MTV2 | |
---|---|
Launched | October 18, 2001 |
Owned by | Bell Media |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
Slogan | Man's Best Friend. |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
Formerly called | MTV Canada (2001–2005) Razer (2005–2008) |
Sister channel(s) |
MTV Much |
Website | www |
Availability
|
|
Satellite | |
Bell TV | Channel 577 |
Shaw Direct | Channel 590 |
Cable | |
Available on most Canadian cable systems | Consult your local cable provider for channel availability |
IPTV | |
Bell Aliant Fibe TV | Channel 226 |
Bell Fibe TV | Channel 574 |
Bell MTS | Channel 324 |
Optik TV | Channel 562 |
SaskTel | Channel 140 |
VMedia | Channel 706 |
Zazeen | Channel 54 |
MTV2 is a Canadian English language Category A cable and satellite specialty channel. Similar to its American counterpart, MTV2 is a lifestyle and general entertainment channel aimed at youth and teen audiences. The channel is owned by Bell Media, with the name and branding used under an agreement with the Viacom Media Networks division of Viacom.
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, in partnership with TD Capital Group Ltd, was 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% of its schedule to the airing of music videos and music programming, in order to avoid direct competition with MuchMusic, owned at the time by CHUM Limited.
Nonetheless, in August 2001, Craig Media announced that it had reached an agreement with MTV Networks to license programming and the MTV brand in Canada for the channel, prompting a pre-launch name change to MTV Canada. Prior to the channel's launch, Craig purchased TD Capital Group's interest in the channel. The channel launched as MTV Canada on October 18, 2001. Shortly afterward, Craig sold a minority interest in the service to MTV Networks. MTV Canada aired a mix of Canadian-produced programs (including Pepsi Breakout and MTV Select), as well as shows from the American MTV channel (such as TRL and The Real World).