 | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Toronto,Ontario |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 1080iHDTV (downscaled toletterboxed480i for theSDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bell Media(Branding licensed fromNBCUniversal /Comcast as Bravo!, and Bravo from 1995 to 2019) |
| Sister channels | CTV CTV 2 CTV Comedy Channel CTV Sci-Fi Channel CTV Life Channel CTV News Channel CTV Nature Channel CTV Speed Channel CTV Wild Channel |
| History | |
| Launched | January 1, 1995; 30 years ago (1995-01-01) |
| Former names | Bravo! (1995–2012) Bravo (2012–2019) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
CTV Drama Channel is aCanadianEnglish languagediscretionaryspecialty channel owned byBell Media. The channel primarily broadcastsdrama series and films.
The channel was founded as the Canadian version of the American channelBravo (which is now owned byNBCUniversal) on January 1, 1995 byMoses Znaimer and its ownerCHUM Limited, and originally focused on performing arts, drama, and independent film. After the acquisition of CHUM byCTVglobemedia, the channel pivoted away from arts programming, and segued to a general entertainment format with a focus on drama (unlike its American counterpart, which has largely shifted toreality television programming targeting a female audience).
In the 1980s, a precursor to Bravo existed calledC Channel. The service was boasted as a national commercial-freepay television channel that focused on arts programming. C Channel launched on February 1, 1983, before it went bankrupt and ceased operations five months later on June 30 of that year due to its inability to attract a sufficient number of subscribers at a price of $16 per month.[1]
Over 10 years later, another attempt at an arts-based channel was proposed whenCHUM Limited applied to theCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a license to operate Bravo. In June 1994, CHUM's application for Bravo was approved, citing its nature of service as focusing on "performance and drama programming, as well as documentary and discussion".[2]
Bravo was launched on January 1, 1995, licensing the name fromRainbow Media, who partnered with CHUM to launch MuchMusic USA (later known asFuse TV).
In July 2006, Bell Globemedia (later calledCTVglobemedia) announced that it would purchase CHUM for an estimatedCAD$1.7 billion, included in the sale was Bravo[3] The sale was approved by the CRTC on June 8, 2007,[4] and the transaction was completed on June 22, 2007 while the Citytv stations were sold toRogers Media. After CTVglobemedia's purchase of Bravo, the channel increasingly shifted its focus toward more television and film dramas (such asCriminal Minds), and lessened its focus on arts programming.
On September 10, 2010,BCE Inc. (a minority shareholder in CTVglobemedia) announced that it planned to acquire 100% interest in CTVglobemedia for a total debt and equity transaction cost of $3.2 billion.[5] The deal was approved by the CRTC on March 7, 2011,[6] and was finalized on April 1 of that year, on which CTVglobemedia was rebranded Bell Media.[7] ahigh definition simulcast feed of Bravo, which broadcasts in the1080i resolution format, was launched later that year on October 6, 2011.
While under Bell Media ownership, Bravo unveiled a new on-air logo and new on-air presentation in 2012 as part of an extensive network rebranding.[citation needed]
On June 6, 2013, Bell announced that Bravo would become the company's first network to implement aTV Everywhere service, which would allow subscribers of participating television service providers that carry Bravo to streamvideo on demand content as well as a live feed of the Bravo channel via the Bravo Goapp.[8]
Bravo adjusted its programming strategy in 2017, aiming to build upon the premiere ofThe Handmaid's Tale by adding more series that were "smart but bold", and series that appeal to women without "alienating" male audiences.[9]
On June 7, 2018, it was announced that Bravo would be re-branded as "CTV Drama", as part of a re-branding of several Bell Media specialty channels under theCTV name.[10] The following year, it was revealed the channel would rebrand asCTV Drama Channel on September 12, 2019. Bell also announced a commitment to order 20 made-for-TV film adaptations ofHarlequin novels from Harlequin Studios, which would air on CTV Drama Channel andVrak.[11]
In June 2024, Rogers announced a licensing agreement with Comcast subsidiaryNBCUniversal to relaunch theBravo brand in Canada in September of that year.[12] On August 28, 2024, Rogers confirmed thatOLN would relaunch as Bravo on September 1.[13][14][15]
In its early years as Bravo, the channel often aired short films by Canadian artists between programs, funded by its foundationBravo!FACT, which ranged fromcomedy todrama to opera tojazz toanimation. Many of these also aired on Bravo's weekly seriesBravo!FACT Presents. Bravo has also produced a limited amount of scripted and non-scripted series and has aired various notable specials, including a telecast of Canadian rock bandSpirit of the West'sOpen Heart Symphony concert with theVancouver Symphony Orchestra, along with three early telefilms within theMurdoch Mysteries franchise:Except the Dying,Poor Tom Is Cold andUnder the Dragon's Tail.
Since the retirement of CRTC's genre protection rules in 2015 outside of news and sports, CTV Drama Channel, by that point, currently airs a mix of programming from U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as repeats of Canadian-produced shows to fulfillCanadian content quotas.
This is a list of programs currently being broadcast regularly and irregularly, as ofSeptember 2025.[16]