HARDtv
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Type | Digital cable specialty channel |
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| Country |  Canada |
| Availability | National |
| Owner | Shavick Entertainment (52% & managing partner) Pink Triangle Press (38%) PrideVision Inc.(9.9%) |
| Launch date | October 1, 2001 |
| Past names | PrideVision HARD on PrideVision |
| Website | hardtv.ca |
HARDtv is a Canadian category 2 subscription based television channel available through satellite and digital cable. It is a LGBT erotica/adult entertainment television channel, with programming consisting mainly of adult films and adult-related television series.
HARDtv is 52% owned by Shavick Entertainment, 38% owned by Pink Triangle Press and 9.9% owned by PrideVision Inc..
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[edit] History
Launched on October 1, 2001 as PrideVision by Headline Media Group, it was the world's first 24-hour LGBT television channel. It was a lifestyle and general entertainment channel with programming ranging from educational, entertainment, lifestyle, and erotic adult movies. It was one of 21 television channels that were granted a category 1 (mandatory carriage) status by the CRTC on November 24, 2000.
However, the channel had considerable difficulty building an audience in its early years, because its adult content was leading many cable operators to offer it only as a premium channel in the adult tier of cable services, rather than as a general interest channel. This particularly affected the channel in Western Canada, where time zone differences meant that adult programming airing after midnight in Ontario was airing as early as 10 p.m. in British Columbia.
The station's facilities at its initial launch included a street-level studio in Toronto's Church and Wellesley gay village. Due to financial constraints, however, this studio was closed in December, 2002.
As a result of these factors and the channel's reputation for providing a weak mix of programming, Headline Media's management of the channel was widely criticized both in business circles and by gay and lesbian audiences. Headline Media was also criticized for an ad campaign in several gay publications, which some readers interpreted as stating that gay and lesbian viewers had an obligation to support the channel.
In 2003 PrideVision bought the rights for 130 episodes of cult prison drama Prisoner Cell Block H but after a battle for more episodes the station decided not to continue with the series.
On May 28, 2004, Headline Media sold the channel to broadcaster William Craig, with Pink Triangle Press and itself still holding a minority interest. Craig shortly announced plans to move PrideVision's adult programming to a new adult channel, in order to secure better cable distribution for the general interest channel. Craig also moved the channel's operations into a shared facility with Stornoway Communications, the licensee of two other digital cable channels at that time.
On March 4, 2005, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved PrideVision's application for a new service, OUTtv. OUTtv, which launched on April 12, 2005, took over PrideVision's general interest programming and category 1 status and PrideVision, which was renamed HARD on PrideVision, become an exclusively adult entertainment subscriber station and becoming a category 2 channel.
On July 2006, Shavick Entertainment announced an intent to purchase a 52% stake in HARD on PrideVision and OUTtv. Under the plan, Pink Triangle Press' ownership would increase to 38% and PrideVision Inc.'s will remain at 9.9%.
In November 2006, HARD on PrideVision was renamed HARDtv.
[edit] Logos
 Original logo as PrideVision |
 Logo of HARD on PrideVision |
 Current logo as HARDtv |
