USA Network (Canadian TV channel)

{{Infobox television channel

| name = USA Network

| logo = USA Network 2025 logo.svg

| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1994|12|31}}

| closed_date =

| picture_format = 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)

| owner = 2953285 Canada Inc.{{efn|Branding licensed from NBCUniversal, and Comcast}}
{{small|(CTV Specialty Television, Inc. - 80% and managing partner)
(Warner Bros. Discovery - 20%, via Discovery Communications, Inc.)}}

| country = Canada

| language = English

| area = Nationwide

| headquarters = 9 Channel Nine Court, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario

| former_names = Discovery Channel (1994–2025)

| replaced =

| sister_channels = CTV
CTV2
CTV Comedy Channel
CTV Drama Channel
CTV Life Channel
CTV Nature Channel
CTV Sci-Fi Channel
CTV Speed Channel
CTV Wild Channel
Oxygen
Canal D (French-language)

| timeshift_service =

| website = {{URL|www.ctv.ca/usa-network|USA Network Canada}}

}}

USA Network is a Canadian discretionary specialty television channel owned by 2953285 Canada Inc., a joint venture between CTV Specialty Television, Inc. (consisting of Bell Media & ESPN Inc. that owns 80%; with ESPN's 20% ownership stemming from that subsidiary's ownership of sister network TSN; ESPN is not believed to be involved in the operation of the channel) and Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns the remaining 20% via its holding company Discovery Communications, Inc.). Based on the American channel of the same name, it primarily carries a general entertainment format focusing on television series, films, reality, and sports programming.

The channel was launched on December 31, 1994 by Labatt Communications as Discovery Channel, a Canadian version of the American cable network of the same name; as with its namesake, it primarily aired factual programming relating to topics such as science, technology, and nature, with a mix of original Canadian productions (including a daily news magazine that aired from its launch through 2018) and imported programming. By the 2010s, mirroring similar shifts by its American parent, the network shifted to primarily airing reality-style programs, and later added reruns of scripted programming (particularly police procedurals) from other Bell Media channels.

In June 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced that it had acquired the Canadian rights to all Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) factual and lifestyle brands beginning January 1, 2025, including Discovery Channel. Bell subsequently announced that it would enter into a licensing agreement with NBCUniversal for two of its Discovery-branded channels, with Discovery being relaunched as USA Network on January 1, 2025. A new iteration of Discovery owned by Rogers concurrently launched the same day.

As a former Category A service, Discovery Channel was required to be carried on the basic service of all digital cable providers across Canada. The channel was, and still is as USA Network, typically offered optionally at the discretion of cable or satellite providers.

History

=Early years=

File:Discovery_Channel_2000_logo.svg

In October 1992, brewer John Labatt Ltd.—owner of TSN through its JLL Broadcast Group division, later renamed Labatt Communications—announced an agreement with Discovery Communications to apply to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a specialty television licence, to launch a Canadian service similar to the Discovery Channel in the United States. Under the agreement, Discovery Communications would supply up to 400 hours of programming per year to the Canadian channel.{{cite web|url=https://strategyonline.ca/1992/10/19/6566-19921019/|title=Labatt unit targets TV|work=Strategy|date=October 19, 1992|access-date=December 5, 2024}}

Following hearings in February 1994, the channel was licensed by the CRTC that June, as part of a wave of new licences that included the specialty channels now known as CMT, CTV Drama, Slice, Showcase, and W Network.{{cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1994/db94-283.htm|title=Decision CRTC 94-283|publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission|date=June 9, 1994|access-date=December 9, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1994/PB94-59.htm|title=Public Notice CRTC 1994-59|publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission|date=June 9, 1994|access-date=December 9, 2024}} During the licensing process, the venture had received numerous letters of support from various science-focused and educational groups, and academics such as John Polanyi and Susan Mann. In its application, the channel promised a daily science-focused show, the first of its kind in North America, tentatively titled Canada Magazine.

