GameTV

GameTV is a Canadian English language discretionary service channel that is owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment. The channel primarily airs game and competition-based programming such as game shows, reality shows, and sports programming, as well as films.

GameTV
LaunchedNovember 2005
Owned byAnthem Sports & Entertainment
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Formerly calledCasino & Gaming Television (2005-2007)
Sister channel(s)Fight Network
Game+
Websiteigametv.com
Availability
Satellite
Bell Satellite TVChannel 274 (SD)
Shaw DirectChannel 405 (SD)
Channel 170 (HD)
Cable
Available on many cable systemsChannel slots vary on each provider
IPTV
Bell Fibe TVChannel 624 (SD)
Channel 1624 (HD)
Bell MTSChannel 33 (SD)
SaskTelChannel 45 (SD)
Channel 345 (HD)
Telus Optik TVChannel 372 (East HD)
Channel 9372 (West SD)
VmediaChannel 73 (SD)

History
Official logo as CGTV (2005-2007)

In September 2001, Stuart Media Group 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. The service will offer programming including shorts and Canadian original programs about gaming that will be knowledge-based and entertaining, with a focus on providing unique insights into daily events of the gaming world and its participants. The service will also allow viewers to play along with Bingo Games, and will provide experimental, interactive and informational programming on gaming odds, lotteries, and the gaming experience in general."[1]

In December 2004, Stuart Media Group announced that it had reached an agreement with Casino and Gaming Television, Inc., owners of the Casino and Gaming Television (CGTV) brand, which would see Stuart Media Group launch The Gaming Channel as a Canadian version of the yet-to-be-launched American television channel of the same name. The agreement would see the Canadian channel launch in May 2005 on Bell ExpressVu and act as, what the companies called, a "test bed" for the American channel which would also launch later in 2005.[2]

The channel would later launch in November 2005 as Casino and Gaming Television (CGTV) Canada on Rogers Cable instead of initially on Bell ExpressVu.[3] Programming on the channel primarily focused on poker, including live and pre-taped tournaments; however, programming on other casino games and casino-related programming did occur.[4]

Upon the launch of the channel in 2005, CGTV Canada was owned by Stuart Media Group, who in turn was owned by a variety of investors, although was ultimately majority owned by what is now called Kilmer Group.[5] The channel was however operated by Insight Sports,[3] of which Kilmer Group was an investor in as well. The channel would go through several corporate reorganizations throughout its history but Kilmer Group would remain majority owner until it sold its interest in the channel in 2016.

GameTV logo (2007-2012)

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 including game shows, reality programming, poker and non-sports gaming, and feature films.[6]

In October 2012, GameTV debuted a new logo and branding, and dropped its casino programming in favor of focusing specifically on game shows, competition-style reality series, and nightly feature films.[7]

On August 2, 2016, Anthem Sports & Entertainment announced that it would acquire GameTV pending CRTC approval.[8] The CRTC approved the purchase in November 2016.[9]

With the acquisition of GameTV by Anthem Sports & Entertainment, the channel began airing sports and sports entertainment programming, including live/tape-delayed matches and compilations, professional wrestling from Impact Wrestling, mixed martial arts from the UFC, and rugby league featuring all 2017 season matches from the Toronto Wolfpack.[10]

On March 9, 2018, the CRTC approved a previously unannounced sale of the channel from Anthem to Remuda Media, a newly established broadcasting company.[11] Shareholders in Remuda Media previously was granted approval from the CRTC to launch The Country Channel, noted at the time as a "service that would offer programming aligned to the interests and needs of rural Canadians."[12] In its application, it was noted that Remuda Media was unsuccessful at launching The Country Channel, and turned its eye to acquiring an existing channel, of which GameTV will be used to launch the service, or one similar. In July 2018, Anthem Media sent a letter to the CRTC stating that the proposed transfer in ownership from Anthem to Remuda was terminated and Anthem would retain ownership of GameTV.

On April 1, 2019, FNTSY Sports Network was quietly replaced in Canada by a newly-launched sister channel, Game+.

GameTV HD

In March 2017, Anthem Media launched GameTV HD, a 1080i high definition simulcast of the standard definition feed. The HD feed is currently available on Bell Fibe TV, Eastlink, and Cogeco.[13][14][15] Since 2018, Shaw Direct carries the channel.

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See also

References
  1. Decision CRTC 2001-549 CRTC 2001-09-04
  2. CGTV under Boardwalk Variety 12-15-04
  3. Rogers bets on CGTV, the first of a few new channels from a connected, varied, group of investors Cartt.ca 11-11-05
  4. Sample Programming Schedule from January 2006
  5. CRTC ownership chart for Stuart Media CRTC 08-23-06
  6. Insight rebrands Casino channel Playback Magazine 2007-10-24
  7. GameTV re-launches, adds new executive team Archived 2013-01-15 at Archive.today Cartt.ca 2012-10-11
  8. "Anthem Sports and Entertainment Acquires GameTV". RotoExperts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  9. CRTC Application Number 2016-0763-1; Approval Date 2016-11-25
  10. Wolfpack Secure Canadian Broadcast Partner Toronto Wolfpack press release; retrieved 03-10-17
  11. CRTC Application Number 2017-1182-0
  12. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-287, CRTC, 05-03-11
  13. GameTV goes HD on Eastlink Cartt.ca 03-09-17
  14. GameTV launches in HD on Bell Fibe TV Cartt.ca 03-24-17
  15. GameTV [@GameTVCanada] (1 June 2017). "Hey there @GameTVCanada fans we are now available in HD for Cogeco Connexion's subscribers Ch. 845 part of the My Mix pkg or as a standalone" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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