OutTV | |
---|---|
Launched | September 7, 2001 |
Owned by | OM Acquisitions |
Picture format |
1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia |
Formerly called | PrideVision TV (2001–2004) HARD on PrideVision (2004–2005) |
Website | www |
Availability
|
|
Satellite | |
Bell TV | Channel 609 (SD) |
Shaw Direct | Channel 574 (SD) |
Cable | |
Available on most Canadian cable systems | Consult your local cable provider for channel availability |
IPTV | |
Bell Aliant Fibe TV | Channel 249 (SD) |
Bell Fibe TV | Channel 1609 (HD) |
Bell MTS | Channel 295 (SD) Channel 1295 (HD) |
Optik TV | Channel 347 (SD) Channel 9347 (HD) |
SaskTel | Channel 108 (SD) Channel 408 (HD) |
VMedia | Channel 269 (SD) |
Zazeen | Channel 137 (SD) |
OutTV (stylized OUTtv) is a Canadian English language Category A cable and satellite specialty channel. Launching in September 2001, OutTV broadcasts general entertainment and lifestyle programming aimed at the LGBT community.
The network is owned by Ronald N. Stern through a newly formed company, OM Acquisitions.
The channel was launched on September 7, 2001 as PrideVision TV. Owned by Headline Media Group, it was Canada's first 24-hour cable television channel targeted at LGBT audiences. It was also the second LGBT-focused channel to be established in the world, after the Gay Cable Network in the U.S., which shut down in 2001. PrideVision TV was one of 21 digital specialty services that were granted a Category 1 license by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on November 24, 2000; all digital cable and direct broadcast satellite providers would be obliged to carry the network in their lineup. Headline Media Group owned 70.1% of the licence, while Alliance Atlantis owned the remaining interest. In February 2001, before the channel was launched, Alliance Atlantis sold its entire interest in the licence to Headline Media Group, which became the sole owner of the licence.
The network launched with a lineup of lifestyle and general entertainment programming, consisting of dramas, comedies, feature films, documentaries and talk shows during the day and in prime time, as well as pornographic films nightly after 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
As PrideVision, the channel maintained a national advisory committee to provide input and feedback on the station's programming and its effectiveness at serving LGBT communities. The committee included businessman and activist Jim Deva, Outlooks publisher Roy Heale, Egale Canada executive director John Fisher, Suzanne Girard of Divers/Cité, Carmela Laurignano of Evanov Communications, Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, Toronto city councillor Kyle Rae, Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto pastor Brent Hawkes, Ruby Hamilton of PFLAG and Halifax businesswoman Shelley Taylor.