The Discovery Channel launched in Canada on December 31, 1994, at 8 p.m. ET.{{cite web|url=https://thestar.newspapers.com/image/947582685/|title=Hailing the creation of new cable services|first=Jim|last=Bawden|work=Starweek|date=December 31, 1994|access-date=October 22, 2024|quote=The launch is set for Saturday night at 8.}} The network was owned by Labatt Communications in partnership with Discovery Communications (which owned 20% of the venture), and was headed by former CBC executive Trina McQueen.{{cite web|url=https://thestar.newspapers.com/image/947529870/|title=Doing its homework pays off big time for Discovery Channel|first=Peter|last=Trueman|author-link=Peter Trueman|work=Starweek|date=August 6, 1994|access-date=October 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}} Due to foreign ownership restrictions, Labatt Communications was later spun off and renamed NetStar Communications, as Labatt had been acquired by Interbrew.{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2020/04/02/discovery-canada-capturing-the-nations-imagination-for-25-years/|title=Discovery Canada: Capturing the nation’s imagination for 25 years|first=Jordan|last=Pinto|work=Playback|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=October 22, 2024}}

The channel initially carried 40% Canadian content and 60% foreign content, but committed to eventually airing a total of 60% Canadian content throughout the broadcast day, with 20% of its programming originated by Discovery Channel U.S., and the remaining 20% coming from other international producers. The proposed Canada Magazine, which debuted as @discovery.ca and was later retitled Daily Planet, was part of the channel's launch schedule and ran until 2018.

On March 24, 2000, the CRTC approved a proposal by CTV Inc. to acquire voting interest in NetStar Communications Inc. CTV renamed the company CTV Specialty Television Inc.

A high definition simulcast feed of Discovery Channel that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format was launched on August 15, 2003.[https://web.archive.org/web/20210629012901/https://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/corp/CTVShows/20050817/ctv_release_20050817?s_name=&no_ads= Over-the-Air Transmitters Now Broadcasting CTV High-Definition Signals in Toronto and Vancouver] CTV 2005-08-17 The feed would later be shut down on December 19, 2005, and be replaced by a separate category 2 digital cable specialty channel called Discovery HD Theatre.

File:Casi_discovery_channel.jpg

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the channel followed its U.S. counterpart's shift away from natural history towards adventure and reality programming targeting male audiences, with series like Deadliest Catch, Highway Thru Hell, and Canada's Worst Driver.{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2014/12/04/channel-of-the-year-discovery-channel-canada/|first=Val|last=Mahoney|title=Channel of the year: Discovery Channel Canada|work=Playback|date=December 4, 2014|access-date=October 22, 2024}}

Bell Globemedia was renamed to CTVglobemedia on January 1, 2007, after BCE Inc. reduced the stake to 15%. Bell Canada reacquired CTVgm in 2010 from The Woodbridge Company and renamed that division to Bell Media on April 1, 2011.

On June 17, 2011, Bell Media announced that it would launch, for a second time, an HD simulcast feed of Discovery Channel; this feed was launched on August 18, 2011.[https://archive.today/20120904213851/http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/752373/discovery-channel-and-bell-media-factual-networks-announce-fall-2011-must-see-highlights Discovery Channel and Bell Media Factual Networks Announce Fall 2011 "Must See" Highlights] CNW 2011-06-17

= Loss of Discovery rights, relaunch as USA (2024–25) =

File:Discovery Channel - Logo 2019.svg

On June 10, 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced it had reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for Canadian rights to its lifestyle brands beginning in January 2025. Although not mentioned in Rogers' initial announcement, the company subsequently confirmed that the affected channels include Discovery Channel and other brands of the former Discovery Communications (pre-Scripps Networks Interactive merger) which had been managed by Bell in Canada.{{cite web|url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/rogers-scoops-warner-bros-discovery-rights-from-corus/|title=Rogers scoops Warner Bros. Discovery rights from Corus and Bell|first=Connie|last=Thiessen|work=Broadcast Dialogue|date=June 10, 2024|access-date=June 10, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/06/10/rogers-licensing-deals-nbcuniversal-warner-bros-discovery/|title=Rogers announces licensing deals with NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery|work=CityNews.ca|date=June 10, 2024|access-date=June 10, 2024}} Bell then said in a statement that it would "assert [its] rights", citing non-compete protections it had previously negotiated against the launch of direct competitor channels.{{cite web|url=https://blog.fagstein.com/2024/06/10/rogers-hgtv-food/|title=Rogers kneecaps Corus, stealing Canadian rights to HGTV and Food Network|first=Steve|last=Faguy|work=Fagstein|date=June 10, 2024|access-date=June 11, 2024}} On June 19, Bell filed for an injunction against WBD and Rogers, demanding that it not supply any Discovery programming to Rogers for at least two years after its own deal expires, claiming it was entitled to a "window to adjust" under its outgoing contract in the event of non-renewal.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/bell-files-injunction-seeking-to-block-rogers-from-broadcasting-warner-bros-content/article_16bed36e-f4d8-583c-a530-3b3f43b5330f.html|title=Bell files injunction seeking to block Rogers from broadcasting Warner Bros. content|first=Sammy|last=Hudes|agency=The Canadian Press|date=July 2, 2024|access-date=July 3, 2024}}

