Showcase (TV channel)
- This article is about a Canadian specialty channel. For other uses, see Showcase (disambiguation).
| Showcase | |
|---|---|
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| Showcase logo | |
| Launched | January 1, 1995 |
| Owned by | Shaw Media |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) (2006-present) 480i (SDTV) (1995-present) |
| Country | Canada |
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Sister channel(s) | Showcase Diva Action |
| Website | Showcase |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Bell TV | 616, 617 (SD) 838 (HD) |
| Shaw Direct | 521, 522 (SD) 277 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| Available on most Canadian cable systems | Check local listings, channels may vary |
| IPTV | |
| Bell Aliant TV | 201 (SD), 416 (HD) |
| Bell Fibe TV | 616, 617 (SD) 1616 (HD) |
| MTS | 111, 112 (SD) 440 (HD) |
| Optik TV | 172 (SD), 672 (HD) |
| SaskTel | 75 (SD), 375 (HD) |
Showcase is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. Showcase predominantly airs works of fiction, centred around scripted television series and films.
The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East (Eastern Time) and West (Pacific Time).
Contents |
[edit] History
Licensed in 1994, Showcase was a venture between Alliance Communications (prior to its merger with Atlantis), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and a number of smaller independent Canadian producers, and was intended to be a showcase for "the best of independently-produced movies, drama, comedy and mini-series from Canada and around the world", with limited content from the United States.[1] It launched at midnight on January 1, 1995.
When the network premiered, it garnered some negative publicity due to a disclaimer it would broadcast prior to reruns of older series. The disclaimer, which advised viewers to remember that "attitudes were not always the same as they are now" was applied to relatively recent programs such as Seeing Things. Following media scorn and accusations of political correctness and being condescending to viewers, Showcase abandoned this form of disclaimer. It has since frequently been criticized[2] by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council for not airing enough disclaimers.
After several acquisitions over the years, Alliance Atlantis eventually gained full control of Showcase.
On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media bought Alliance Atlantis and gained AAC's interest in Showcase.
On October 27, 2010, ownership changed once again as Shaw Communications gained control of Showcase as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.[3][4]
[edit] Programming
From the beginning it has aired frequent series repeats of Canadian series such as Due South, Cold Squad, and Da Vinci's Inquest, the lineup changing from year to year. Showcase has also been the primary Canadian broadcaster for American cable series such as Rescue Me, Weeds, Family Business, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Saving Grace and The L Word, as well as the US/UK series Da Ali G Show, and a secondary broadcaster (following the original Canadian airing on The Movie Network/Movie Central) of Six Feet Under, Dead Like Me and Curb Your Enthusiasm. It similarly airs repeats of the CSI series after their original broadcast windows.
Such foreign programs can only air in primetime beginning at 10:00 p.m. (Eastern / Pacific), as a result of a condition of license[5] obligating Showcase to air 100% Canadian content between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. In fall 2005, Showcase began promoting 10:00 as its flagship timeslot, even hiring branded taxis[6] in major markets, driving people home for free by 10:00 p.m. on selected evenings.
Showcase has also added first-run Canadian series, dubbed "Showcase Originals", which include Paradise Falls, KinK, and Naked Josh. Another of these shows, the low-budget Trailer Park Boys became a bona fide national phenomenon, spawning DVDs, merchandising tie-ins, and two feature films (Trailer Park Boys: The Movie and Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day.) The success of these rather risqué series have driven the service towards an even more edgy bent, with nearly all of its programmes now considered "adult" in one way or another, whereas family and children's programmes were more frequent in Showcase's early days.
Showcase also carries regular movies, mostly independent and foreign films. British series like Prime Suspect, the original Queer as Folk, The Second Coming, Little Britain, Wife Swap and Cracker have also been present since Showcase's launch. Overnight, Showcase shows a number of films and shows that could be considered soft porn, such as Red Shoe Diaries and Sin Cities.
Showcase also airs some specialty or science fiction TV series, such as Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Seven Days, Andromeda, Highlander: The Series and Beastmaster.
Two spinoff digital television services have launched, the male-oriented Action (formerly Showcase Action) and the more feminine Showcase Diva.
On August 6, 2009, the web show Pure Pwnage was announced to be a part of Showcase's programming, scheduled to begin in January 2010.
[edit] Original programming
- Almost Heroes (1 season, 2011)
- Billable Hours (3 seasons, 2006–2008)
- Bliss (3 seasons, 2002–2004)
- Cra$h & Burn (1 season 2009)
- The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour (in production - 2011)
- Endgame (2011)
- Exes and Ohs (2 seasons, 2009–2010)
- The Foundation (1 season, 2009–2010)
- It's Me...Gerald (1 season, 2005)
- Kenny vs. Spenny (6 seasons, 2003–2010)
- King (2011–present)
- KinK (5 seasons, 2001–2006)
- Lost Girl (2 seasons, 2010–present)
- Moccasin Flats (3 seasons, 2003–2006)
- Moose TV (1 season, 2007–2008)
- Naked Josh (3 seasons, 2004–2006)
- Paradise Falls (3 seasons, 2001, 2004, 2007; 2 later seasons on here!)
- Pure Pwnage (1 season, 2010–2011)
- Rent-a-Goalie (3 seasons, 2006–2008)
- Show Me Yours (2 seasons, 2004–2005)
- Single White Spenny (1 season, 2011-present)
- Slings and Arrows (3 seasons, 2003–2006)
- Testees (1 season, 2008–2009)
- Trailer Park Boys (7 seasons, 2001–2007)
- Webdreams (3 seasons, 2005–2008)
- XIII: The Series (1 season, 2011-present)
[edit] Showcase HD
On December 19, 2006, Alliance Atlantis launched a high definition simulcast of Showcase.[7] Unlike the standard definition feed that has both an East and West coast feed, Showcase HD has only one national feed operating from the Eastern Time Zone.
It is currently available through all major TV providers in Canada except for Vidéotron.
[edit] References
- ^ CRTC Decision 94-280
- ^ [1]
- ^ Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media
- ^ CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties
- ^ CRTC Decision 2001-153
- ^ [2]
- ^ Alliance Atlantis Launches High Definition Channels Broadcaster Magazine 2006-10-11
[edit] External links
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