Love Nature is a Canadian specialty television channel owned by Blue Ant Media. Originally launched on March 12, 2006, the channel broadcasts documentaries and television series related to wildlife and nature.
Outside of Canada, international versions have been owned by Rock Entertainment Holdings and Smithsonian Networks.
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 OasisHD, described as "a national English-language Category 2 high definition specialty programming undertaking... featuring urban and wild landscapes by Canadian and international cinematographers."[1]
The channel launched in Canada on March 12, 2006, as Oasis HD,[2] focusing on wildlife and nature programming, similar to its current format.
On December 21, 2011, High Fidelity HDTV announced that it had entered into an agreement to be purchased outright by Blue Ant Media. While initially purchasing 29.9% of the company, the remaining 70.1% would be purchased once it is approved by the CRTC.[3]
In the summer of 2014, the channel dropped the "HD" moniker and was re-branded as Oasis with a revised logo and new website.[citation needed]
On January 19, 2015, Oasis relaunched as Love Nature. As part of the relaunch, Blue Ant Media announced plans to produce 200 hours of nature programming per-year in 4K Ultra HD.[4]
International
On July 14, 2008, then owners High Fidelity HDTV, announced that it had reached an agreement with Cameron Thomson Group to distribute then Oasis HD, throughout Europe.[5] Although the channel did not launch internationally as planned.
On December 14, 2015, Blue Ant Media and Smithsonian Networks jointly announced that it was partnering in a new joint venture called Blue Skye Entertainment, with the new company focusing on developing and distributing 4K Ultra HD wildlife and nature programming globally via SVOD and linear television services under the Love Nature brand and Smithsonian Network's stand-alone streaming service, Smithsonian Earth.[6] The new company's first product launch came with the launch of the Love Nature SVOD streaming service, which launched in 32 countries at launch, in February 2016.[7]
The channel's first international linear television distribution agreement was signed with StarHub TV in Singapore in November 2016.[8]
Since the global launch, it was expanded to Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, even Middle East and Africa. The channel was also launch as free ad-supported TV channels across United States.
References
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-363 CRTC 08 02 05
- ^ Bell ExpressVu Invites Canadians to Explore New High Definition Oasis and Visual Treasures Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine BCE press release 2006-03-13
- ^ Blue Ant Media Enters Agreement to Acquire High Fidelity HDTV CNW press release 2011-12-21
- ^ "Blue Ant rebrands Oasis as Love Nature". Cartt.ca. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ HDTV aims for Europe; Playback Magazine; 2008-07-14
- ^ "BLUE ANT MEDIA AND SMITHSONIAN NETWORKS LAUNCH JOINT VENTURE BLUE SKYE ENTERTAINMENT". Blue Ant Media. Archived from the original on 2017-07-15. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
- ^ "Love Nature, a New 4K (Ultra-HD) Wildlife and Nature Video Streaming Service, Launches in 32 Countries Worldwide". www.businesswire.com. 22 February 2016.
- ^ "Love Nature lands on Singapore's StarHub". Retrieved 30 March 2019.
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