ESPN Classic (Canadian TV channel)

ESPN Classic is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc. (Bell Media (80%) and ESPN (20%). Intended as the Canadian equivalent of the American channel of the same name, it broadcasts a range of archive sports coverage, talk shows, documentaries and films.

ESPN Classic
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerCTV Specialty Television
(Bell Media 80%
ESPN Inc. 20%)
Sister channelsTSN
TSN2
TSN3
TSN4
TSN5
RDS
RDS2
History
LaunchedSeptember 7, 2001 (2001-09-07)
Links
WebsiteESPN Classic
Availability
Cable
Available on many Canadian cable systemsCheck local listings, channels may vary
Satellite
Shaw DirectChannel 125 / 464
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TVChannel 130
Bell Fibe TVChannel 412
Bell MTSChannel 202
Optik TVChannel 951
SaskTelChannel 125
VMediaChannel 75
RogersChannel 417

History

ESPN Classic was licensed as Classic Sports in November 2000 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and was launched on September 7, 2001 as ESPN Classic Canada.[1] A few years after its launch, "Canada" was dropped from its name and logo to "ESPN Classic". ESPN Classic is the only ESPN-branded channel broadcasting in Canada, although in addition to owning a stake in the Canadian version of ESPN Classic, ESPN is part-owner of TSN (which uses on-air branding similar to the flagship ESPN channel in the U.S.), along with Bell Media.

With the European version of the channel closing in 2013 and the U.S. version of the channel scheduled to cease operations at the end of 2021, but no similar plans announced yet for Canada, the Canadian channel is expected to become the last operation under the ESPN Classic brand.[2]

Programming

The channel's programming consists primarily of archived sporting events associated with TSN-owned event rights, including hockey (particularly IIHF events), the CFL and NFL, basketball, and curling, as well as SportsCentre-branded highlights compilations and countdowns originating from the main TSN network.

See also

References
  1. Decision CRTC 2000-578 CRTC 2000-12-14
  2. Weprin, Alex (2021-11-04). "ESPN Classic Channel to Shut Down on Jan. 1". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-11-04.


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