According to Rogers, the injunction requested by Bell would—if granted—prevent the company from operating any linear TV channels under the relevant brands during that timeframe, but would not affect other content rights.{{cite web |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/bell-files-injunction-against-rogers-in-warner-bros-discovery-content-battle/ |title=Bell files injunction against Rogers in Warner Bros. Discovery content battle |first=Connie |last=Thiessen |work=Broadcast Dialogue |date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=June 28, 2024}} Nevertheless, Rogers subsequently announced plans to launch its own linear specialty channels under the Discovery and Investigation Discovery brands on January 1, 2025 (alongside Food Network, HGTV, and Magnolia Network), with all other brands launched digitally via Citytv+.{{cite web|url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/rogers-outlines-plans-to-launch-new-channels/|title=Rogers outlines plans to launch new channels|first=Connie|last=Thiessen|work=Broadcast Dialogue|date=August 28, 2024|access-date=August 29, 2024}} In late-August, Bell stated that it had dropped its legal action against Rogers (thus allowing its' relaunch of the Discovery brands to proceed), in favour of focusing on WBD having allegedly violated its right of first negotiation.{{Cite web |last=Townsend |first=Kelly |title=Bell Media focuses legal efforts on WBD |url=https://playbackonline.ca/2024/08/30/bell-media-focuses-legal-efforts-on-alleged-wbd-contract-breach/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Playback}} On October 8, 2024, Bell settled with WBD, agreeing to a renewal of its library deals with HBO, Max, and Warner Bros. for its Crave service, as well as co-production and international distribution pacts for Bell Media original programming,{{Cite web |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |date=2024-10-08 |title=Bell Expands Warner Bros Discovery Pact For HBO & Max Content And Ends Legal Action Over Rogers Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/bell-warner-bros-discovery-hbo-max-deal-expands-1236109976/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

On October 17, Bell Media announced it would relaunch Discovery as a Canadian version of USA Network on January 1, 2025, as part of an agreement with Comcast's NBCUniversal that would also see its version of Investigation Discovery relaunched under the similar Oxygen brand.{{Cite web |last=Thiessen |first=Connie |date=2024-10-17 |title=Bell to bring USA Network, Oxygen True Crime to Canada |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/bell-to-bring-usa-network-oxygen-true-crime-to-canada/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Broadcast Dialogue |language=en-US}} The revamped channel carries a general entertainment format, with a focus on television series (including past and present USA Network original series such as Suits, and other new drama acquisitions such as USA's The Rainmaker and Max's The Pitt), films, and some live sports programming sublicensed from TSN.{{Cite web |title=Bell Media’s Discovery Channel Rebrands as USA Network in Canada on January 1 with a Blockbuster Mix of Programming |url=https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/bell-medias-discovery-channel-rebrands-as-usa-network-in-canada-on-january-1-with-a-blockbuster-mix-of-programming/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |publisher=Bell Media |language=en}}{{cite press release |title=Bell Media Brings Powerhouse Brands USA Network and Oxygen True Crime to Canada |date=October 17, 2024 |url=https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/bell-media-brings-powerhouse-brands-usa-network-and-oxygen-true-crime-to-canada/ |access-date=October 17, 2024 |author=Bell Media}}

