Launched May 7, 2012 Broadcast area National | Country Canada Headquarters Toronto, Ontario | |
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Owned by Corus Entertainment (64%)
National Geographic (20% direct, 16% indirect) Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV) | ||
Nat Geo Wild is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment and National Geographic Channel (U.S.). The channel airs programming devoted to wildlife, nature, and animals.
Contents
History
In April 2010, Shaw Media (the majority owner and operator of the Canadian version of National Geographic Channel) had requested the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to add the American version of Nat Geo Wild to the list of available foreign channels permitted to broadcast in Canada. Both High Fidelity HDTV (the owner of Oasis HD) and CTV Speciality Television Inc. (the major owner of the Canadian version of Animal Planet) had sent letters to CRTC to oppose the request as they claim Nat Geo Wild is competitive with Oasis HD and Animal Planet. The CRTC denied the application on February 15, 2011.
In October 2011, NGC Channel Inc. (a company owned by Shaw and National Geographic Channel in the U.S.) put forth its own application to the CRTC in order to launch a Canadian version of Nat Geo Wild. The licence was approved by the CRTC on April 13, 2012. Neither High Fidelity HDTV nor Bell Media voiced their concern with Nat Geo Wild competing with their services.
In April 30, 2012, Shaw released a statement that the Canada version of Nat Geo Wild was scheduled to be launched on May 7, 2012. The channel was launched in standard and high definition from the start. On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment.