a general interest channel packaged along with other similar specialty channels.^[1]

In September 2004, the owners of PrideVision began their application process for the new adult channel as they applied for the licence to operate the channel from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).^[2] While two months later, in November, in preparation for the launch of the new 24 hour adult subscription channel, PrideVision was renamed HARD on PrideVision, exclusively airing adult content from primetime to the early morning (9pm-6am EST), while lifestyle and general entertainment programming aired during the remaining time period.^[3] The company's plan was to launch the new adult subscription channel under the name HARD on PrideVision, while at the same time, the existing general entertainment channel would be renamed OUTtv and move to a 24-hour schedule of general entertainment and lifestyle programming. This was done in hopes of creating an illusion of PrideVision evolving into a 24-hour adult channel, however, this was not the case.

The licence for adult channel was approved by the CRTC on March 4, 2005, then tentatively known as 617.^[4] The expected launch date for the adult subscription channel was April 7, 2005, however, the new channel launched 5 days later on April 12 due to difficulties with digital cable and satellite providers. On that date, HARD on PrideVision's lifestyle and entertainment programming expanded to a 24-hour schedule and the channel was renamed OUTtv, while the adult subscription channel took over the name HARD on PrideVision, consisting of a 24-hour schedule of adult content aimed at gay men.

On July 19, 2006, Shavick Entertainment, a film and television producer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, announced their intent to purchase a majority stake in both HARD on PrideVision and OUTtv from then majority owner William Craig.^[5] The transaction was finalized later that year, with other investors shares changing to reflect Shavick's new ownership.

In November 2006, under new ownership, HARD on PrideVision was renamed HARDtv.

On December 3, 2009, the CRTC approved an application on behalf of 4510810 Canada Inc, a newly formed company owned by Pink Triangle Press (55%) and Peace Point Entertainment (45%), that would see it acquire HARDtv from 6166954 Canada Inc. The transaction closed at a later date.

In the spring of 2013 HARDtv was rebranded Playmen TV after ownership in the company was transferred to Fifth Dimension Properties Inc. in April 2013.^[6]

Logos

Same logo used when PrideVision re-branded in preparation for the launch of the 24/7 adult service
First logo of HARDtv
Second logo used as HARDtv
Third logo used as HARDtv
Fourth logo used as HARDtv