MTV2 (Canada)

Infobox_TV_channel
name = MTV2
logofile = Mtv2 logo.svg
logoalt =
logosize = 125px
launch = October 18, 2001
closed date =
picture format =
share =
share as of =
share source =
network =
owner = CTVglobemedia
CTV Limited
slogan = MTV Unleashed
country = Canada
broadcast area = National
headquarters = Toronto, Ontario
former names = MTV Canada (2001 - 2005)
Razer (2005 - 2008)
replaced names =
sister names = MTV
timeshift names =
web = [http://www.mtv.ca/mtv2/ MTV2]
sat serv 1 = Bell TV
sat chan 1 = Channel 577
sat serv 2 = Star Choice
sat chan 2 = Channel 590
cable serv 1 = Available on most Canadian cable systems
cable chan 1 = Check local listings, channels may vary

MTV2 is a Canadian English language category 1 digital cable specialty channel. MTV2 is a lifestyle and general entertainment channel aimed at youth and teen audiences, airing a mix of music video programs, drama, comedies, talk shows and more.

MTV2 is a wholly owned property of CTVglobemedia, with the MTV2 name licensed from the American service MTV2, which is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom.

History

On November 24, 2000, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced the licensees of the new, much-sought after, category 1 digital services. Craig Media was [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2000/DB2000-462.htm granted] a licence for a youth lifestyle service known as "Connect". One of the licence's conditions was that the channel could not devote more than 10 per cent of its schedule to the airing of music videos, in order to avoid direct competition with CHUM's MuchMusic.

Nonetheless, Craig quickly reached an agreement with MTV Networks to carry MTV programming, prompting a pre-launch name change to MTV Canada. It launched on October 18, 2001 and shortly after, Craig sold a minority interest in the service to MTV Networks. MTV Canada aired a mix of Canadian made programs including "Pepsi Breakout", "Versus", "MTV Select" (later renamed "969") and more, as well as American MTV shows including "Punk'd", "TRL", "The Real World" to name a few.

CHUM soon complained to the CRTC that MTV Canada was violating its conditions of licence, exceeding its limit of 10 per cent music videos, becoming a direct competitor to MuchMusic. Craig was forced to make changes to reduce its percentage of music-related programming. However these changes were soon rendered moot as Craig was acquired by CHUM Limited in December 1, 2004, prompting MTV Networks to exercise its right to terminate the agreement with Craig if a change in control were to happen. CHUM was also required to pay remaining licence fees for MTV Canada and sister station MTV2 of approximately $10 million to MTV Networks which also meant MTV Networks was no longer able to retain interest in both channels. On June 9, 2005 CHUM announced it would rebrand the channel as Razer, a change that took effect on June 30 of that year. CTV acquired the rights to MTV programming later in the year, launching its own MTV channel (previously known as talktv) in early 2006. Ownership changed hands once again on June 22, 2007 when CTVglobemedia took over CHUM Limited.

On August 1, 2008, Razer was relaunched as MTV2. Unlike Canada's previous MTV2 (now PunchMuch), which aired only music videos, the new channel became much closer in format to its U.S. counterpart; in fact, due to quirks in their respective licences, it airs significantly more music programming than the current main MTV channel in Canada.

Logos

Programming

ee also

* MTV2 (US)

External links

* [http://www.mtv.ca/mtv2/ MTV2]