High Fidelity HDTV was a Canadian licensed television broadcaster specializing in
HD content. The company was founded in 2003 by co-founders John Panikkar and Ken Murphy, both of whom have been involved in the Canadian broadcasting industry for many years. David Patterson, an experienced Canadian senior broadcast executive, joined the company in 2005 as a partner and part owner of the company, and Frank Bertolas, also an experienced Canadian senior broadcast executive, joined the company in 2010. High Fidelity HDTV was headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and it operated 4 HD channels. In 2006, the company was set to launch a 5th HD channel, Baby HD. In 2007, the company was poised to launch more HD channels: Aqua HD, Centre Stage HD, Clash HD, Crafts & Hobbies HD, Eureka! HD, GameWorld HD, Seniors Life HD, Women's Sports HD, Horror HD, & W HD. In 2008, the company proposed 2 more HD channels, Diversion HD & Canada HD, as well as a non-HD network, Diversion. However, the applications for the channels was denied by the
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC; french: Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes, links=) is a public organization in Canada with mandate as a regulatory agency for broadcasti ...
(CRTC). In 2010, the company was set to launch yet another channel (non-HD), The Wedding Channel.
High Fidelity HDTV signed exclusive content deals with
IMAX
IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio (approximately either 1.43:1 or 1.90:1) and steep stadium seating.
Graeme F ...
(giving them access to their original films),
Smithsonian Networks
The Smithsonian Channel is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its media networks division under MTV Entertainment Group. It offers video content inspired by the Smithsonian Institution's museums, research facilit ...
Off the Fence an independent production company that distributes non-fiction content worldwide.
On December 21, 2011, High Fidelity HDTV announced that it had entered into an agreement to be purchased outright by
Blue Ant Media
Blue Ant Media Inc. is a Canadian broadcasting and media company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company was founded by Michael MacMillan and formed in 2011 following the acquisition of Glassbox Television. Its name was chosen in referenc ...
, majority owners of
Glassbox Television
Glassbox Television was an independent Canadian broadcasting and media company specializing in the operation of multi-platform broadcast and video-on-demand (VOD) channels, content production, and digital publishing.
The company was formed in 2001 ...
and minority owners of Quarto Communications. While initially purchasing 29.9% of the company, the remaining 70.1% would be purchased following its approval by the CRTC. The acquisition was completed on August 1, 2012.
Blue Ant Completes Acquisition of High Fidelity HDTV
''Blue Ant Media press release'', August 1, 2012. As of 2013, the company no longer exists, the 4 channels are now part of Blue Ant Media & the other proposed channels were never launched.
Channels
* Smithsonian Channel
The Smithsonian Channel is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its media networks division under MTV Entertainment Group. It offers video content inspired by the Smithsonian Institution's museums, research facilit ...
(formerly Equator HD Canada & eqhd) (conceived as ''Meridian HD'') (People and places)
* BBC First
BBC First is an entertainment subscription television channel featuring comedy, crime, drama and film programming, originating from UK and mostly from the BBC. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Studios. The channel began rolling ou ...
(formerly HIFI and Tresure HD Canada) (conceived as ''Artefact HD'') (Arts & culture)
* Love Nature
Love Nature is a Canadian-based specialty television channel. The channel broadcasts documentaries and television series related to wildlife and nature.
The channel's Canadian operations are owned solely by Blue Ant Media, while the internationa ...
(formerly Oasis HD & Oasis) (Nature)
* BBC Earth
BBC Earth is a brand used by BBC Studios since 2009 to market and distribute the BBC's natural history content to countries other than the United Kingdom. BBC Studios is the commercial arm of the public service broadcaster.
BBC Earth commercia ...
(formerly Rush HD Canada, then radX) (conceived as ''A HD'' or ''Adrenaline HD'' (Action & adventure)
Channels proposed, but never launched
* Aqua HD (water life & boating)
* Baby HD (programming for infants and their development)
* Centre Stage HD (music-themed with live performances)
* Canada HD (general interest high definition; would've competed with HDNet
AXS TV is an American cable television channel. Majority-owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment, it is devoted primarily to music-related programming (such as concert films, documentaries, and reality series involving musicians) and combat sport ...
in Canada)
* Clash HD (history-themed channel)
* Crafts & Hobbies HD
* Diversion/HD (post-pay exhibition window, non-independent feature films that span all genres and related content such as interview, analysis and "behind the scenes" programs)
* Eureka! HD (Science and technology-themed channel)
* GameWorld HD
* Horror HD (horror, thriller, & suspense programming)
* Seniors Life HD (programming for the 60+ yrs. crowd)
* The Wedding Channel (only non-HD channel) (weddings)
* Women's Sports HD (women's sports)
* W HD (lifestyle channel aimed at women 18–34)
References
Resources
High Fidelity HDTV Brings 20 IMAX Originals Titles to its Suite of HD Channels
Canada’s Leading HD Broadcaster High Fidelity HDTV Signs Exclusive Deal with Smithsonian Networks
{{DEFAULTSORT:High Fidelity Hdtv
Blue Ant Media
Defunct broadcasting companies of Canada
Companies based in Toronto
Mass media companies established in 2003
Mass media companies disestablished in 2013