Lifetime
Launched	September 7, 2001
Owned by	Shaw Media
Picture format	1080i (HDTV) (2013-present) 480i (SDTV) (2001-present)
Country	Canada
Broadcast area	National
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Formerly called	Showcase Diva (2001–2012)
Website	Lifetime
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV	Channel 335 (SD) Channel 1707 (HD)
Shaw Direct	Channel 615 (SD) 81 / 581 (HD)
Cable
Available on most Canadian cable systems	Check local listings, channels may vary
IPTV
FibreOP	Channel 561 (SD) Channel 516 (HD)
Bell Fibe TV	Channel 335 (SD) Channel 1335 (HD)
MTS	Channel 244 (SD) Channel 1244 (HD)
Optik TV	Channel 221 (SD)
SaskTel	Channel 81 (SD)

Lifetime is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. Based on the U.S cable network of the same name, Lifetime broadcasts films, dramatic television series, and reality series aimed at women.

History[edit]

2001–2009

2009–2012

Logos of former network Showcase Diva

In November 2000, Showcase Television Inc., a division of Alliance Atlantis, was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a television channel called Romance Television, described as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service devoted to romance. Programming will include relationship- themed game shows and magazine style programs featuring romantic vacation resorts. Other programs will explore romantic moments in people's lives, as well as classic romantic feature films, epic mini-series and made-for-television movies."^[1]

The channel was launched on September 7, 2001 as Showcase Diva, a spin-off of another Alliance Atlantis television channel, Showcase. Programming consisted of primarily television dramas and films.

On January 18, 2008,^[2] acquired control of Showcase Diva through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007.^[3] On October 27, 2010, ownership changed again as Shaw Communications gained control of Showcase Diva as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.^[4][5]

Lifetime logo used from 2012 to 2013.

On May 30, 2012, it was announced that Showcase Diva would be rebranded as a Canadian version of the American channel Lifetime on August 27, 2012, through a brand licensing agreement with the U.S. channel's parent company A+E Networks. The rebrand would result in the addition of more reality series, talk shows and other original series from Lifetime U.S. to the channel's films and television dramas.^[6][7][8]

On May 29, 2013, Shaw Media launched Lifetime HD, a high definition simulcast of the standard definition feed. It is currently available on Eastlink, Shaw Direct, Shaw Cable, Bell Fibe TV, and Bell TV. Rogers Cable would later add the HD feed on April 24, 2014.

Programming[edit]

In addition to programming from its American counterpart, Lifetime also airs an acquired slate of programming from other sources. This list is current as of February 2015.^[9][10]

Current programming[edit]

Acquired from Lifetime[edit]

• Big Women: Big Love
• Child Genius
• The Client List
• Dance Moms
• Devious Maids
• Kim of Queens
• Little Women: LA
• Preachers' Daughters
• Project Runway
• Raising Asia
• True Tori

Other Acquired Programming[edit]

• NCIS
• NCIS: LA
• True Crime Scene
• Rookie Blue

Former programming[edit]

• Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition
• Against the Wall
• America's Most Wanted
• Army Wives
• Double Divas
• Drop Dead Diva
• Ex-Wives of Rock
• Hawaii Five-0
• The Houstons: On Our Own
• The Lottery
• The Protector
• Million Dollar Shoppers
• The Mistress
• Models of the Runway
• The Outer Limits
• Prank My Mom
• Pretty Wicked Moms
• Under the Gunn
• Undone with @Amanda deCadenet
• Witches of East End
• Zoe Busiek: Wild Card

See also[edit]

• Lifetime
• Lifetime Real Women
• Lifetime Movie Network
• Lifetime (UK and Ireland)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Lifetime Canada