Game+

Game+ is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment. It is an off-shoot of its sister channel GameTV, focused on programming relating to fantasy sports, sports betting (including programming simulcast from VSIN), Esports, outdoor recreation, poker, and other competition and sports entertainment programming.

Game+
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Ownership
OwnerAnthem Sports & Entertainment
Sister channelsGameTV
Fight Network
History
LaunchedMarch 4, 2014
Former namesFNTSY Sports Network (2014-2019)
Links
WebsiteGame+
Availability
Cable
Cogeco (Canada)Channel 430 (SD)
Channel 482 (HD)
EastLink (Canada)Channel 718 (HD)
Rogers Cable (Canada)Channel 499 (SD) / (HD)
Altice USA (USA)Channel 147 (SD)
ShenTel Cable (USA)Channel 366 (HD)
IPTV
Bell Fibe TV (Canada)Channel 425 (SD)
Channel 1425 (HD)
Bell MTS (Canada)Channel 190 (SD)
Channel 1190 (HD)
Optik TV (Canada)Channel 921 (HD)
Sasktel (Canada)Channel 127 (SD)
Channel 427 (HD)
Streaming media
Amazon Fire TV (Worldwide)Application
Apple TV (Worldwide)Application

History

The channel's origins begin in January 2013, when Anthem Media's subsidiary, Fight Media, was granted approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a television channel called "The League – Fantasy Sports TV," described as "a national, English-language specialty Category B service devoted to fantasy sports, allowing viewers to act as owners and assume all the responsibilities associated with operating real sports franchises, and allowing viewers to create, monitor, trade and discuss players on their teams with others also playing fantasy sports."[1]

In February 2013, Anthem acquired two fantasy sports analysis websites—RotoExperts and SportsGrid—to bolster content for the network.[2] In March 2013, Anthem CEO Leonard Asper told the Toronto Star that the channel was expected to launch that September. He defended the network's concept by noting that "people thought 'How can there be an entire channel devoted to golf?' But now the Golf Channel is in 82 million homes", and that advertisers "leapt out of their chairs" when they learned that the network could appeal to both the traditional "baby boomer" demographic associated with fantasy sports, and the young male demographic that had also increasingly shown interest in fantasy.[3]

Logo as FNTSY Sports Network

In December 2013, it was reported that the channel, now named FNTSY Sports Network, was expected to launch in Canada and the United States in March 2014.[4] On January 14, 2014, Anthem Media announced the launch date for the channel as March 4, 2014.[5] However, it was initially expected to launch only in the U.S. on that date with the Canadian launch limited to only an app and streaming online channel;[6] that's until January 29, 2014 when Anthem Media announced it will launch in Canada the same day as the U.S. through a carriage agreement with MTS.[7] The Canadian channel launched as intended on March 14; however, the channel's American counterpart subsequently launched 3 months later in the U.S. on Cablevision's Optimum TV service.[8]

In 2016, a 20% interest in the channel was sold to a group of various unnamed investors,[9] which would subsequently be resold back to the Anthem at a later date.

In 2018, Anthem sold the FNTSY Sports Network brand and associated fantasy sports properties to a newly created company called SportsGrid Inc. It retained, however, the television distribution network on Canadian and American television service providers, and maintained the FNTSY Sports Network brand through a transitional licensing agreement until April 1, 2019 when it rebranded the channel as Game+. Plans to rebrand the channel were initially revealed through Anthem's licence renewal application for the channel with the CRTC. Anthem had noted in the application that it had difficulties gaining distribution for the channel as a newly-created service and decided to rebrand the network.[10] Anthem partnered with Vegas Stats & Information Network to syndicate A Numbers Game and a weekly highlights program on Game+.[11]

References
  1. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-7 CRTC 2013-01-09
  2. "SportsGrid.com To Be Acquired By RotoExperts, New Site To Become 'The Ultimate Sports & Fantasy Destination'". Mediaite.com. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  3. Campbell, Morgan (2013-03-11). "Fantasy Sports: Can new TV network find an audience among poolies?". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  4. Fantasy Sports Network Looks To Become a Reality In March Multichannel.com 2013-12-03
  5. World’s First Fantasy Sports TV Network Set to Launch RotoExperts.com 2014-01-14
  6. Fantasy Sports Network targets March launch Cartt.ca 2014-01-14
  7. Fantasy Sports Network to Launch on MTS Ultimate TV on March 4, 2014 RotoExperts.com 2014-01-29
  8. Fight Network, FNTSY Gain First US Berths With Cablevision Multichannel News 06-26-2014
  9. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-40 CRTC 02 05 16
  10. Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (2016-05-24). "Open Part 1 Licence Renewal Applications". services.crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  11. "VSiN Goes International With Canadian Content Distribution Deal". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
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