Bravo! | |
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Bravo! logo | |
Launched | January 1, 1995 |
Owned by | Bell Media |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
Country | Canada |
Broadcast area | National |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
Website | Bravo! |
Availability | |
Satellite | |
Bell TV | Channel 620 (SD) Channel 1734 (HD) |
Shaw Direct | Channel 523 (SD) |
Cable | |
Available on most Canadian cable systems | Check local listings, channels may vary |
IPTV | |
Bell Aliant TV | Channel 203 (SD) |
Bell Fibe TV | Channel 620 (SD) Channel 1620 (HD) |
MTS | Channel 123 (SD) |
Optik TV | Channel 171 (SD) |
SaskTel | Channel 73 (SD) |
Bravo! is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. Bravo! is an entertainment channel with a particular focus on television dramas and films, as well as art-related programming.
The "Bravo" name is used under licence from NBCUniversal, which owns the U.S.-based service Bravo (without the exclamation mark).
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In the 1980s, a precursor to Bravo! existed called C Channel. It was a national commercial-free pay television channel that focused on arts programming. C Channel launched on February 1, 1983 before it when bankrupt and ceased operations on June 30, 1983 due to its inability to attract a viable enough number of subscribers at a price of $16 per month.
Over 10 years later, another attempt at an arts-based channel was proposed when CHUM Limited applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for Bravo!. In June 1994, CHUM's application for Bravo! was approved, citing its nature of service as focusing on "performance and drama programming, as well as documentary and discussion."[1]
Bravo! launched on January 1, 1995 with the tagline, "NewStyleArtsChannel". It focused on arts programming, including music, ballet, literature, television and film drama, visual arts, modern dance, opera and architecture. As a condition of licence, Bravo! was to contribute a predetermined amount or percentage of its revenues to ArtsFACT (now called Bravo!FACT), a fund established to provide grants for the production of Canadian short films covering a wide range of arts-related disciplines. Films funded by Bravo!FACT have regularly aired on the channel.
In July 2006, Bell Globemedia (later called CTVglobemedia) announced that it would purchase CHUM for an estimated $1.7 billion CAD, included in the sale was Bravo![2] The sale was subject to CRTC approval and was approved in June 2007,[3] with the transaction completed on June 22, 2007.
After CTVglobemedia's purchase of Bravo!, the channel increasingly shifted its focus toward more television and film dramas such as Mad Men and Criminal Minds, and lessening its focus on arts programming.
On September 10, 2010, BCE (a minority shareholder in CTVglobemedia) announced that it planned to acquire 100% interest in CTVglobemedia for a total debt and equity transaction cost of $3.2 billion CAD.[4] The deal which required CRTC approval, was approved on March 7, 2011[5] and closed on April 1 of that year, on which CTVglobemedia was rebranded Bell Media.[6]
While under Bell Media ownership, the shift toward television and film dramas and general entertainment was extended and is the point at which the channel exists today.
Between programs, Bravo! often airs short films by Canadian artists, funded by its foundation Bravo!FACT, which may range from comedy to drama to opera to jazz to animation. Many of these also air on Bravo!'s weekly series Bravo!Fact Presents.
Bravo! has also produced a number of notable specials, including a telecast of Canadian rock band Spirit of the West's Open Heart Symphony concert with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
On October 6, 2011, Bravo! launched Bravo! HD, a high definition simulcast of the standard definition feed. It is currently available on Bell TV, Bell Fibe TV, and Shaw cable.
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