| Twist TV | |
|---|---|
| Twist TV logo | |
| Launched | September 7, 2001 |
| Owned by | Shaw Media |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Slogan | Life throws curves. |
| Country | Canada |
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Formerly called | Discovery Health (September 7, 2001-October 31, 2010) |
| Website | Twist TV |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Bell TV | Channel 604 |
| Shaw Direct | Channel 563 |
| Cable | |
| Available on many Canadian cable systems | Check local listings, channels may vary |
| IPTV | |
| Bell Aliant TV | Channel 295 |
| Bell Fibe TV | Channel 604 |
| MTS | Channel 274 |
| Optik TV | Channel 207 |
| SaskTel | Channel 61 |
Twist TV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. Twist TV is a reality channel aimed primarily at women with programming featuring what the channel calls "people facing extraordinary situations",[1] meaning the channel primarily features situational and documentary style reality programs as opposed to competition-based reality programs.
Contents |
In January 2000, Alliance Atlantis brokered a deal with News Corporation and several Canadian television providers, including both national satellite companies Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice, to distribute News Corporations's cable channel, The Health Network, in Canada.[2] The deal would mark the first time The Health Network would be available in Canada.
The deal struck to sponsor The Health Networks distribution in Canada was a prelude to the fact that Alliance Atlantis and News Corporation would eventually launch a Canadian version of the channel for the domestic market and remove the American channel from the Canadian market. On November 24, 2000, Alliance Atlantis (80%) and News Corporation (20%) were granted a broadcasting licence for The Health Network Canada by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).[3]
In September 2001 before the launch of The Health Network Canada, Discovery Communications, owners of Discovery Health Channel in the US, bought The Health Network from News Corporation for $255 million USD.[4] Through that transaction, Discovery Communications would also acquire News Corporation's 20% interest in The Health Network Canada.
The Health Network Canada would be launched that same month on September 7, 2001, opting to launch under the name Discovery Health Channel due to Discovery Communications newly acquired interest in the service. On the same day the Canadian channel launched, the American service, The Health Network, was removed from all Canadian television providers. In February the following year, The Health Network was removed from the lists of eligible foreign satellite services in Canada, by request of The Health Networks owners.[5]
On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media bought Alliance Atlantis and through that transaction, acquired Alliance Atlantis' interest in Discovery Health. In 2009, CW Media purchased the remaining interest in the channel from Discovery Communications, bringing its ownership to 100%.[1]
Two deals were announced in late 2009 and early 2010 affecting the future of the Canadian channel.
First, it was announced that the U.S. Discovery Health channel would be replaced with OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network in January 2011. OWN later reached an agreement with Corus Entertainment to launch a Canadian version of that channel shortly after the U.S. version debuts.[6]
Second, in April 2010, Discovery Communications announced an expanded long-term agreement with CTVglobemedia (Discovery's Canadian partner for most of its other channels) under which CTV will hold Canadian broadcast rights to most of the Discovery Communications programming library, including Discovery Health programs, and the right to launch new Discovery-branded channels.[7]
On September 15, 2010, Canwest announced Discovery Health Canada would rebrand as Twist TV on November 1. The rebranded channel will focus on reality shows about "people facing extraordinary situations."[1]
On October 27, 2010, ownership changed once again as Shaw Communications gained control of Discovery Health as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.[8][9] Five days later, the channel officially rebranded Twist TV.[10]
| 2001–2007 | 2007–2010 | 2010–present |
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