CTV Sci-Fi Channel

Coordinates: 43°38′59″N 79°23′25″W / 43.649701°N 79.390233°W / 43.649701; -79.390233
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For the unrelated Latin American channel of the same name, see Space (Latin American TV channel). For other uses, see Space (disambiguation).
CTV Sci-Fi Channel
CountryCanada
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Ownership
OwnerBell Media

CTV Sci-Fi Channel (formerly known as Space) is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts speculative fiction and related programming. The network's original slogan was The Imagination Station, which for several years continued to be used informally by its fans. The channel launched on October 17, 1997.

History

Final logo of Space, used from 2013 to 2019

The channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1996.[1] It debuted on October 17, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT), as Space: The Imagination Station, launching under the ownership of CHUM Limited, (the owners of the namesake CHUM-AM, since the launch involved the Space Shuttle's footage), airing the film Forbidden Planet, followed by a commentary on that film by author Robert J. Sawyer, followed by the film Mars Attacks!. The Sawyer commentary was the first example of the interstitial materials — mostly produced by Mark Askwith — that have become SPACE's signature: short, snappy, mini-documentaries on science fiction and science topics shown between programs, collectively known as "SPACE Flow". Daily installments include Space News (formerly SPIN, for "Space Information and News").[2]

Like Teletoon and MuchMusic (both of which debuted differently, in 1984 and in Teletoon's case, on the same launch date as Space), Space was specifically created to prevent the importation of American specialty channels into Canadian territory, in this case Syfy, but still has to produce and broadcast Canadian original content on a license.

CTVglobemedia took over Space on June 22, 2007, as a result of a takeover of CHUM Limited. At the same time, the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers later that year. Ownership changed hands once again when on April 1, 2011, BCE Inc. gained 100% control of CTVglobemedia's non-publishing assets that it did not already own, placing Space under the ownership of Bell Media.

On February 8, 2011, the Reeves-Stevenses submitted a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in support of an application by CTVglobemedia to renew the broadcasting license of Space.[3]

On July 6, 2011, a high definition simulcast of Space was launched.[4]

On March 4, 2013, Space introduced a new logo to coincide with the premiere of the channel's new original co-production Orphan Black. A Bell Media executive explained that the branding was designed to reflect upon the broadening of the sci-fi genre beyond outer space and "people in polyester onesies running around with taser guns", by portraying the new logo in the form of real-life objects with a "phenomenal twist" to symbolize the "space around you".[5] Through Bell Media's acquisition of Astral Media, Space is now co-owned with the French-language science-fiction channel, Ztélé (since renamed Z).

On June 7, 2018 during the CTV upfronts, it was announced that Space would be rebranded as "CTV Sci-Fi", as part of a re-branding of several Bell Media specialty channels under the CTV name.[6] The following year, it was revealed the channel would rebrand as CTV Sci-Fi Channel on September 12, 2019.[7]

Programming

CTV Sci-Fi Channel's programming includes scripted television series and films primarily focused on the science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, horror, and paranormal genres. The channel has produced original series (including the daily newsmagazine Innerspace, and scripted dramas such as Orphan Black), as well as co-produced and acquired programming primarily from the U.S Syfy cable network.

Current Programming

As of September 2019[8][9][10]

Original

Acquired

Upcoming programming

Former programming

Original

Acquired

Annual events

  • The Spacey Awards: Space previously presented its own awards called the Spacey Awards to the best in sci-fi, fantasy and horror films, TV series, and video games. Some of the awards are voted on by viewers and the others by Space.
  • Santa Claus Conquers the Martians: Aired for several years at Christmas.
  • The Twelve Days of Space-mas: Twelve days of marathons, either of popular Space programs or of similarly themed science-fiction or fantasy movies. This usually includes the Doctor Who Christmas Special on Christmas Day.

References

  1. ^ Decision CRTC 96-605 CRTC 1996-09-04
  2. ^ Space: The Imagination Station launch (incomplete, October 17, 1997
  3. ^ "Intervention Documents". services.crtc.gc.ca.
  4. ^ SPACE HD to Launch July 6
  5. ^ "Bell Media's Space gets a new look". Marketing Magazine. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Magnum P.I. reboot, new Jann Arden comedy on CTV's fall lineup". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  7. ^ "Upfronts '19: Bell Media finalizes specialty rebrands". Media in Canada. June 5, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/tv/ctv-sci-fi/
  9. ^ https://www.ctvscifi.ca/shows/
  10. ^ https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/ctv-scifi/153
  11. ^ https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/tv/ctv-sci-fi/resident-alien/
  12. ^ TrekMovie Staff (June 23, 2020). "'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Coming To CTV Sci-Fi Channel And Crave In Canada". TrekMovie.com. United States: SciFanatic Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  13. ^ "Bell Media cancels shows 'Daily Planet' and 'Innerspace,' lays off 17 positions". The London Free Press. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  14. ^ "SPACECAST.COM". 2004-12-30. Archived from the original on 2004-12-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ "Cosplay Melee – Bell Media". www.bellmedia.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-06-21.
  16. ^ "Superman Prequel Series Krypton Is Coming To Space In 2018". www.space.ca.

External links


43°38′59″N 79°23′25″W / 43.649701°N 79.390233°W / 43.649701; -79.390233

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