OLN

OLN (formerly Outdoor Life Network) is a Canadian English-language Category A specialty channel. OLN primarily broadcasts factual-based adventure-related programming and reality television series primarily aimed at male audiences. OLN is wholly owned by Rogers Sports & Media, although the "OLN" name continues to be licensed from Bonnier Group, publishers of Outdoor Life magazine.[1]

For the American TV channel formerly known as OLN, see NBCSN. For the chemical company, see Olin Corporation.
OLN
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
SloganOutrageous Characters. Real Life.
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
(2011-present)
480i (SDTV)
(1997-present)
Ownership
OwnerRogers Sports & Media
Sister channels
History
LaunchedOctober 17, 1997 (1997-10-17) (as Outdoor Life Network)
Former namesOutdoor Life Network (1997-2008)
Links
WebsiteOLN
Availability
Cable
Available on most Canadian cable systemsCheck local listings, channels may vary
Satellite
Bell Satellite TVChannel 411 (SD)
Channel 1411 (HD)
Shaw DirectChannel 457 (SD)
Channel 122 (HD)
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TVChannel 122 (SD)
Channel 622 (HD)
Bell Fibe TVChannel 411 (SD)
Channel 1411 (HD)
Bell MTSChannel 176 (SD)
Channel 1176 (HD)
Optik TVChannel 9357 (SD)
Channel 357 (HD)
SaskTelChannel 160 (SD)
Channel 460 (HD)
VMediaChannel 412 (HD)
ZazeenChannel 113 (HD)

History

Licensed in September 1996 as Outdoor Life by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the channel launched on October 17, 1997, as Outdoor Life Network. Its initial owners were Baton Broadcasting (later CTVglobemedia), Rogers Media, and the Outdoor Life Network in the U.S., which was later acquired by Comcast.

It was announced on November 16, 2007, that Rogers would acquire the remaining interests in OLN from both CTVglobemedia and Comcast, leaving Rogers as the sole owner of OLN.[2] The deal was approved by the CRTC on July 7, 2008, and was finalized on August 1, 2008, with Rogers taking operational control on August 31, 2008.

Programming

OLN was based on an American channel of the same name which had launched earlier in 1995, and shared much of its programming—including most prominently, coverage of the Tour de France. Due to restrictions in its CRTC licence that required it to maintain a focus on outdoors programming[3] and because Bell and Rogers already owned TSN and Sportsnet respectively, OLN did not follow the suit of its American counterpart (which re-branded as "Versus", later becoming NBCSN in 2012) and become a mainstream sports channel. Instead, the OLN name and format was maintained, but with fewer shows from its former counterpart.

OLN participated in CTV/Rogers Media coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics).

Notable programs

OLN HD

On June 24, 2011, Rogers launched OLN HD, a high definition simulcast of OLN. It is available on Shaw Direct, Bell Satellite TV, Eastlink, and Optik TV.

References
  1. "Canadian Trade-mark Data: Registration No. TMA670475". Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  2. Rogers buys OLN Media in Canada 2007-11-20
  3. CRTC Decision 96-606
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