The Pet Network

The Pet Network is a defunct Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Stornoway Communications. The channel broadcast entertainment and information programming for children and adults primarily related to pets in the form of feature films, documentary films, television dramas, cartoons, docuseries, and more.

The Pet Network
The Pet Network logo
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNational
SloganCome. Sit. Stay.
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerStornoway Communications
History
LaunchedDecember 3, 2004
ClosedMay 2, 2016

History

In November 2000, a joint venture between Stornoway Communications and Cogeco were granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a television channel called The Pet Network, described as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service devoted to pets and working animals."[1]

Original logo used from 2004 - 2009. The logo, during its inception, would sometimes not feature the animals pictured.

Prior to the channel's launch, in January 2004, the CRTC approved an application that would see Stornoway acquire Cogeco's interest in the proposed service, along with all other services owned by Storonoway, namely ichannel and bpm:tv.[2]

In November 2004, Stornoway announced that it had reached an agreement with Rogers Communications to launch the channel on its digital cable platform in December 2004.[3] The channel subsequently ran a 30-minute promotional program on a loop from November 23 until its official launch on December 3 at 5:00pm EST.[4]

The channel would subsequently be added to various other television services providers over the years since its launch, however, the largest being Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct, added in October[5] and November 2010,[6] respectively. The launch on the Shaw Communications-owned platforms gave the channel wide distribution in Western Canada on cable and nationally via satellite.

The Pet Network logo from 2009 - 2012

On November 12, 2012, to coincide with the launch of the channel's 2012-2013 fall programming launch, The Pet Network underwent a rebranding including of a new logo, on-air graphics, and website.[7]

In early April 2016, it was revealed by several television service providers, via their respective websites and other communications, that the channel would cease broadcasting on May 2, 2016.[8] Stornoway Communications, who earlier shuttered another one of its own television channels, bpm:tv, in June 2015,[9] revealed through regulatory filings, that it shuttered the channel and was requesting to revoke its broadcast licence due to inabilities in securing sustainable distribution agreements with television service providers.[10] The company would later that year exit the television broadcasting business entirely when it shuttered its last remaining channel, ichannel, citing the same reasons for closing The Pet Network.

See also

References
  1. Decision CRTC 2000-692 CRTC 2000-12-14
  2. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-2 CRTC 2004-01-07
  3. Stornoway Communications Launches The PET Network, Stornoway Communications press release, 11-23-04
  4. Pet Network launching this month, Cablecaster, 11-12-04
  5. Pet Network lands on Shaw Direct Playback Magazine 2010-11-11
  6. Shaw Direct signs Pet Network, Cartt.ca, 11-10-10
  7. Pet Network unleashes new branding, enhanced schedule Cartt.ca 2012-10-31
  8. Business TV: Pet Network Channel Change – May 2016, Shaw Customer Bulletin
  9. Cogeco announces bpm:tv's shutdown
  10. Stornoway shutters iChannel, Playback, 08-16-16
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