Launched March 12, 2006 Broadcast area National Bell TV Channel 1623 Headquarters Toronto Country Canada | Owned by Blue Ant Media Website HIFI Owner Blue Ant Media Founded 2006 | |
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Formerly called Treasure HD (2006 - 2011) Profiles | ||
HIFI is a Canadian English language high definition Category B television channel owned by Blue Ant Media. Although marketed as a channel that focuses on music, art, and film; the channel primarily broadcasts a variety of general entertainment programming such as films, comedies, dramas, reality TV, and documentary and human interest television series that focus on travel, adventure, and more.
History
In August 2005, John S. Panikkar (co-founder of the channel's original owner, High Fidelity HDTV), was granted a licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch ArtefactHD, described as "a national English-language Category 2 high definition (HD) specialty programming undertaking... devoted to collectors and their collections, and would showcase creations, celebrate beauty, intricacy, aesthetics and the merits of an object for its own sake. The programming would also include tours of museums and galleries open to the public and behind-the-scenes, celebrate unique architecture and design, and highlight the dedication and knowledge of the committed collector."
The channel launched on March 12, 2006 as Treasure HD. Much of its programming was purchased and it name licenced from Rainbow Media, original owners of the now defunct Voom HD Networks, who owned the originating Treasure HD in the United States. Like its American counterpart, the channel originally broadcast factual programming on primarily collectibles, artifacts, and other art-based programming. Programming included such programs as Secrets of the Exhibit, Art in Progress, Treasure Divers, and Romance in Stone. When the American channel, Treasure HD, ceased broadcasting in 2009, the Canadian channel broadened its programming to include music (primarily focusing on the classic rock, jazz, classical music genres) and films.
The channel was rebranded as HIFI in August 2011. The rebranded channel would put an emphasis on music and art-based programming, including films, exemplified by its slogan, music+art, later abandoned in 2016 when the channel began to air increasing amounts of general entertainment programming. On December 21, 2011, HIFI's parent company, High Fidelity HDTV, announced that it had entered into an agreement to be purchased outright by Blue Ant Media, majority owners of Glassbox Television and minority owners of Quarto Communications. While initially purchasing 29.9% of the company, the remaining 70.1% was purchased after CRTC approval.