Super Channel (Canada)

Infobox TV channel
name = Super Channel
logofile = Super Channel.png logoalt =
logosize = 200px
launch = November 2, 2007
closed date =
picture format =
share =
share as of =
share source =
network =
owner = Allarco Entertainment
slogan =
country = Canada
broadcast area = National
headquarters = Edmonton, Alberta
former names =
replaced names =
sister names =
timeshift names =
web = [http://www.superchannel.ca Super Channel]
terr serv 1 =
terr chan 1 =
sat serv 1 = Bell TV
sat chan 1 = Channels 326-329 (SD)
843, 844 (HD)
sat serv 2 = Star Choice
sat chan 2 = Channels 616-619 (SD)
270 (HD)
cable =
cable serv 1 = Available on many Canadian cable systems
cable chan 1 = Check local listings, channels may vary
adsl serv 1 =
adsl chan 1 =
online serv 1 =
online chan 1 = Super Channel is an English language Canadian premium television service. It is owned by the Allard family through Allarco Entertainment Inc.

The current Super Channel service launched in 2007, and is not affiliated with the two pre-existing English-language premium operators which used the name at various times prior to 2001, which are now known as Movie Central (western Canada) and The Movie Network (eastern Canada). The Allards were the original owners of what is now Movie Central, and later re-acquired rights to the Superchannel trademark. Unlike these two regional services, Super Channel is authorized to operate across Canada.

Super Channel is currently available on both national satellite television providers Bell TV and Star Choice as well as being offered by several cable companies including Access Communications, Cogeco, Rogers Cable, Shaw Cable, Eastlink and more. Super Channel was also granted as a "must carry" service by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), meaning all television service providers must carry the service on their systems.

Channels and content

Super Channel consists of a total of six multiplex channels; four standard definition and two high definition channels, as well as SVOD

Super Channel has positioned itself as a complementary service to The Movie Network and Movie Central. In addition to exclusive movie [ [http://www.superchannel.ca/movies/ Super Channel Website] ] output deals with major Hollywood studios such as 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate and MGM, they also offer a diverse selection of premium series [ [http://www.superchannel.ca/series/ Super Channel Website] ] and niche programming. Their current lineup includes various top British and American series, live concerts, anime, foreign films, documentaries and Bollywood features. They have also started airing live boxing and MMA events from Hennessey Sports and ProElite under their "Super Channel Fights" brand. [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2008/28/c4684.html Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution & Canada's Allarco Entertainment announce new multi-year agreement] ] [ [http://www.superchannel.ca/ Super Channel website] ]

The network also has program supply deals with Starz, Channel 4, Maple Pictures and many others. [ [http://www.channelcanada.com/Article2002.html Channel 4 International and Super Channel announce pay TV agreement] ] [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2007/15/c8685.html Super Channel and IMG Media announce programming agreement] ]

Unlike The Movie Network and Movie Central, Super Channel has pledged to reinvest 100 per cent of its profits in Canadian programming, in addition to 32 per cent of revenues annually, and will be spending $1 million a year on marketing these programs. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/public/broad/applications/2005/2005-0454-9.zip Allarco licence application] ]

Noted series

*"Sons of Anarchy"
*"Passions"
*"Criminal Justice"
*""
*"Headland"
*"Wildfire"
*"Broken Trail"
*"Burn Notice"
*"The Closer"
*"Peep Show"
*"Sea Patrol"
*"Side Order of Life"
*"Skins"
*"State of Mind"
*"Teachers"
*"The Whitest Kids U' Know"

History

Allarco was one of four applicants for new pay licences that was considered at a CRTC public hearing on October 24, 2005. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2005/n2005-6.htm Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2005-6] July 21, 2005] Its competitors were:
*BOOMTV, to be operated by the Archambault unit of Quebecor Media. While it was expected to compete directly with the existing general-interest services – The Movie Network and Movie Central (hereafter "TMN/MC") in English Canada and Super Écran in French Canada – Archambault indicated that its services would have regularly favoured first-run dramatic series. Archambault was also the only applicant for a French-language service, but indicated that this licence would be worthless without an English counterpart. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/public/broad/applications/2005/2005-0451-5%20_2005-0755-1.zip BOOMTV licence applications] ]
*The Canadian Film Channel, proposed by Channel Zero Inc. It proposed to exhibit 100% Canadian content and be funded entirely by the operators of TMN/MC, in an amount equal to 12.9% of these services' gross revenues, to be required by condition of licence. Neither incumbent indicated approval for such a use of its revenues. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/public/broad/applications/2005/2005-0452-3.zip TCFC licence application] ]
*Spotlight Television, to be controlled by George Burger, a former executive at Alliance Television, and pro-sports mogul Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of the private investment company Kilmer Van Nostrand, which proposed a premium service much in the same vein as TMN/MC. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/public/broad/applications/2004/2004-0991-3.zip Spotlight licence application] ] It is believed that, had Spotlight's application been successful, it would have been branded as a Canadian version of the American service HBO; an "HBO Canada" channel eventually launched in 2008 under the auspices of TMN/MC. [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080923.RHBO23/TPStory/Business HBO Canada coming, but with a catch] , Grant Robertson, "The Globe and Mail", September 23, 2008]

The Allarco application was approved on May 18, 2006, while the other three applicants were rejected. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/db2006-193.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-193] , May 18, 2006]

The Allard family were also the original owners of Movie Central, which during their stewardship (and indeed up until 2001) was known as "Superchannel" (single word). (For a time in the 1980s, First Choice / The Movie Network had also used the "Superchannel" name under a co-branding agreement.) The "Movie Central" name was adopted shortly after Corus Entertainment acquired the service, but Corus maintained ownership of the "Superchannel" trademark. Just before the new channel's launch, the Allards re-acquired the rights to the "Superchannel" name under undisclosed terms. [http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=91875756-47c3-4b4d-b008-90d225555702&k=72765 Is this a new pay-TV service or a rerun?] , Barbara Shecter, "National Post", July 30, 2007]

Super Channel was launched on November 2, 2007 on Bell TV with all six channels. In February 2008, Super Channel launched an On Demand channel on Cogeco Ontario systems, since that time, other television providers have added Super Channel On Demand.

References

External links

* [http://www.superchannel.ca Super Channel]