The Movie Network
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| Type | Premium television service |
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| Country | Canada |
| Availability | Eastern Canada |
| Slogan | Always Riveting |
| Owner | Astral Television Networks Inc. (Astral Media) |
| Key people | John Riley - President and CEO |
| Launch date | February 1, 1983 |
| Former names | First Choice First Choice Superchannel |
| Website themovienetwork.ca |
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The Movie Network (TMN) is a Canadian English language premium television service. TMN is designated to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories. The Movie Network is owned by Astral Media. The name was formerly abbreviated to TMN, which remains a common informal name, including in this article (to avoid ambiguity), although the preferred short form at present appears to be M.
The Movie Network is carried by various Canadian cable and satellite television in providers Eastern Canada including Bell ExpressVu, Star Choice, Rogers Digital Cable, Vidéotron, EastLink, Cogeco and more. It is the equivalent of Movie Central, which is available in the rest of Canada.
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[edit] Channels and content
- Further information: Mpix
The Movie Network consists of a total of seven multiplex channels: five standard definition and two high definition channels. TMN operates as a separate service with a separate licence then its sister network, Mpix, although often Mpix is sold together in a package with The Movie Network.
 The Movie Network or M: the main "flagship" feed; blockbuster movies and major original series |
 MMore: a secondary channel with similar content to The Movie Network. Formally called MEscape. |
 MExcess: action, adventure, adult movies |
 MFest: film festival and international movies |
 MFun!: lighter movies including comedies |
 The Movie Network HD or M HD: a high definition feed, alternating between simulcasts of The Movie Network and its various multiplex channels. |
 MMore HD: a secondary high definition feed that launched on February 1, 2007, alternating between simulcasts of The Movie Network and its various multiplex channels. |
 The Movie Network OnDemand: a video on demand service delivering content from The Movie Network. |
TMN offers an extensive variety of first-run films and television series, most of which come from the American services HBO and Showtime, as well as critically acclaimed original Canadian series as well, most of which are co-produced in partnership with Movie Central. Selected time blocks are branded MZoo (family movies on M on weekends) and MAfterhours (adult movies on MExcess overnight).
Films air on The Movie Network approximately 10-12 months after they were in theatres, 3-6 months after pay-per-view and over 1½ years before regular television. Sports coverage is permitted, but in such limited amounts that it is rarely seen, in contrast to HBO and Showtime.
In 2005, TMN introduced a video on demand service; The Movie Network OnDemand, to digital cable subscribers. Content includes films and television series from The Movie Network and its five multiplex channels.
Programmes broadcast on TMN are rated according to the Ontario Film Review Board.
[edit] Noted series
- Big Love
- Californication
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Dexter
- Durham County
- Entourage
- ReGenesis
- Rome
- Stargate Atlantis
- Tell Me You Love Me
[edit] History
In 1976, Communications Minister Jeanne Sauvé was quoted as saying "(Canadian) pay television is inevitable".
During the 1970s when HBO and Superstation WTBS became available on satellite in North America, some Canadians who were living in underserved rural areas, wanted access to these services. The Saskatchewan government together with Cable Regina set up a provincial pay-TV network called Teletheatre in 1979.
Growth of grey market TVRO dishes by 1980 led the government of Pierre Trudeau to allow for pay television in Canada, and that there would be hearings to licence Canadian pay television networks.
In September, 1981 the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) held a hearing in Hull, Quebec to licence Canada's first pay-television networks. There were more than 24 applicants.
A pay-TV licence was issued by the CRTC to First Choice Canadian Communications Corp. on March 18, 1982. When First Choice, as TMN was then known, was launched on 1 February 1983, it was a national pay-TV service. After a disappointing run for pay services in general, the industry was restructured and First Choice was restricted to eastern Canada, with competitor Superchannel (now Movie Central) taking territorial rights in the west. Both services briefly used the First Choice-Superchannel name. In the 1990s, First Choice took the slogan "The Movie Network", which became the name of the channel itself in 1993.
The first movie ever to air on First Choice (now TMN) was Star Wars.
They were also licensed for and owned a French-language channel called Premier Choix, which merged with another (Quebec-based) pay-television network TVEC, to form Super Écran, which is still in operation today.
[edit] Ownership
When First Choice initially made its application to the CRTC in September 1981, the following individuals and companies were part of the proposed channel:
- Donald Sobey - of the Sobeys supermarket chain
- J. R. McCaig
- Norman Keevil
- Royfund Equity Ltd. - Royal Bank of Canada mutual fund division
- AGF Management Ltd.
- Manufacturers Life Insurance Co.
Together they had $19 million in equity financing and proposed to spend $310.4 million over five years on Canadian television production. Estimated profit (over five years) would be $3.1 million.
Today, The Movie Network is owned by Astral Media of Montreal.
[edit] Management
- Donald MacPherson, First Choice President 1983-1984
- Harold Greenberg, First Choice President 1984-1996
[edit] Programming
Before other Canadian specialty networks like TSN and MuchMusic were licensed, First Choice was the network for watching premium (commercial-free) professional sporting and concert events. Sports came from such sources as ESPN, USA Network, and HBO.
Before the advent of stereo television and home theatre systems we have today, subscribers who paid for cable FM service could receive a stereo feed of First Choice.
Its slogan was: "Look out for number one! Look out for First Choice!"
[edit] Controversy
First Choice originally aired programming from the American Playboy Channel. Feminist groups voiced their opposition to this.[citation needed] First Choice aired a two-hour block of Playboy programming during a late night time slot on Friday during its first year.
[edit] Pricing
When First Choice applied to the CRTC, they initially estimated that to program major American movies, entertainment specials and Canadian movies and specials, pay for satellite time, and marketing of the channel, they could sell it to the cable companies at a wholesale rate of $7.50/month. However, by the time the channel launched, and the cable companies had their take of the pay-TV pie, the retail cost of First Choice jumped significantly to $15.95.
[edit] Duopoly issue
For many years, the de facto duopoly of The Movie Network and Movie Central has been subject to criticism. At the time, no other similar premium services broadcasted within Canada. Critics argued that this limits competition and consumer choice, while proponents say there is very little in content or functionality that it is not already offered by the existing services.
In July 2005, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the Canadian federal broadcast regulator, announced that public hearings would begin on October 24, 2005 on four broadcast group applications for new national pay TV licences. Each applicant said they would commit towards the creation of more Canadian program content.
On May 18, 2006, it was announced that the Allarco Entertainment application was accepted, while the other three were rejected. [1] This approved application effectively ended The Movie Network/Movie Central duopoly in Canada. While on November 2, 2007, the new service launched as Super Channel.
[edit] CRTC licence-related links
- CRTC Public Notice 1981- - Applicants for pay television licences
- CRTC Decision 1982- Original licence (March, 1982)
- CRTC Decision 1984- Superchannel and First Choice reorganization
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Westell, Dan. "Pay-TV: Visions of riches lure big bidders", Globe and Mail, September 26, 1981
[edit] External links
- Official Movie Network website
- TMN HD
- Mpix & MorePix
- MpixHD
- Astral Media
- Saskatchewan 2005: Teletheatre info
- TMN on MBC
