Space (Canadian TV Channel)

CTV Sci-Fi Channel is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts speculative fiction and related programming.

The network was launched on October 17, 1997 as Space under its original parent company CHUM Limited. Its slogan, ''The Imagination Station'', continued to be used informally by its fans for several years after its retirement. In 2007, Space was acquired by CTVglobemedia, after acquiring CHUM Limited, while the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers Media. The channel adopted its current name in 2019.

History

The channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1996. It debuted on October 17, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT), as Space: The Imagination Station, launching under the ownership of CHUM Limited, airing the film ''Forbidden Planet'', followed by a commentary on that film by author Robert J. Sawyer, followed by the film ''Mars Attacks!''. The Sawyer commentary was the first example of the interstitial materials — mostly produced by Mark Askwith — that became SPACE's signature: short, snappy, mini-documentaries on science fiction and science topics shown between programs, collectively known as "SPACE Flow". Daily installments include ''Space News'' (formerly ''SPIN'', for "Space Information and News").

CTVglobemedia took over Space on June 22, 2007, as a result of a takeover of CHUM Limited. At the same time, the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers later that year. Ownership changed hands once again when on April 1, 2011, BCE Inc. gained 100% control of CTVglobemedia's non-publishing assets that it did not already own, placing Space under the ownership of Bell Media.

On February 8, 2011, the Reeves-Stevenses submitted a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in support of an application by CTVglobemedia to renew the broadcasting license of Space.

On July 6, 2011, a high definition simulcast of Space was launched. It is available through all major television providers in Canada.

On March 4, 2013, Space introduced a new logo to coincide with the premiere of the channel's new original co-production ''Orphan Black''. A Bell Media executive explained that the branding was designed to reflect upon the broadening of the sci-fi genre beyond outer space and "people in polyester onesies running around with taser guns", by portraying the new logo in the form of real-life objects with a "phenomenal twist" to symbolize the "space around you". Through Bell Media's acquisition of Astral Media, Space is now co-owned with the French-language science-fiction channel, Ztélé (since renamed Z).

On June 7, 2018, it was announced that Space would be rebranded as "CTV Sci-Fi", as part of a re-alignment of several Bell Media specialty channels under the CTV brand. The following year, it was revealed the channel would instead rebrand as CTV Sci-Fi Channel on September 12, 2019.

Programming

CTV Sci-Fi Channel's programming includes scripted television series and films primarily focused on the science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, horror, and paranormal genres, often in a marathon format outside of prime time. The channel's original programming has included in-studio shows (including the daily newsmagazine ''Innerspace''), scripted dramas, as well as shows co-produced with the U.S. channel Syfy, from which the channel also acquires the bulk of its programming.

The channel holds the linear television rights to the ''Star Trek'' television franchise in Canada, holding library rights to past ''Star Trek'' television series, and having acquired the rights to newer ''Star Trek'' series produced for the Paramount+ streaming service.

Current programming

As of May 2022

Original

* '' SurrealEstate'' (2021)
* ''Astrid and Lilly Save the World'' (2022)

Acquired

* '' Andromeda''
* ''Doctor Who''
* ''Doom Patrol''
* '' Face Off''
* ''Legends of Tomorrow''
* ''Pandora''
* '' Raised by Wolves''
* ''Resident Alien''
* ''Superman & Lois''
* ''Stargate Atlantis''
* ''Stargate SG-1''
* ''Star Trek''
* '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''
* '' Star Trek: Discovery''
* ''Star Trek: Enterprise''
* '' Star Trek: Lower Decks''
* '' Star Trek: Picard''
* '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''
* '' Star Trek: Voyager''
* '' Star Trek: Strange New Worlds''
* ''The Twilight Zone''
* '' Xena: Warrior Princess''

