CTV Comedy Channel

CTV Comedy Channel (often shortened to CTV Comedy and formerly known as The Comedy Network) is a Canadian English-language specialty channel owned by Bell Media which focuses primarily on comedy programming. The channel first launched on October 17, 1997, and operates two time-shifted feeds, running on Eastern and Pacific Time Zone schedules.

Not to be confused with The Comedy Channel, or Comedy Central (which briefly used the name "CTV: The Comedy Network").

CTV Comedy Channel
LaunchedOctober 17, 1997 (1997-10-17)
Owned byBell Media
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaCanada
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Formerly calledThe Comedy Network (1997–2019)
Sister channel(s)CTV
CTV Drama Channel
CTV Sci-Fi Channel
CTV Life Channel
Much
CTV News Channel
CTV 2
Websitectvcomedy.ca
Availability
Satellite
Bell Satellite TVChannel 625 (East; SD)
Channel 626 (West; SD)
Channel 1740 (East; HD)
Shaw DirectChannel 547 (West; SD)
Channel 548 (East; SD)
Channel 85/585 (East; HD)
Cable
Available on most cable systemsChannel slots vary on each operator
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TVChannel 208 (East; SD)
Channel 431 (East; HD)
Bell Fibe TVChannel 625 (East; SD)
Channel 626 (West; SD)
Channel 1625 (East; HD)
Channel 1626 (West; HD)
Bell MTSChannel 115 (East; SD)
Channel 116 (West; SD)
Optik TVChannel 9500 (West; SD)
Channel 500 (East; HD)
SaskTelChannel 74 (West; SD)
Channel 374 (East; HD)
VMediaChannel 50 (East; HD)
ZazeenChannel 110 (East; HD)

History

In September 1996, 1155636 Ontario Inc. (a company majority controlled by Baton Broadcasting, with the remaining interests held by Shaw Cable, Astral Broadcasting, and Les Films Rozon inc.) was granted a television broadcasting licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for The Comedy Network.[1] The channel launched on October 17, 1997[2] as The Comedy Network canada version of us version in the Walt Disney company with the slogan Time well wasted, a variation of the U.S.-based channel A&E's slogan at the time, Time well spent.

Final Comedy logo, used from 2011 to 2019.

Through various acquisitions over the years, Shaw, Astral and Les Films Rozon sold their interest in the service to Baton, which became Bell Globemedia in 2001, renamed CTVglobemedia in 2007, and renamed again as Bell Media in 2011, following its acquisition by Bell Canada. Until then, and since its incarnation in 1997, The Comedy Network maintained a consistent look - the "yellow oval" logo, which has undergone slight modifications throughout its use. On November 1, 2011, The Comedy Network was relaunched with a new look, consisting a new simplified logo and revamped on-air presentation. Their longtime slogan was also retired on this date.[3]

On July 12, 2012, The Comedy Network launched a high-definition simulcast feed available through all major TV providers.

In August 2013, the CRTC denied an amendment to The Comedy Network's license, which would have reduced the amount of Canadian-produced content the network would have been required to air monthly, increase the amount of animated programming it could air from 10% of its lineup per day to 20% per month, and allow it to air films that were not Canadian-made. Bell argued that the network was at a disadvantage against BiteTV and Teletoon, because Comedy was unable to give its animated acquisitions a larger amount of exposure (such as marathons) due to the restriction. The CRTC rejected its arguments in response to complaints by the two networks cited and other unions, due to their differing natures of service and because Bell's proposed changes were intended primarily to decrease the amount of Canadian content it airs in favor of more U.S.-originated programming.[4][5] Subsequently, a number of acquired Comedy Network programs were moved to its sister channel Much in the fall of 2013.[6]

On June 7, 2018, during the CTV upfronts, it was announced that The Comedy Network would eventually rebrand as "CTV Comedy", as part of a realignment of several Bell Media channels under the CTV name.[7] On June 8, 2019, it was revealed The Comedy Network would relaunch as CTV Comedy Channel on September 12, 2019.[8]

