GameTV is a Canadian English language specialty channel. Owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment, it primarily broadcasts competition-based programming, including game shows and reality competition series.
 | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | National |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Anthem Sports & Entertainment |
| Sister channels | Fight Network Game+ AXS TV |
| History | |
| Launched | November 2005, 18 years ago |
| Former names | Casino & Gaming Television (2005-2007) |
| Links | |
| Website | gametvnetwork |
The channel was first launched in 2005 under the ownership of Stuart Media Group as Casino and Gaming Television (CGTV), which primarily focused on sports betting and televised poker. Larry Tanenbaum's Insight Sports served as the channel's operating partner.
In 2007, the channel was re-launched under its current name, phasing out its casino-based programming in favour of a focus on classic game shows, reality series, and nightly movies. After GameTV was acquired by Anthem in 2016, the channel briefly added sports and sports entertainment-based programming.
History
edit
As CGTV
editIn 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.[citation needed]
As GameTV
edit
On October 26, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. EST, CGTV was rebranded as GameTV. With the rename, the channel would try to broaden its appeal to a larger audience by focusing on game-related programming including game shows (featuring classic Canadian game shows such as The Mad Dash and Test Pattern among others), reality series, and films, as well as "Watch & Win" contest promotions during prime time with weekly prizes.[6]
In October 2012, GameTV debuted a new logo and branding, and dropped its casino programming.[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 the Anthem-owned Impact Wrestling, mixed martial arts programming from the UFC, and all 2017 season matches from the Toronto Wolfpack rugby league team.[10] A high definition feed launched in March 2017.[11][12]
On March 9, 2018, the CRTC approved of a previously unannounced sale of the channel from Anthem to Remuda Media, a newly established broadcasting company.[13] 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."[14] 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 would be used to launch the service, or one similar. However, 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+.
In August 2020, the channel introduced a new weekend block featuring music programming from new U.S-based sister network AXS TV.[15] In 2020, it premiered an original documentary series, The Search for Canada's Game Shows, which chronicles the history of Canadian entries into the genre.[16]
GameTV would begin airing coverage of LIV Golf, alongside Game+, in 2023.[17]
See also
edit- Game Show Network, a U.S. equivalent carried by most Canadian television providers.
References
edit- ^ Decision CRTC 2001-549 CRTC 2001-09-04
- ^ CGTV under Boardwalk Variety 12-15-04
- ^ a b Rogers bets on CGTV, the first of a few new channels from a connected, varied, group of investors[permanent dead link] Cartt.ca 11-11-05
- ^ Sample Programming Schedule from January 2006
- ^ CRTC ownership chart for Stuart Media CRTC 08-23-06
- ^ Insight rebrands Casino channel Playback Magazine 2007-10-24
- ^ GameTV re-launches, adds new executive team Archived 2013-01-15 at archive.today Cartt.ca 2012-10-11
- ^ "Anthem Sports and Entertainment Acquires GameTV". RotoExperts.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ^ CRTC Application Number 2016-0763-1; Approval Date 2016-11-25
- ^ Wolfpack Secure Canadian Broadcast Partner[permanent dead link] Toronto Wolfpack press release; retrieved 03-10-17
- ^ GameTV goes HD on Eastlink[permanent dead link] Cartt.ca 03-09-17
- ^ GameTV launches in HD on Bell Fibe TV[permanent dead link] Cartt.ca 03-24-17
- ^ CRTC Application Number 2017-1182-0
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-287, CRTC, 05-03-11
- ^ GameTV Unveils New Weekend Block Featuring Four Popular AXS TV Series, Debuting Saturday, August 8 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET, retrieved 2020-11-26
- ^ "South Surrey T.V. personality narrates new game-show documentary series". Surrey Now-Leader. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ Staff, S. V. G. (2023-02-24). "LIV Golf To Air Nationally in Canada on GameTV and Game+". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2023-02-27.