Showcase (TV channel)

Infobox_TV_channel
name = Showcase
logofile = Showcase logo.svg
logoalt = Showcase logo
logosize = 150px
launch = January 1, 1995
closed date =
picture format =
share =
share as of =
share source =
network =
owner = CW Media
slogan = Television Without Borders
country = Canada
broadcast area = National
headquarters = Toronto, Ontario
former names =
replaced names =
sister names =
timeshift names =
web = [http://www.showcase.ca Showcase]
terr serv 1 =
terr chan 1 =
sat serv 1 = Bell TV
sat chan 1 = Channel 616 (E), 617 (W) (SD)
Channel 838 (HD)
sat serv 2 = Star Choice
sat chan 2 = Channel 521 (E), 522 (W) (SD)
Channel 277 (HD)
cable serv 1 = Available on most Canadian cable systems
cable chan 1 = Check local listings, channels may vary
sat radio serv 1 =
sat radio chan 1 =
online serv 1 =
online chan 1 =

Showcase is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel owned by CW Media (a division of Canwest and GS Capital Partners).

Showcase is a predominantly fiction-based service centred around scripted television series and films. Since its launch, it has moved increasingly towards controversial and fare.

History

Licensed in 1994, Showcase was a venture between Alliance Communications (prior to its merger with Atlantis), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and a number of smaller independent Canadian producers, and was intended to be a showcase for "the best of independently-produced movies, drama, comedy and mini-series from Canada and around the world", with limited content from the United States. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/1994/DB94-280.HTM CRTC Decision 94-280] ] It launched at midnight on January 1, 1995.

When the network premiered, it garnered some negative publicity due to a disclaimer it would broadcast prior to reruns of older series. The disclaimer, which advised viewers to remember that "attitudes were not always the same as they are now" was applied to relatively recent programs such as "Seeing Things". Following media scorn and accusations of political correctness and being condescending to viewers, Showcase abandoned this form of disclaimer. In fact, lately, it has frequently been criticized [ [http://www.cbsc.ca/english/decisions/decisions/2004/040213B.htm] ] by the industry's self-regulatory standards council for not airing enough disclaimers.

After several acquisitions over the years, Alliance Atlantis eventually gained full control of Showcase.

On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and GS Capital Partners bought Alliance Atlantis and gained AAC's interest in Showcase.

howcase HD

On December 19, 2006, Alliance Atlantis launched a high definition simulcast of Showcase. Unlike the standard definition feed that has both an East and West coast feed, Showcase HD has only one national feed operating from the Eastern Time Zone.

Programming

From the beginning it has aired frequent series repeats of Canadian series such as "Due South", "Cold Squad", and "Da Vinci's Inquest", the lineup changing from year to year. Showcase has also been the primary Canadian broadcaster for American cable series such as "Rescue Me", "Weeds", "Family Business", "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", "Saving Grace" and "The L Word", as well as the US/UK series "Da Ali G Show", and a secondary broadcaster (following the original Canadian airing on The Movie Network/Movie Central) of "Six Feet Under", "Dead Like Me" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm". It similarly airs repeats of the "" series after their original broadcast windows.

However, such foreign programs can only air in primetime beginning at 10:00 p.m. (Eastern / Pacific), as a result of a condition of license [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2001/DB2001-153.htm CRTC Decision 2001-153] ] obligating Showcase to air 100% Canadian content between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. In fall 2005, Showcase began promoting 10:00 as its flagship timeslot, even hiring branded taxis [ [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=televisionNews&storyID=2005-09-20T084645Z_01_HO031393_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-CANADA-DC.XML&archived=False] ] in major markets, driving people home for free by 10:00 p.m. on selected evenings.

Showcase has also added first-run Canadian series, dubbed "Showcase Originals", which include "Paradise Falls", "KinK", and "Naked Josh". Another of these shows, the low-budget "Trailer Park Boys" became a bona fide national phenomenon, spawning DVDs, merchandising tie-ins, and, in 2005, a theatrical feature film co-produced by Ivan Reitman. The success of these rather risqué series have driven the service towards an even more edgy bent, with nearly all of its programmes now considered "adult" in one way or another, whereas family and children's programmes were more frequent in Showcase's early days.

Showcase also carries regular movies, mostly independent and foreign films. British series like "Prime Suspect", the original "Queer as Folk", "The Second Coming", "Little Britain" and "Cracker" have also been present since Showcase's launch. Overnight, Showcase shows a number of films and shows that could be considered soft porn, such as "Red Shoe Diaries" and "Sin Cities".

Showcase also airs some specialty or science fiction TV series, such as ", Seven Days, Andromeda, " and "Beastmaster."

The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East (Eastern Time) and West (Pacific Time).

Two spinoff digital television services have launched, the male-oriented Showcase Action and the more feminine Showcase Diva.

Original programming

*"Billable Hours"
*"Bliss"
*"Exes and Ohs"
*"Kenny vs. Spenny"
*"KinK"
*"Moccasin Flats"
*"Moose TV"
*"Naked Josh"
*"Paradise Falls"
*"Rent-a-Goalie"
*"Show Me Yours"
*"Slings and Arrows"
*"Testees"
*"Trailer Park Boys"
*"Webdreams"

References

External links

* [http://www.showcase.ca/ Showcase]
* [http://www.showcase.ca/showcasehd Showcase HD]