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Showcase (Canadian TV channel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Canadian specialty channel. For other uses, see Showcase (disambiguation).
Showcase
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerCorus Entertainment
ParentShowcase Television Inc.
Sister channelsW Network
MovieTime
Lifetime
Adult Swim
History
LaunchedJanuary 1, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-01-01)
Links
Websiteshowcase.ca
Availability
Streaming media
StackTVInternet Protocol television

Showcase is a Canadian English-language specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. Launched in 1995, the network primarily airs general entertainment programming, particularly action and drama series and films.

History

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Licensed in 1994, Showcase was a venture between Alliance Communications (prior to its merger with Atlantis), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and a number of smaller independent Canadian producers, and was intended to be a showcase for "the best of independently-produced movies, drama, comedy and mini-series from Canada and around the world", with limited content from the United States.[1] It launched at midnight on January 1, 1995, with a short introductory montage and its first program, Monty Python's Life of Brian, shown as part of its program The Showcase Revue.[2]

Showcase logo, 1998–2009. This logo was also used by Showcase Action and Showcase Diva until 2009.

Showcase later spawned two digital television services, the male-oriented Action (formerly Showcase Action, which rebranded and relaunched as a Canadian version of Adult Swim in April 2019[3]) and the more female-oriented Showcase Diva (which rebranded to a Canadian version of Lifetime in 2012). On December 19, 2006, Alliance Atlantis launched a high definition simulcast of Showcase, available through all major television providers in Canada.[4]

Showcase was formerly subject to a condition of licence obligating it to air 100% Canadian content between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in the time zone of the originating feed.[5] While some foreign programming did air in the late afternoon prior to this window, any foreign programming subject to watershed restrictions was required to air at 10:00 p.m. ET or later per the Code of Ethics agreed upon by the industry.[6] For a few years beginning in fall 2005, when the channel was drawing most of its highest ratings for programming acquired from U.S. cable networks, Showcase promoted 10:00 p.m. as its flagship timeslot; in one marketing campaign, the network hired branded taxis in major markets to drive people home for free by 10:00 p.m.[7]

After several acquisitions over the years, Alliance Atlantis gained full control of Showcase. On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media bought Alliance Atlantis and gained AAC's interest in Showcase. Following its acquisition by Canwest, the channel's new management felt that Showcase's adult programming was alienating viewers and advertisers. On August 31, 2009, Showcase underwent a major rebranding, introducing a new programming lineup with a greater focus on hit dramas and films. At the same time, Showcase Diva was given a new look and Showcase Action was rebranded as simply Action. Canwest executives hoped that the new lineup would make the channel more attractive to viewers and advertisers.[8]

On October 27, 2010, ownership changed again as Shaw Communications gained control of Showcase as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.[9][10]

For the Fall 2013 season, Showcase unveiled a new tagline and branding campaign: "Character is Everything".[11] The four-week marketing campaign was highlighted by promos narrated by characters from Showcase's series in first-person. An interactive website was created by Stitch Media. On it, viewers can create their own trailers for Showcase programming based on their own character.[12][13][14]

On March 30, 2015, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the network's launch, Showcase underwent a brand refresh, including a new logo — a variation of the network's first logo from 1995 — and a new slogan: "Beyond Ordinary".[15][16][17]

In April 2016, as part of a reorganization of Shaw's assets, Showcase was acquired by Corus Entertainment.[18]

Programming

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Further information: List of programs broadcast by Showcase
Logo used from 2009 to 2015. This logo was also used by Showcase Diva until its relaunch as Lifetime.