Programming
Further information: List of programs broadcast by The Comedy Network

CTV Comedy Channel primarily airs sitcoms and stand-up comedy programming (including anthologies and specials), with much of the latter coming from the channel's association with the Montreal-based Just for Laughs comedy festival. The network also produces its own original programming, with several series (such as Puppets Who Kill, Odd Job Jack and Kevin Spencer) developing cult followings and loyal fan-bases. Puppets Who Kill, Comedy Now!, The Gavin Crawford Show, and several other Comedy original series have gone on to win Canadian Comedy Awards, including CTV's Corner Gas, which has also won six Gemini Award wins, seven Leo Award wins, and an International Emmy nomination.

The network has historically had a relationship with ViacomCBS-owned Comedy Central in the U.S. In June 2007, Comedy's parent company (then known as CTVglobemedia) announced a deal for exclusive Canadian rights to the entire Comedy Central library of past and present programs on all electronic platforms, under a multi-year agreement with Viacom.[9] For several years, Canadians attempting to visit Comedy Central websites were redirected to the Comedy Network's website. Conversely, American IP addresses trying to link to the Comedy Network page were redirected to Comedy Central's page.[10]

Alternative Comedy Network logo, mostly used on print ads

Comedy Gold
Further information: Comedy Gold (TV channel)

On August 2, 2010, TV Land Canada was rebranded as Comedy Gold, turning the channel into an offshoot of The Comedy Network. Comedy Gold originally focused primarily on sitcoms from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.[11] On July 24, 2019, a representative of Bell Support revealed that Comedy Gold would be shutting down anywhere between August 30 and September 1; Comedy Gold was ultimately shuttered on September 1, 2019.[12] Prior to Comedy Gold's shuttering, on August 28, 2019, Wow Unlimited Media revealed that they would have completed their acquisition of Comedy Gold's broadcast license on August 30, 2019.[13]

Comedy Go

As part of Bell Media's suite of Comedy Go apps for all its main channels,[14] the Comedy Network launched its own app on April 15, 2014.[15] As part of the launch, the video section on the Comedy Network website was renamed after the app.

gollark: I agree.
gollark: We distribute its capital evenly and I take the rock, for purposes.
gollark: Anyway, we ensword it, with swords.
gollark: Caves are quite quiet too, though, no?
gollark: And we can't hear approaching things?!

References
  1. "Archived – Decision CRTC 96-596". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Government of Canada. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  2. The Comedy Network turns 10 today and goes full-on-cyber with revolutionary revamped website Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. It’s a NEWvember for The Comedy Network as new look and feel revealed Nov. 1 Bell Media press release October 28, 2011
  4. "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-333". Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  5. "The Comedy Network is not allowed to lighten up". Canada.com. Postmedia Network. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  6. "Um... your favourite Comedy shows might be on Much". Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  7. "Magnum P.I. reboot, new Jann Arden comedy on CTV's fall lineup". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  8. "Bolstered by New Acquisitions, New CTV Suite of Specialty Channels to Be Unveiled Sept. 12". Newswire. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  9. CTV and Comedy Central deal for laughs; CTV strikes multi-platform content deal for laugh nets' program library Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine CTVglobemedia press release June 27, 2007
  10. CTV strikes multi-platform content deal with Comedy Central, CTV press release, June 27, 2007
  11. Vlessing, Etan (June 21, 2010). "CTV tweaks TV Land Canada's focus". The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  12. https://twitter.com/Bell_Support/status/1158089301403373568
  13. "WOW! Unlimited Media Announces Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2019". GlobeNewswire News Room. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  14. "Bell Media launches TV everywhere with Bravo GO on July 18" (Press release). Newswire. June 6, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  15. Comedy GO on the App Store on iTunes, retrieved May 4, 2014
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