The Life Channel
Encyclopedia
The Life Channel was a Canadian
premium television service featuring programming on lifestyle and health subjects, existing for almost 14 months in the late 1980s. The programming represented some of the earlier efforts of Canada's premium television industry, considering pay-TV
movie channels had commenced in 1983. It should not be confused with a later Canadian network, Life Network (now known as Slice).
The company was a partnership between Winnipeg
doctor John Tyson, who became president of the company, Toronto
lawyer Michael G. Rinaldo, who became director and secretary, and broadcast company CUC Limited
.
On 18 October 1985, The Life Channel began satellite broadcasts to cable companies
on a pay-TV
basis. The initial broadcasts were available free to cable subscribers as a preview until 1 November 1985.
Notable programming included Ruth Westheimer
's Good Sex! programme which was imported from the American Lifetime
network. Domestic programming included a talk show hosted by Shirley Solomon
and a medical information show, Doctor On Call, hosted by John Tyson.
As of September 1986, the service attracted relatively small subscriber base of 380,000 compared to 892,000 for TSN
, 848,000 for MuchMusic
. The Life Channel had increased the wholesale price it charges cable companies from 15 of 55 cents per subscriber, a move which resulted in some cable systems cancelling the service. Faced with financial problems which included a $4 million debt, The Life Channel ceased broadcasts after 30 November 1986. Its licence was revoked by the CRTC on 1 February 1988.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
premium television service featuring programming on lifestyle and health subjects, existing for almost 14 months in the late 1980s. The programming represented some of the earlier efforts of Canada's premium television industry, considering pay-TV
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
movie channels had commenced in 1983. It should not be confused with a later Canadian network, Life Network (now known as Slice).
History
The Life Channel was approved for broadcast by the CRTC on 14 March 1985 following licensing hearings on 5 February 1985.The company was a partnership between Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
doctor John Tyson, who became president of the company, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
lawyer Michael G. Rinaldo, who became director and secretary, and broadcast company CUC Limited
CUC Broadcasting
CUC Broadcasting was a Canadian media company. Primarily a cable television distributor which operated under the name Trillium Cable, CUC was also a minority investor in other smaller cable companies, including Northern Cable and UMG Cable....
.
On 18 October 1985, The Life Channel began satellite broadcasts to cable companies
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
on a pay-TV
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
basis. The initial broadcasts were available free to cable subscribers as a preview until 1 November 1985.
Notable programming included Ruth Westheimer
Ruth Westheimer
Ruth Westheimer is an American sex therapist, media personality, and author. Best known as Dr. Ruth, the New York Times described her as a "Sorbonne-trained psychologist who became a kind of cultural icon in the 1980s...
's Good Sex! programme which was imported from the American Lifetime
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
network. Domestic programming included a talk show hosted by Shirley Solomon
Shirley Solomon
Shirley Solomon is a Canadian television talk show host.She hosted The Shirley Show, a daily afternoon talk show on CTV from September 1989-1995...
and a medical information show, Doctor On Call, hosted by John Tyson.
As of September 1986, the service attracted relatively small subscriber base of 380,000 compared to 892,000 for TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
, 848,000 for MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
. The Life Channel had increased the wholesale price it charges cable companies from 15 of 55 cents per subscriber, a move which resulted in some cable systems cancelling the service. Faced with financial problems which included a $4 million debt, The Life Channel ceased broadcasts after 30 November 1986. Its licence was revoked by the CRTC on 1 February 1988.