USA and Oxygen will mark Bell's second and third active channel partnerships with Comcast, following the relaunch of Star! as E! in 2010; Comcast and Bell Media's predecessors were also co-owners of OLN from 1997 to 2008.{{cite press release |title=CTV and Comcast International Media Group Partner to Bring E!, World's Top Entertainment Brand, Back To Canada |date=November 1, 2010 |url=http://www.ctvmedia.ca/Star/releases/release.asp?id=13106&yyyy=2010 |access-date=October 17, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322072129/http://www.ctvmedia.ca/Star/releases/release.asp?id=13106&yyyy=2010 |archive-date=March 22, 2011 |author=CTVglobemedia}} In 2007, the CRTC rejected a request by Shaw Communications to add USA Network to the list of foreign television services eligible to be carried by Canadian television providers, on the basis that the channel carried too many programs already carried by other Canadian specialty services.{{Cite web |date=2007-09-26 |title=Shaw decries watchdog for decree barring USA Network |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/shaw-decries-watchdog-for-decree-barring-usa-network/article_9b4cd06c-07a3-5b28-9252-ab35cdf48d98.html |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}

The CRTC lists Discovery Communications, Inc. (an in-name-only subsidiary of WBD) as holding a 20% stake in the CTV Speciality subsidiary that holds USA Network's license;{{Cite web |title=Ownership Chart 143l: Bell Media Holdings - Discretionary Services |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/ownership/eng/cht143l.pdf |access-date=2025-01-27 |publisher=CRTC |format=PDF}} it is not yet known if WBD will divest its stake in the channel due to its change of Canadian partner.

Programming

In addition to shows acquired from its American counterpart, the Canadian Discovery Channel produced much of its own original programming through its Exploration Production group including its former flagship daily science news program, Daily Planet, and its own domestic version of Cash Cab.{{Cite news|url=https://lfpress.com/business/bell-media-cancels-two-shows-lays-off-17-positions/wcm/95e624e2-1fea-4dc9-bc40-246564f4824d|title=Bell Media cancels shows 'Daily Planet' and 'Innerspace,' lays off 17 positions|date=2018-05-24|work=The London Free Press|access-date=2018-05-25|language=en-US}} Several programs produced by the Canadian Discovery Channel (such as How It's Made) have also aired on the American Science Channel.

Since 2015, enabled by that year's retirement of CRTC genre protection rules which mandated that it predominantly air factual programming,{{cite web|author=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission|date=March 12, 2015|title=Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-86|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-86.htm|access-date=May 12, 2018}} (paragraph 254) Discovery began to make ventures into scripted entertainment programming with loose connections to history or scientific concepts. In November 2015, Bell Media announced Discovery Channel Canada's first original scripted drama, the Jason Momoa-fronted Netflix co-production Frontier, chronicling the North American fur trade.{{cite web |date=16 November 2015 |title=Netflix Picks Up Canadian Period Action Series 'Frontier' Starring Jason Momoa |url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/frontier-jason-momoa-star-netflix-canadian-series-1201624982/ |access-date=8 January 2016 |website=Deadline}} In 2018, the channel began to devote portions of its schedule to reruns of police procedural series such as Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, and NUMB3RS.

With the relaunch as USA Network, the network primarily airs general entertainment programming, including USA Network and Bell-owned library programs,{{cite press release |title=Bell Media Brings Powerhouse Brands USA Network and Oxygen True Crime to Canada |date=October 17, 2024 |url=https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/bell-media-brings-powerhouse-brands-usa-network-and-oxygen-true-crime-to-canada/ |access-date=October 17, 2024 |author=Bell Media}}{{Cite web |title=Bell Media’s Discovery Channel Rebrands as USA Network in Canada on January 1 with a Blockbuster Mix of Programming |url=https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/bell-medias-discovery-channel-rebrands-as-usa-network-in-canada-on-january-1-with-a-blockbuster-mix-of-programming/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |publisher=Bell Media |language=en}} films, and reality series (including factual series carried over from Discovery Channel such as Highway Thru Hell and Mayday, and competition series such as The Traitors).