Former programming

Original

* ''Aftermath''
* ''Behind the Scenes'' - A look at the creation and bringing to life of various sci-fi series and specials, features interviews with writers, editors, stars and others.
* '' Being Human''
* '' Bitten''
* ''Charlie Jade''
* ''The Conspiracy Guy'' - Suggested conspiracy theories from an odd-ball character.
* ''Dark Matter''
* '' Fanboy Confessional'' - A celebration of geek and nerd cultures. Each episode focuses on an individual group such as LARP, Furry, Steampunk and real-life superhero.
* '' The Girly Ghosthunters''
* ''Grand Star''
* ''HypaSpace'' - News and information as well as the latest gossip from the entertainment industry, specifically science fiction and fantasy genres
* ''Innerspace'', a flagship entertainment news program that focused primarily on the sci-fi genre, including films and television series, comic books, technology, and video gaming. The series was cancelled in May 2018 as the result of Bell Media layoffs.
* '' It Came From The Basement!'' - A look at people's eclectic collections of sci-fi related material
* ''Killjoys''
* ''Orphan Black''
* '' Primeval: New World''
* '' Rabbit Fall''
* ''Shadow Hunter'' - A series that focuses on the paranormal as seen by a ghost hunter (hosted by Darryll Walsh)
* '' Shelf Space'' - A look at and interviews with authors of science fiction, fantasy, comic books, and science fact
* ''The SpaceBar'' - Late night movie "host segments" wrapped around a sci-fi movie, vaguely reminiscent of Mystery Science Theater 3000
* ''Space Interstitials''
* ''SpaceNews'' - News tidbits relating to space, NASA, CSA and Earth-based satellites
* '' Space Top 10 Countdown'' - Space counts down what's hot and what's caught our attention in genre film and television, from superheroes, movie villains, aliens and killer cyborgs. Hosted by Space on-air personalities Kim Poirier and Jonathan Llyr.
* '' Steve Smith Playhouse''
* ''Stormworld''
* '' Todd & The Book of Pure Evil''
* ''Tripping the Rift''
* '' Unexplained Canada''
* ''Wynonna Earp''

Acquired

* ''The 4400''
* ''Arrow''
* ''Babylon 5''
* ''Battlestar Galactica''
* '' Being Human''
* ''Beyond''
* '' Blood Ties''
* ''Captain Star'' (2005–2006)
* '' The Chronicle''
*'' Cosplay Melee''
* '' Dark Angel''
* '' Dark Matters: Twisted But True''
* ''Dead Set''
* ''Deadly Class''
* '' Defying Gravity''
* '' The Deep''
* '' Do No Harm''
* ''Enigma''
* ''The Expanse''
* ''Farscape''
* ''Firefly''
* ''The Following''
* '' Ghost Mine''
* ''Grimm''
* '' Hex''
* ''Hilarious House of Frightenstein''
* ''Krypton''
* ''Lost''
* ''The Lost Room''
* ''Lost in Space''
* ''Manimal''
* ''Medium''
* ''Merlin''
* '' Mutant X''
* '' Night Stalker''
* ''Paranormal Witness''
* ''Perversions of Science''
* ''Primeval''
* ''Prisoners of Gravity''
* ''Quantum Leap''
* '' Relic Hunter''
* ''Ripper Street''
* '' Roar (US series)''
* ''Robot Combat League''
* ''Robotech''
* ''Sanctuary''
* '' The Sentinel''
* ''Smallville''
* ''Space Precinct''
* ''Supernatural''
* ''Stan Against Evil''
* ''Stargate Universe''
* ''Surface''
* '' Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles''
* ''Total Blackout''
* ''The Dresden Files''
* '' The Outer Limits''
* '' The Triangle''
* ''The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne''
* '' Threshold''
* ''Total Recall 2070''
* ''True Blood''
* ''Utopia''
* ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea''
* ''War of the Worlds''
* ''The X-Files''
* ''Z Nation''

Annual events

* The Spacey Awards: Space previously presented its own awards called the Spacey Awards to the best in sci-fi, fantasy and horror films, TV series, and video games. Some of the awards are voted on by viewers and the others by Space.
* ''Santa Claus Conquers the Martians'': Aired for several years at Christmas.
* The Twelve Days of Space-mas: Twelve days of marathons, either of popular Space programs or of similarly themed science-fiction or fantasy movies. This usually includes the ''Doctor Who'' Christmas Special on Christmas Day.

References

External links

*

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Television channels and stations established in 1997

CTV Television Network
Science fiction television channels
English-language television stations in Canada
1997 establishments in Canada
Bell Media networks
Analog cable television networks in Canada