IFC (Canadian TV channel)
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment (name lisenced from AMC Networks) |
IFC is a Canadian English language Category A specialty digital cable and satellite television channel that is owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel broadcasts independent films, documentaries, and television series. Its name is licensed from the American company AMC Networks, the owner of IFC.
History
In November 2000, a joint venture between Salter Street Films (95%) and Triptych Media Inc. (5%) were awarded a broadcasting licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a channel called The Independent Film Channel Canada, intended to emulate the American IFC service, the channel was described as "a national English-language Category 1 specialty television service consisting of dramatic and non-fiction short and feature-length independent films, and programs focusing on the independent film-making process, film makers and film festivals."[1]
On February 9, 2001, the CRTC approved a proposed corporate restructuring that would allow Salter Street Films acquire Triptych Media's 5% in the service.[2] Three days later, on February 12, Alliance Atlantis announced that it would be purchasing Salter Street Films, acquiring the licence for the Independent Film Channel Canada in the process.[3]
The channel was launched on August 15, 2001 as Independent Film Channel or IFC, under the sole ownership of Salter Street Films, with its name licensed from its American counterpart, IFC. In December 2001, the CRTC approved the purchase Salter Street Films by Alliance Atlantis.[4]
On January 18, 2008,[5] a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media,[6] acquired control of IFC through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007.[7] On October 27, 2010, ownership changed again as Shaw Communications gained control of IFC as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.[8][9]
On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment.[10]
Programming
Like its U.S. namesake, the channel originally focused almost exclusively on smaller independent films. However, it has broadened its programming to include more mainstream films from large production studios. It has also de-emphasized the use of the full Independent Film Channel name, instead using the IFC acronym, possibly due to the decreasing number of independent films in its programming lineup.
The channel has also begun to regularly air TV series. These are mostly second-run programs that previously aired on other Canadian channels, such as sister channel Showcase. However, none of the American version's original programming airs on this channel. They have instead been picked up by competing Canadian channels. For example, Portlandia premiered on Super Channel and aired in syndication on BiteTV.
In December 2013, rival broadcaster Bell Media announced that it has secured an exclusive deal for the American channel's original programming; including The Spoils of Babylon (which premiered on The Movie Network) and Comedy Bang! Bang! (which currently airs on MuchMusic), as well as past shows. [11]
Noted series
A list of notable shows that aired on IFC Canada, as of March 2015:
- Body Language
- Californication
- Crime Stories
- Episodes
- Game of Thrones
- The Girl's Guide to Depravity
- House of Lies
- Misfits
- Secret Diary of a Call Girl
- Southland
- Trailer Park Boys
- True Pulp Murder
- Webdreams
- Weeds
References
- ^ Decision CRTC 2000-459 CRTC 2000-12-14
- ^ Decision CRTC 2001-55 CRTC 2001-02-09
- ^ Alliance Atlantis buys Salter Street Films CBC 2001-02-12
- ^ Decision CRTC 2001-752 CRTC 2001-12-13
- ^ Canwest Global receives final CRTC approval for acquisition of Alliance Atlantis CNW press release 2008-01-18
- ^ Goldman's happy ending at CanWest The Globe and Mail 2010-05-03
- ^ CanWest Completes Acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Investor Point 2007-08-15
- ^ Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media
- ^ CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties
- ^ "Corus Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Shaw Media". Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- ^ "The Movie Network Presents World-Changing IFC Comedy THE SPOILS OF BABYLON Beginning Jan. 9 at 10 p.m. ET". Bell Media. 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2014-03-12.