USA Network also carries some live sports programming sublicensed from TSN (since 2015, all discretionary specialty channels have operated under unified license terms that no longer restrict the genres of programming they may air, and allows channels not licensed as a mainstream sports channel to devote up to 10% of their programming to live professional sports), including professional wrestling from All Elite Wrestling (AEW Collision) and WWE (WWE LFG and WWE Rivals; while USA Network has been the long-time cable home of WWE in the United States—currently airing SmackDown—rights to WWE's main programming moved from Rogers' Sportsnet to Netflix in 2025 as part of a global licensing agreement. These two series are commissioned and distributed by A+E Global Media as part of its partnership with WWE Studios),{{Cite web |last1=Sherman |first1=Alex |last2=Pramuk |first2=Jacob |date=2024-01-23 |title=Netflix to stream WWE's Raw starting next year in its biggest jump into live entertainment |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/23/netflix-to-stream-wwes-raw-starting-next-year.html |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pollock |first=John |date=2024-12-22 |title=TNA Wrestling strikes deal with Sportsnet in Canada |url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2024/12/22/tna-wrestling-strikes-deal-with-sportsnet-in-canada/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=POST Wrestling |language=en-US}} and coverage of the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in the 2025 season.

= Original series (as Discovery (past and present)) =

Against All Odds
Acorn the Nature Nut
Aerospace
Airshow
Alien Mysteries
Beastly Countdown
Beyond Invention
Birth of a Sports Car
Bitchin' Rides
Blood, Sweat & Tools
Blueprint for Disaster
BBQ Pit Wars
Breaking Point
Break It Down
Building the Biggest
Building the Ultimate (UK: Five co-production)
Canadian Geographic Presents
Canada's Greatest Know-It-All
Canada's Worst Driver (carried over to USA)
Canada's Worst Handyman
Cold Water Cowboys
Cash Cab
Combat School
Connections
Creepy Canada
Criss Angel Mindfreak
A Cut Above{{Cite web|url=https://www.tv-eh.com/2022/07/24/discovery-reveals-the-12-carvers-competing-in-the-all-new-series-a-cut-above-beginning-august-8/|title=Discovery reveals the 12 carvers competing in the all-new series A Cut Above, beginning August 8|last=David|first=Greg|date=July 24, 2022|publisher=TV, eh|via=Bell Media|accessdate=July 29, 2022}}
Daily Planet (formerly @discovery.ca) (cancelled in 2018 as the result of Bell Media layoffs)
Dangerous Flights
Doctor*Ology
Don't Drive Here
Eco-Challenge
Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science
Factory Made
Fat N' Furious: Rolling Thunder
Flightpath
Fool's Gold
Forensic Factor
Frontier
Frontiers of Construction
Great Canadian Parks{{Cite web |url=http://www.goodearthproductions.com/viewshows.cfm?series=Great%20Canadian%20Parks&season=Season%201&episode=0 |title=Untitled Document |access-date=2006-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415092026/http://www.goodearthproductions.com/viewshows.cfm?series=Great%20Canadian%20Parks&season=Season%201&episode=0 |archive-date=2012-04-15 |url-status=dead }}
Guinea Pig
Heavy Rescue: 401 (carried over to USA)
Highway Thru Hell (carried over to USA)
High Tech Rednecks
How Do They Do It? (UK Wag TV coproduction)
How It's Made
Insectia
I Shouldn't Be Alive
Jacked!
Jade Fever
Jetstream
Junk Raiders
Junk Raiders 2
Last Car Standing
Licence to Drill
Licence to Drill: Louisiana
Manufactured
Mayday (carried over to USA)
Mega Builders
MegaSpeed
Mega World
Mean Machines (UK IWC Media coproduction)
Mean Green Machines
The Mightiest
Mighty Planes
Mighty Ships
Mighty Trains
Naked Science (UK Pioneer Productions coproduction)
Nature of the Beast
Never Ever Do This at Home
On the Run
Out in the Cold
Patent Bending
Pyros
Qubit
Risk Takers
Rocket Science
Sci Q
Science To Go
Star Racer
Superships
The Body Machine
The Exodus Decoded
The Sex Files
The World's Strangest UFO Stories
Ultimate Cars (UK IWC Media coproduction)
Ultimate
Vegas Rat Rods
White Hot Winter
What's That About?
You Asked For It