 | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Toronto,Ontario |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080iHDTV (downscaled toletterboxed480i for theSDTV feed) |
| Timeshift service | W Network East W Network West |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment |
| Sister channels | ABC Spark Slice Showcase Adult Swim |
| History | |
| Launched | January 1, 1995; 30 years ago (1995-01-01) |
| Former names | Women's Television Network (1995–2002) |
| Links | |
| Website | wnetwork |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Amazon Prime Video Channels | StackTV |
| RiverTV | Channel 11 (HD) |
W Network (often shortened toW) is aCanadianEnglish languagediscretionaryspecialty channel owned byCorus Entertainment. The channel primarily broadcasts general entertainment programming oriented towards a female audience.
W Network was established in 1995 as theWomen's Television Network (WTN), which had a focus on women's lifestyle programming. The channel was eventually acquired by Corus in 2001 and relaunched under its current branding in 2002. As part of the relaunch, W's programming shifted to a mix of both entertainment and lifestyle programming. By 2017, W had moved its lifestyle programming to its sister networks, shifting to a general entertainment format targeting women. In 2018, the channel became part of output deals withHallmark Media, and laterComcast'sPeacock andSky Studios in 2020 (an agreement shared with sister networkShowcase).
The channel is available in two time shifted feeds, East (operating from theEastern Time Zone) and West (operating from thePacific Time Zone).
In June 1994, Linda Rankin, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, (later incorporated as Lifestyle Television (1994) Limited, principally owned byMoffat Communications) was granted a television broadcasting licence by theCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to operate a channel calledLifestyle Television, described as offering "information and entertainment programming of particular interest to women."[1]
The channel subsequently launched on January 1, 1995 as theWomen's Television Network (WTN).[2] Like Moffat's other cable television operations, WTN was headquartered inWinnipeg,Manitoba. Linda Rankin served as the president of the network from its launch.
Programming on the network was originally largely focused on lifestyle programming that many had suggested was "feminist" in nature.[3] Such programming included female takes on traditionally male-dominated activities such as fishing and mechanics, withNatural Angler andCar Care, respectively, while other programs, such asGo Girl!, took a comedic approach at parodying typical female-targeted talk shows that discussed subjects such as beauty and fashion.[3] Other programs included films, current affairs, and occasionally athletic-themed.
The channel suffered from low ratings in the start. Of the slew of new channels launched on January 1, 1995, WTN was initially the lowest-rated channel on average.[4][5] Linda Rankin later resigned in August 1995 citing "differences in management philosophy".[6]
In December 2000,Shaw Communications announced it intended to purchase Moffat.[7] The deal was later closed in early 2001. Shaw announced in March 2001 that it would sell WTN toCorus Entertainment, a company that it spun off in 1999, forCA$205 million (Shaw had primarily acquired Moffat for its cable television systems).[8] Once Corus took ownership of the channel, it moved operations from Winnipeg to Toronto in mid-January 2002, laying off 50 employees in the process.[9] Corus subsequently relaunched the network asW on April 15, 2002, with a more entertainment-oriented mix of recent dramas and movies. On the same date, Corus launched the west coast feed.[10]
In 2009, Corus Entertainment acquiredSexTV: The Channel from CTVglobemedia, and relaunched the channel as W Movies — a spin-off of W Network focusing on films aimed towards women, on March 1, 2010.[11] On December 12, 2016, W Movies was closed and replaced by a relaunched, Canadian version of theCooking Channel.[12]
On August 2, 2011, the channel launched its HD feed, a simulcast of W Network'sstandard-definition Eastern-time feed. The HD feed was added toBell Satellite TV satellite andBell Fibe TV channel lineups on March 23, 2012. It was also available onEastlink,Optik TV,Shaw Direct,SaskTel,Rogers Cable,Cogeco, andAccess Communications.[13] On October 1, 2013, an HD feed for the Western-timed channel was launched onShaw Cable, then onShaw Direct on September 18, 2019.
Since the 2017–18 season, W Network has re-oriented its programming towards scripted television series and films. The majority of its lifestyle programming, including theProperty Brothers franchise, was moved to HGTV (nowHome Network), as well as Corus' other women and lifestyle networks.[14]
W Network primarily broadcasts a mix of television dramas and films.[15][14]
On October 25, 2018, Corus announced an output deal withCrown Media Holdings, giving W Network exclusive Canadian rights tooriginal movies and series produced forHallmark Channel andHallmark Movies & Mysteries. W Network carries brandedblocks of Hallmark Channel content, including seasonal programming events such asCountdown to Christmas; many of Hallmark's productions are filmed in Canada.[16][17]
In June 2020, Corus reached output agreements withNBCUniversal Global Distribution for Canadian rights toPeacock original series, shared primarily between W and sister network Showcase.[18] The following month, Corus also reached an agreement with sister companySky Studios.[19]Devils served as one of the first to air on W as part of the Sky agreement.[20] As part of the Peacock agreement, the long-running soap operaDays of our Lives (which had long-been carried by sister broadcast networkGlobal in simulcast withNBC) moved to W Network in September 2022.[21]
W previously produced and aired unscripted reality shows and lifestyle programming; it was well known for originating theLove It or List It andProperty Brothers franchises seen onHGTV in the U.S. These programs moved to Corus' other lifestyle networks (particularlyHGTV Canada andSlice) following W's shift to scripted programming.[14]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved. Find sources: "W Network" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
