A Category B service is the former term for a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

television channel A television channel is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the terrestrial or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with ...

which, as defined by the

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC; french: Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes, links=) is a public organization in Canada with mandate as a regulatory agency for broadcast ...

, may be carried by all subscription television providers. Such services were called Category 2 until September 1, 2011. Unlike Category A services, Category B services are not protected as to format. They are licensed to broadcast within defined formats which are not provided by or overly close to an existing protected channel, but their formats are not protected themselves and need not protect other Category B services. Also unlike Category A services, a Category B service does not have guaranteed cable carriage rights, but must directly negotiate carriage with cable distributors. Category B services encompass both

pay television Pay television, also known as subscription television, premium television or, when referring to an individual service, a premium channel, refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by multichannel television providers, b ...

and specialty channels. In December 2012, the CRTC exempted from formal licensing services with less than 200,000 subscribers that would otherwise meet the definition of a Category B service, and services which air 90% of their programming in a language other than

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

, or languages of

aboriginal peoples in Canada In Canada, Indigenous groups comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Although ''Indian'' is a term still commonly used in legal documents, the descriptors ''Indian'' and ''Eskimo'' have fallen into disuse in Canada, and most consider the ...

. Henceforth, most Canadian specialty channels (except for national news and mainstream sports channels, which are classified as Category C services) will be licensed as Category B services.

Category B specialty services

The following is a list of currently launched and officially licensed Category B services in Canada:

English

* ABC Spark *

Adult Swim Adult Swim (AS; stylized as dult swim'' and often abbreviated as s'') is an American adult-oriented night-time cable television channel that shares channel space with the basic cable network Cartoon Network and is programmed by its in-house ...

Animal Planet Animal Planet (stylized in all lowercase since 2018) is an American multinational pay television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. First established on June 1, 1996, the network is primarily ...

ATN Cricket Plus ATN Cricket Plus is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Asian Television Network (ATN). ATN Cricket Plus broadcasts programming related to the sport of cricket including live and tape-delayed matches and news and hig ...

* ATN DD Sports * A.Side TV * BBC Earth *

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, ...

Cooking Channel Cooking Channel is an American basic cable channel owned by Food Network, a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (69%) and Nexstar Media Group (31%). The channel is a spin-off of Food Network, broadcasting ...

* Commonwealth Broadcasting Network * Daystar Television Canada *

DejaView DejaView is a Canadian English language specialty television channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It primarily airs television shows from the 1970s to 2010s. History In November 2000, Global Television Network Inc. (then owned by Canwest) was g ...

* Discovery Science *

Discovery Velocity Discovery Velocity is a Canadian Category B specialty channel owned by CTV Specialty Television, a joint venture of CTV Specialty Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a Canadian version of the U.S. channel formerly of the same nam ...

Disney Channel Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Comp ...

* Disney XD * DIY Network * Dorcel TV Canada * ESPN Classic * EuroWorld Sport * Fight Network * FX * Game+ * GameTV * Global News: BC 1 * HIFI *

Hollywood Suite Hollywood Suite is a group of four Canadian specialty channels, each either majority-owned or wholly owned by Hollywood Suite Inc., a privately held broadcasting company based in Toronto, Ontario. The four channels are primarily devoted to classi ...

** Hollywood Suite 70s Movies ** Hollywood Suite 80s Movies ** Hollywood Suite 90s Movies ** Hollywood Suite 00s Movies *

HPItv HPItv (Horseplayer Interactive Television) is a Canadian English language Category B specialty network owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group. HPItv broadcasts thoroughbred, standardbred, and harness racing events and related programming. Chann ...

** HPItv Canada ** HPItv International ** HPItv Odds ** HPItv West * Investigation Discovery *

Leafs Nation Network Leafs Nation Network (formerly Leafs TV) was a Canadian English language Category B regional specialty channel owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. Leafs Nation Network broadcasts programming related to the Toronto Maple Leafs Nation ...

* Lifetime * Love Nature * Makeful *

MovieTime MovieTime is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It primarily broadcasts films, with 250 titles per month and back-to-back movies on the weekends. Unlike other Canadian movie channels, MovieTime operates a ...

