CTV Sci-Fi Channel


CTV Sci-Fi Channel is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts speculative fiction and related programming. The network's original slogan was The Imagination Station, which for several years continued to be used informally by its fans. The channel launched on October 17, 1997.

History

The channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in 1996. It debuted on October 17, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. ET, as Space: The Imagination Station, launching under the ownership of CHUM Limited,, airing the film Forbidden Planet, followed by a commentary on that film by author Robert J. Sawyer, followed by the film Mars Attacks!. The Sawyer commentary was the first example of the interstitial materials — mostly produced by Mark Askwith — that have become SPACE's signature: short, snappy, mini-documentaries on science fiction and science topics shown between programs, collectively known as "SPACE Flow". Daily installments include Space News.
Like Teletoon and MuchMusic, Space was specifically created to prevent the importation of American specialty channels into Canadian territory, in this case Syfy, but still has to produce and broadcast Canadian original content on a license.
CTVglobemedia took over Space on June 22, 2007, as a result of a takeover of CHUM Limited. At the same time, the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers later that year. Ownership changed hands once again when on April 1, 2011, BCE Inc. gained 100% control of CTVglobemedia's non-publishing assets that it did not already own, placing Space under the ownership of Bell Media.
On February 8, 2011, the Reeves-Stevenses submitted a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in support of an application by CTVglobemedia to renew the broadcasting license of Space.
On July 6, 2011, a high definition simulcast of Space was launched.
On March 4, 2013, Space introduced a new logo to coincide with the premiere of the channel's new original co-production Orphan Black. A Bell Media executive explained that the branding was designed to reflect upon the broadening of the sci-fi genre beyond outer space and "people in polyester onesies running around with taser guns", by portraying the new logo in the form of real-life objects with a "phenomenal twist" to symbolize the "space around you". Through Bell Media's acquisition of Astral Media, Space is now co-owned with the French-language science-fiction channel, Ztélé.
On June 7, 2018 during the CTV upfronts, it was announced that Space would be rebranded as "CTV Sci-Fi", as part of a re-branding of several Bell Media specialty channels under the CTV name. The following year, it was revealed the channel would rebrand as CTV Sci-Fi Channel on September 12, 2019.

Programming

CTV Sci-Fi Channel's programming includes scripted television series and films primarily focused on the science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, horror, and paranormal genres. The channel has produced original series, as well as co-produced and acquired programming primarily from the U.S Syfy cable network.

Current Programming

As of September 2019

Original

Original