| TVtropolis | |
|---|---|
| TVtropolis logo | |
| Launched | June 1, 2006 (TVtropolis) October 17, 1997 (Prime) |
| Owned by | Shaw Media (66.7% & managing partner) Rogers Media (33.3%) |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Slogan | Hit TV Lives Here |
| Country | Canada |
| Broadcast area | National |
| Formerly called | Prime (1997 - 2006) |
| Website | TVtropolis |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Bell TV | 618 (East) 619 (West) |
| Shaw Direct | 524 (East) 525 (West) |
| Cable | |
| Available on most Canadian cable systems | Check local listings, channels may vary |
| IPTV | |
| Bell Aliant TV | 210 (East) |
| Bell Fibe TV | 618 (East) 619 (West) |
| MTS | 106 (East) 107 (West) |
| Optik TV | 182 (West) |
| SaskTel | 135 (West) |
TVtropolis is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media and Rogers Media.
The channel operates two time shifted feeds: East (Eastern Time) and West (Pacific Time).
Contents |
TVtropolis consists of a variety of programming ranging from 80s and 90s sitcoms, animated series, reality series, game shows, and other general entertainment programming. In marketing material, as its slogan suggests, it is described as a focusing on "hit" television series and television series and celebrities that have "have defined pop culture."[1]
The channel was launched as Prime on October 17, 1997 by Canwest. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) licensed Prime in 1996[2] as a specialty television service directed towards men and women 50 years of age and older. However, the channel did not explicitly market itself as a channel for the "baby boomer" generation, preferring instead to position itself as a general entertainment television channel. Prime's slogan, on-air and in advertising, was "Canada's Entertainment Network".
Prime's schedule reflected a mix of general interest television programs, including home improvement and design series, along with classic television series such as The Golden Girls, M*A*S*H, All in the Family, The Cosby Show, and Newhart. It also hosted repeat showings of several Global and CH series, including The Apprentice, The Restaurant, The Price Is Right, Entertainment Tonight Canada, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Global and CH also being Canwest properties at the time.
With the launch of the cable channel DejaView (also owned by Canwest) in 2001, showing similar programming to Prime (1960s, 1970s and 1980s programming), the channel's focus shifted to its current format of shows from the late 1980s and beyond.
On June 1, 2006, Prime was renamed TVtropolis,[3] which initially primarily focused on sitcoms and dramas from the 80s and 90s such as Seinfeld and Beverly Hills 90210, with additional television series focused on television pop culture such as Inside the Box and FANatical.[3] Over the course of its existence as TVtropolis, the channel has lessened its emphasis on sitcoms and dramas, focusing on other programs from reality series, game shows, lifestyle series, and others, with little emphasis on theme of television pop culture, rather focusing on general entertainment.
On October 27, 2010, Shaw Communications purchased Canwest after it had entered into creditor bankruptcy protection in late 2009. As a result, Shaw acquired control of Canwest's stake in TVtropolis and renamed Canwest as Shaw Media.[4]
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