GameTV
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Kilmer Enterprises (The GameTV Corporation) (sale pending to Anthem Sports & Entertainment) |
GameTV is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel specializing in game-related programming such as game shows and reality television. However, the channel broadcasts a number of non-game-related programming such as docu-reality series, dramas, and films.
GameTV's licensee is the GameTV Corporation which is owned by Kilmer Enterprises Inc. (KEI), although Insight Sports Ltd. operates the service on its behalf. KEI is also an investor in Insight Sports.
History
In September 2001, Stuart Media Group (now called the GameTV Corporation) was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch The Gaming Channel, described as "a national, English-language Category 2 specialty television service, providing live-event interactive programming about gaming or involving gaming."[1]
Prior to the channel's launch, Stuart Media reached an agreement with the owners of the American television network, Casino & Gaming Television (CGTV), to license its brand and programming in Canada for its channel. The channel was launched in November 2005 as Casino & Gaming Television (CGTV)[2] and was devoted to casino gaming and the gaming lifestyle. Regular features included tournaments, casino games, gaming destinations and more. Although the channel was owned by Stuart Media Group and its parent companies, Insight Sports operated the channel on its behalf from the channel's inception.
On October 26, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. EST, CGTV was renamed GameTV to broaden its appeal to a larger audience by focusing on game-related programming by introducing game shows, reality TV series, and game-related movies to its schedule, in addition to casino gaming programming.[3]
In October 2012, GameTV debuted a new logo and on-air graphics, and tweaked its format by removing all casino-related gaming programming from its lineup, focusing specifically on game shows, competition-style reality series, and feature films, which air nightly.[4]
On August 2, 2016, Anthem Sports & Entertainment announced that it would acquire GameTV pending CRTC approval.[5]
Programming
A list of notable shows that air on GameTV, as of December 2016:
- America's Next Weatherman
- BBQ Pitmasters
- Bumper Stumpers
- Ice Cold Cash
- Newlywed, Nearly Dead
- Quit Your Day Job
- Skin Wars
- Stargate Universe
- Storage Hunters
- Tattoo Fixers
See also
- Game Show Network, a U.S. equivalent also carried by most Canadian television providers.
References
- ^ Decision CRTC 2001-549 CRTC 2001-09-04
- ^ CGTV Canada Announces Carriage Agreement with Rogers Mediacaster Magazine 2005-11-11
- ^ Insight rebrands Casino channel Playback Magazine 2007-10-24
- ^ GameTV re-launches, adds new executive team Cartt.ca 2012-10-11
- ^ "Anthem Sports and Entertainment Acquires GameTV". press release. Retrieved 24 September 2016.