ESPN Classic (Canada)

{{Infobox television channel

| name = ESPN Classic

| logo = ESPN Classic Logo.svg

| logo_caption =

| logo_size = 200px

| launch_date = {{start date and age|2001|09|07}}

| closed_date = {{end date and age|2023|10|31}}

| picture_format = 480i (SDTV)

| network =

| owner = CTV Specialty Television
Bell Media (80%)
ESPN Inc. (20%)

| country = Canada

| area = National

| headquarters = Toronto, Ontario

| former_names =

| replaced =

| sister_channels = TSN regional feeds
RDS
RDS2
RDS Info

| timeshift_service =

}}

ESPN Classic was a Canadian English language discretionary sports specialty channel owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc., a joint venture between Bell Media (80%) and ESPN (20%). Intended as the Canadian equivalent of the American channel of the same name, it broadcast a range of archive sports coverage, talk shows, documentaries and films.

History

ESPN Classic was licensed as Classic Sports in November 2000 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and was launched on September 7, 2001 as ESPN Classic Canada.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2000/DB2000-578.htm Decision CRTC 2000-578] CRTC 2000-12-14 A few years after its launch, "Canada" was dropped from its name and logo to "ESPN Classic". ESPN Classic was the only ESPN-branded channel broadcasting in Canada, although in addition to owning a stake in the Canadian version of ESPN Classic, ESPN is part-owner of TSN (which uses on-air branding similar to the flagship ESPN channel in the U.S.), along with Bell Media.

The European version of the channel closed in 2013 and the American version of the channel ceased operations at the end of 2021, leaving the Canadian iteration as the last active vestige of the ESPN Classic brand.{{Cite web|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=2021-11-04|title=ESPN Classic Channel to Shut Down on Jan. 1|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/espn-shuts-down-espn-classic-channel-1235042238/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}

In September 2023, TV providers Hay Communications and MNSi Telecom announced that the channel would shut down at midnight Eastern Time on October 31, 2023. On September 25, the CRTC confirmed it had revoked the channel's licence at the owner's request.{{cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2023/2023-324.htm|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-324|author=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission|date=September 25, 2023|access-date=September 25, 2023}}

Programming

The channel's programming consisted primarily of archived sporting events associated with TSN-owned event rights, including hockey (particularly IIHF events), the CFL and NFL, basketball, and curling, as well as SportsCentre-branded highlights compilations and countdowns originating from the main TSN network.

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.tsn.ca/espn-classic}}

Classic

Category:Sports television networks in Canada

Category:Former Bell Media networks

Category:2001 establishments in Canada

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001

Category:Defunct specialty television channels in Canada

Category:English-language television stations in Canada

Category:Classic television networks

Category:2023 disestablishments in Canada

Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2023