Nat Geo Wild National Geographic Wild (shortened as Nat Geo Wild and abbreviated NGW) is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%) ...

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widel ...

* NBA TV Canada *

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...

Penthouse TV Penthouse TV is an American premium adult entertainment television channel consisting of explicit adult material, primarily hardcore pornographic films and mainstream interviews. The channel's name is licensed from the men's magazine '' Penthouse ...

* Playmen TV *

Red Hot TV Red Hot TV can refer to: * Red Hot TV (Canada) * Red Hot TV (UK) Red Hot TV was a series of British television channel that showcased pornographic content on a pay-per-view basis. The channel began broadcasting on Sky in June 2000 as one of a ...

* Rewind *

Salt + Light Television Salt + Light Television is a Canadian multi-lingual Category B television channel owned by the not-for-profit Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and based in Toronto, Ontario. The channel broadcasts faith-based programming for Roman C ...

* Silver Screen Classics *

Smithsonian Channel The Smithsonian Channel is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its media networks division under MTV Entertainment Group. It offers video content inspired by the Smithsonian Institution's museums, research facili ...

Sportsman Channel Sportsman Channel is an American sports-oriented digital cable and satellite television network owned by the Outdoor Sportsman Group subsidiary of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The channel is dedicated to programming about outdoor sports, inclu ...

* Sportsnet World *

Stingray Country Stingray Country is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Stingray Digital. The channel broadcasts music videos relating to country music. History The channel launched on May 13, 2019 on Roku; later launching on J ...

* Stingray Juicebox *

Stingray Loud Stingray Loud is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Stingray Digital. The channel broadcasts music videos relating to rock, modern rock, alternative, punk, and heavy metal. History In November 2000, CHUM L ...

Stingray Naturescape Stingray Naturescape is a Canadian-based specialty television channel owned by Stingray Group. The channel primarily broadcasts a rotation of various nature scenery videos with accompanying audio from the nature scene pictured with sometimes non- ...

Stingray Retro Stingray Retro is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by the Stingray Group. The channel broadcasts music videos mainly from the 1970s to the early 2010s, with some music videos from the 1960s being played occasiona ...

Stingray Vibe Stingray Vibe is a Canadian pay television channel owned by Stingray Digital. The channel broadcasts hip-hop, rap, R&B, rhythmic pop and EDM/Dance music videos. History In November 2000, CHUM Limited was granted approval by the Canadian Radio- ...

The Rural Channel The Rural Channel (often abbreviated as ''TRC'') is a Canadian English language specialty television channel and subscription streaming service broadcasting rural lifestyle programming with a particular emphasis on agriculture and equine programm ...

* Water Television Network * Wild TV * WildBrainTV

French

* Avis de Recherche * Casa * Dorcel TV Canada * Frissons TV * Ici Explora * Investigation * MOI ET CIE * Prise 2 * Télémagino *

Yoopa Yoopa (stylized YOOPA) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Groupe TVA, a division of Quebecor Media. Initially aimed at preschoolers, Yoopa now broadcasts programming targeted toward children, aged 2–11. A magazine for par ...

* Zeste

Multicultural

Aaj Tak ''Aaj Tak'' () is an Indian Hindi-language news channel owned by TV Today Network, part of the New Delhi-based media conglomerate Living Media group (India Today Group) Aaj Tak HD On 14 December 2018, Aaj Tak launched India's first Hindi h ...

* ATN SAB TV *

ATN Times Now ATN Times Now is a Canadian Category B English language specialty channel owned by Asian Television Network (ATN). It broadcasts programming from Times Now Times Now is an English news channel in India owned and operated by The Times Group. ...

ATN Zoom ATN Zoom is a Canadian Category B Hindi language specialty channel owned by Asian Television Network (ATN). It broadcasts programming from Zoom as well as Canadian content. ATN Zoom is an Indian entertainment channel whose sole focus is Bollywood ...

FPTV FPTV (short for Festival Portuguese Television) is a Canadian Category B Portuguese language specialty channel. The channel's licensee is 1395047 Ontario Inc., a company founded by Frank Alvarez, in 2001. FPTV broadcasts a variety of foreign and ...