Showcase primarily airs syndicated reruns of current and former network drama series (in particular, series that had been acquired or commissioned by sister network Global), including NCIS, FBI, and their spin-offs among others. The network also airs mainstream feature films, particularly on weekends. Since June 2020, the network has jointly held Canadian linear television rights to Sky Studios and Peacock original series (excluding DreamWorks Animation television series, whose library rights are held by WildBrain)[19] with sister network W Network.[20][21]

Original programming

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In the 2000s, Showcase became known for its original productions, including Paradise Falls, KinK, and Naked Josh. Another of these shows—the low-budget Trailer Park Boys—became a bona fide national phenomenon, spawning DVDs, merchandising tie-ins, and three feature films (Trailer Park Boys: The Movie, Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day, and Trailer Park Boys: Don't Legalize It). The success of Trailer Park Boys led to the increasing prominence of edgy and risqué programming on Showcase (which at the time used the tagline "Television Without Borders"), including a block consisting entirely of its eroticism-themed shows known as Fridays Without Borders.[8]

In the 2010s, the network's original programming shifted towards science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as co-productions. In 2010, a new original series, the supernatural crime drama Lost Girl, brought Showcase its highest-rated series premiere ever with around 400,000 viewers.[22] This was bested less than two years later by the debut of another original sci-fi series, Continuum, which had an average audience of 900,000 viewers.[23] Copper premiered in 2012 as a co-production with BBC America.[24] In 2016, Showcase and Netflix co-commissioned the sci-fi series Travelers from Stargate SG-1 co-creator Brad Wright; Showcase and Netflix renewed the series for a second season, but Showcase dropped the series afterward (with season 3 being commissioned solely by Netflix).[25][26]

Includes programs co-commissioned with international broadcasters.

References

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  1. ^ CRTC Decision 94-280
  2. ^ Showcase Television launch (January 1, 1995)
  3. ^ “First Ever 24-Hour Adult Swim Channel Coming To Canada Next Month.” Screen Rant. March 4, 2019
  4. ^ Alliance Atlantis Launches High Definition Channels Broadcaster Magazine 2006-10-11
  5. ^ CRTC Decision 2001-153
  6. ^ "Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Code of Ethics (2002)". Canadian Broadcast Standards Council. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
  7. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2005-09-20). "Taken for a ride: Showcase helps fans keep 10 p.m. date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  8. ^ a b "Showcase puts new look on display". Marketing Magazine. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  9. ^ Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media
  10. ^ CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties Archived 2013-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Character is Everything This Fall on Showcase". Retrieved 2014-11-09.
  12. ^ ""Character is Everything" Showcase Fall '13 Campaign". Retrieved 2014-11-09.
  13. ^ "Character is Everything | Showcase.ca". Archived from the original on 2013-09-01.
  14. ^ "Character is Everything". Archived from the original on 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2014-11-09.
  15. ^ https://www.facebook.com/showcasedotca/photos/pb.57521976614.-2207520000.1427755210./10152694415356615/?type=3&theater [user-generated source]
  16. ^ Showcase Rebrand Launch. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  17. ^ "Showcase Celebrates 20th. Anniversary with New Branding". Broadcaster Magazine. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  18. ^ "Corus Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Shaw Media". Corus Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  19. ^ "DreamWorks Animation Inks Strategic Content Pact With DHX Media". Deadline.com. 8 December 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  20. ^ Kanter, Jake (2020-07-20). "Sky Originals 'Intelligence', 'Devils' & 'Bulletproof' Head To Canada's Corus Under Content Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  21. ^ Yeo, Debra (June 23, 2020). "Corus Entertainment makes exclusive deal for NBC's Peacock programming". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  22. ^ "Lost Girl premiere achieves supernatural ratings" (Press release). Toronto: Canwest Broadcasting. September 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-20. Source: Canada: BBM-PPM Data – as of Sept 13, 2010.
  23. ^ Seidman, Robert (2012-05-28). "Sci-Fi Drama 'Continuum' Crushes the Competition (in Canada) in Its Premiere". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  24. ^ Salem, Rob (2012-08-27). "Copper, premiere episode: Review". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  25. ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 19, 2016). "Sci-fi thriller Travelers from Stargate SG-1 co-creator ordered to series at Netflix, Eric McCormack to star". TVLine. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  26. ^ "Travelers Renewed For Season 3 At Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. March 15, 2018.
  27. ^ a b c "Canwest producing a record number of scripted original projects slated for Global and Showcase" (Press release). CNW Group. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
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