OLN

OLN (formerly Outdoor Life Network) is a Canadian English-language Category A specialty channel. OLN primarily broadcasts factual-based and adventure-related reality programming aimed at male audiences. OLN is wholly owned by Rogers Sports & Media, with the "OLN" name licensed from Bonnier Group, publishers of Outdoor Life magazine.[1]

OLN
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
(2011-present)
480i (SDTV)
(1997-present)
Ownership
OwnerRogers Sports & Media
Sister channels
History
LaunchedOctober 17, 1997 (1997-10-17) (as Outdoor Life Network)
Former namesOutdoor Life Network (1997-2008)
Links
WebsiteOLN
Availability
Cable
Available on most Canadian cable systemsCheck local listings, channels may vary
Satellite
Bell Satellite TVChannel 411 (SD)
Channel 1411 (HD)
Shaw DirectChannel 457 (SD)
Channel 122 (HD)
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TVChannel 122 (SD)
Channel 622 (HD)
Bell Fibe TVChannel 411 (SD)
Channel 1411 (HD)
Bell MTSChannel 176 (SD)
Channel 1176 (HD)
Optik TVChannel 9357 (SD)
Channel 357 (HD)
SaskTelChannel 160 (SD)
Channel 460 (HD)
VMediaChannel 412 (HD)
ZazeenChannel 113 (HD)

History

Licensed in September 1996 as Outdoor Life by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the channel launched on October 17, 1997, as Outdoor Life Network. Its initial owners were Baton Broadcasting (later CTVglobemedia), Rogers Media, and the Outdoor Life Network in the U.S., which was later acquired by Comcast.

It was announced on November 16, 2007, that Rogers would acquire the remaining interests in OLN from both CTVglobemedia and Comcast, leaving Rogers as the sole owner of OLN.[2] The deal was approved by the CRTC on July 7, 2008, and was finalized on August 1, 2008, with Rogers taking operational control on August 31, 2008.

On June 24, 2011, OLN launched their high definition feed on Shaw Direct, Bell Satellite TV, Eastlink, and Optik TV.

Programming

OLN was originally based on the American channel of the same name (now known as NBCSN), which had launched earlier in 1995, and shared much of its programmingincluding coverage of the Tour de France. Today, OLN primarily airs general-interest reality series with little to no relation to the network's original format (including original programs, such as Storage Wars: Canada and The Liquidator).[3]

Due to restrictions in its CRTC license that required it to maintain a focus on outdoors programming at the time,[4] and because Rogers already operated several services under the Sportsnet brand, OLN did not follow the suit of its American counterpart and become a mainstream sports channel. However, OLN has been used for sports coverage, including CTV/Rogers Media coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.