* Filmy *

Mediaset Italia Mediaset Italia is an international linguistic and cultural television channel, part of the Italian media company Mediaset. Launched in 2009 with the aim to reach Italian communities worldwide, the channel is the international service of Mediase ...

* Mediaset TGCOM 24 * New Tang Dynasty Television * SSTV *

Univision Canada Univision Canada is a Canadian Spanish language specialty channel owned by TLN Media Group, in partnership with TelevisaUnivision USA, the leading Spanish-language media company in the United States. Univision Canada broadcasts a variety of progr ...

* Zee Bollywood * Zee Cinema * Zee TV Canada

Category B pay services

French

* Cinépop

Exempted Category B services

English

* AOV Adult Movie Channel *

beIN Sports Canada beIN Sports is a Canadian exempt English language Category B specialty channel that airs international sports content. beIN Sports primarily airs soccer, featuring coverage of such leagues as La Liga, Ligue 1, along with content from other leag ...

Exxxtasy TV Exxxtasy TV is a Canadian English language exempt Category B specialty channel. It is a pay television adult entertainment television channel consisting of explicit adult material, primarily pornographic films, aimed at male audiences. The ch ...

FEVA TV FEVA TV (acronym for ''First Entertainment Voice of Africa'') is a Canadian English language exempt Category B specialty channel owned by Wells Multimedia Entertainment Inc. FEVA TV broadcasts general entertainment programming aimed at those who ...

* Maleflixxx Television * REV TV Canada *

Stingray Now 4K Stingray Now 4K is a Canadian English language Category B television channel owned by Stingray Digital. The channel broadcasts music videos in 4K resolution (ultra-high-definition television) from various genres including pop, dance, hip-hop, in ...

The Cult Movie Network The Cult Movie Network is a Canadian-based English language online video-on-demand service consisting of programming devoted to cult films from a variety of genres, primarily horror, but also including fantasy, comedy, and action, among others. ...

Toon-A-Vision Toon-A-Vision is a Canadian English language discretionary service television channel owned by Atlantic Digital Networks. The channel broadcasts in high definition and airs animated programming aimed at youth ranging from preschoolers to teenage ...

* Vertical TV * XITE 4K *

XXX Action Clips Channel XXX Action Clips Channel (also referred to as XXX TV) is a Canadian exempt English-language Category B specialty channel. It is a premium adult entertainment television channel consisting of 5 to 20 minutes clips from adult feature films from va ...

French

PalmarèsADISQ par Stingray PalmarèsADISQ par Stingray is a Canadian French language Category B high definition television channel owned by Stingray Group Stingray Group Inc. (formerly Stingray Digital and Stingray Digital Group) is a publicly traded Canadian media an ...

Stingray Hits! Stingray Hits is a Canadian French language music television channel owned by Stingray Group. The channel broadcasts music videos from pop, pop-rock, and dance hits primarily from current day's artists, along with past artists. The channel broadcas ...

Ethnic

Abu Dhabi TV Abu Dhabi TV ( ar, قناة أبوظبي) is an Emirates-based television channel that was originally launched in 1969. It broadcasts content from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and is owned by Abu Dhabi Media. Abu Dhabi TV ...

* Al-Nahar TV * Al-Nahar Drama * Al Resalah * All TV *

All TV K All TV K is a Canadian exempt Category B Korean language specialty channel with English subtitles and is owned by All TV Inc. It broadcasts programming from KBS World as well as local Canadian content. All TV K features programming from Korea ...

* ATN Aastha TV * ATN ARY Digital * ATN B4U Movies * ATN B4U Music * ATN Bangla (Canada), ATN Bangla * ATN Brit Asia TV * ATN Colors Bangla * ATN Colors Marathi * ATN DD Bharati * ATN DD Urdu * ATN Food Food * ATN Gujarati * ATN IBC Tamil * ATN Jaya TV * ATN Movies * ATN MTV India * ATN News 18 * ATN PM One * ATN Punjabi * ATN Punjabi 5 * ATN Punjabi News * ATN Punjabi Plus * ATN Rishtey * ATN Sikh Channel * ATN Sony Aath * ATN Sony Max * ATN Sony Mix * ATN Sony TV * ATN SVBC * ATN Tamil Plus * ATN Urdu * BBC Arabic * Big Magic International (Canada), Big Magic International * Canada Chinese TV * Canada National TV * CCCTV * Chakde TV * Channel Punjabi * Channel Y * CTC International * Dream 2 (Canada), Dream 2 * ERT World (Canada), ERT World * Fairchild TV 2 HD * Filipino TV, FTV * Pershyi Natsionalnyi (Canada), First National * Greek Music Channel * German Kino Plus * Halla Bol! Kids TV * HRT Sat (Canada), HRT Sat * Hum TV (Canada), Hum TV * Iran TV Network (Canada), Iran TV Network * Kontinental Hockey League, KHL-TV * LS Times TV * MEGA Cosmos (Odyssey Television Network), MEGA Cosmos * Melody Aflam (Canada), Melody Aflam * Melody Drama (Canada), Melody Drama * Melody Hits (Canada), Melody Hits * Momo Kids * Montreal Greek TV * New Greek TV (Canada), NGTV * Nova World (Canada), Nova World * OSN Yahala, OSN Ya Hala International * Prime Asia TV * ProSiebenSat.1 Welt (Canada), ProSiebenSat.1 Welt * PTC Punjabi (Canada), PTC Punjabi * Rawal TV * RBTI Canada * Rotana Aflam * Rotana Cinema * Rotana Classic * Rotana Clip * Rotana Drama * Rotana Khalijiah * Rotana Mousica * RTL Living * RTS Sat (Canada), RTS Sat * RTVi (Canada), RTVi * SBTN (Canada), SBTN * Schlager TV * Tamil Entertainment Television, TET * Tamil One * Tamil Vision International, Tamil Vision * Telebimbi * TeleNiños * The Israeli Network (Canada), The Israeli Network * Travelxp (Canada), Travelxp * TVCentr International * TVP Info (Canada), TVP Info * TV Rain * Vanakkam TV * Win HD Caribbean * WOWtv * Zee 24 Taas * Zee Bangla * Zee Marathi * Zee Punjabi * Zee Salaam * Zee Talkies * Zee Tamil * Zing (Canada), Zing

Defunct Category B services

* Action (Canadian TV channel), Action * ATN NDTV 24x7 * BBC Canada * BBC Kids * Bloomberg TV Canada * bpm:tv * Bollywood Times * CityNews Channel * Comedy Gold (TV channel), Comedy Gold * CoolTV * Cosmopolitan TV (Canada), Cosmopolitan TV * Discovery Kids (Canadian TV channel), Discovery Kids * Dusk (TV channel), Dusk * The Ecology Channel * Edge TV * Fine Living (Canada), Fine Living * Fox Sports World Canada * Global Reality Channel * GolTV (Canada), GolTV * CTV Life Channel, Gusto TV (Knight Enterprises)Gusto's intellectual property was sold to Bell Media in 2016. The original channel ceased operations on September 1, 2016, and was concurrently replaced by a version operating under a Category A license formerly used by M3 (Canadian TV channel), M3. * HSTN * IDNR-TV * Leonardo World (Canada), Leonardo World * MEGA Cosmos (Ethnic Channels Group), MEGA Cosmos (Ethnic Channels Group)After acquiring rights to its programming, Odyssey Television Network launched a MEGA Cosmos (Odyssey Television Network), separate channel under the same name) * Mehndi TV * MSNBC Canada * Niagara News TV * Nuevo Mundo Television * Persian Vision * The Pet Network * RTVi+ (Canada), RTVi+ * Sundance Channel (Canada), Sundance Channel * Talentvision 2 HD * Teletoon Retro * Télétoon Rétro * Tonis (Canada), Tonis * TVOne Canada * UTV Movies (Canada), UTV Movies * Video Italia (Canada), Video Italia * X-Treme Sports

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Category B Specialty Channel Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Digital cable television networks in Canada, *B

Category B specialty services

English

French

Multicultural

Category B pay services

French

Exempted Category B services

English

French

Ethnic

Defunct Category B services

See also

Notes

References