Editing CTV Comedy Channel (section)

==History==
[[File:TheComedyNetwork1997.svg|thumb|left|First channel logo, used from 1997 to 2011. Shown here is the 3D version from 2005 to 2011.]]
In September 1996, 1155636 Ontario Inc. (a company majority controlled by [[Baton Broadcasting]], with the remaining interests held by [[Shaw Communications|Shaw Cable]] and [[Astral Media|Astral Broadcasting]].) was granted a television broadcasting license by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC).<ref>{{cite web | title =Archived – Decision CRTC 96-596 | work =Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission | publisher = Government of Canada | url =http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1996/DB96-596.htm | access-date = June 4, 2013}}</ref> The channel launched on October 17, 1997<ref>[http://ctvmedia.ca/comedy/releases/release.asp?id=9824&yyyy=2007 The Comedy Network turns 10 today and goes full-on-cyber with revolutionary revamped website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402203816/http://ctvmedia.ca/comedy/releases/release.asp?id=9824&yyyy=2007 |date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref> as '''The Comedy Network''', and used the slogan "Time well wasted", a parody of the slogan of U.S. channel [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]]'s at the time, "Time well spent".

Through various acquisitions over the years, Shaw, Astral and Les Films Rozon sold their interest in the service to Baton, which became Bell Globemedia in 2001, and renamed [[CTVglobemedia]] in 2007. [[BCE Inc.|BCE]] gained control of The Comedy Network on April 1, 2011, through its takeover of CTVglobemedia, in effective changing the company's name to Bell Media.

[[File:The Comedy Network.svg|thumb|right|upright|Second and final logo, used from 2011 to 2019.]]
Over the years, the channel has gone through multiple rebrands; from 2001 to 2005, the logo was given a "crudely drawn" look; the logo's colors were removed, leaving the logo black (although the logo's colors were still seen on the channel's website). In 2005, the channel's logo was changed from 2D to 3D; the logo's colors were brought back. On November 1, 2011, The Comedy Network was relaunched with a new look, consisting a new simplified logo and revamped on-air presentation. Their longtime slogan was also retired on this date.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120425124229/http://bellmediapr.ca/comedy/releases/release.asp?id=14415&yyyy=2011 It’s a NEWvember for The Comedy Network as new look and feel revealed Nov. 1] Bell Media press release October 28, 2011</ref>

On July 12, 2012, The Comedy Network launched a [[high-definition television|high-definition]] simulcast feed available through all major TV providers.

In August 2013, the CRTC denied an amendment to The Comedy Network's license, which would have reduced the amount of Canadian-produced content the network would have been required to air monthly, increase the amount of animated programming it could air from 10% of its lineup per day to 20% per month, and allow it to air films that were not Canadian-made. Bell argued that the network was at a disadvantage against [[BiteTV]] and [[Teletoon]], because Comedy was unable to give its animated acquisitions a larger amount of exposure (such as marathons) due to the restriction. The CRTC rejected its arguments in response to complaints by the two networks cited and other unions, due to their differing natures of service and because Bell's proposed changes were intended primarily to decrease the amount of Canadian content it airs in favour of more U.S.-originated programming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/2013-333.htm|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-333 |access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Canada.com|publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]|url=http://o.canada.com/business/comedy-network-bell-media-crtc/|title=The Comedy Network is not allowed to lighten up|access-date=May 19, 2014|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221230711/http://o.canada.com/business/comedy-network-bell-media-crtc/|url-status=dead}}</ref> By September 2013, The Comedy Network had moved a number of acquired Comedy Central programs to its sister channel [[Much (TV channel)|Much]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Um... your favourite Comedy shows might be on Much|url=http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/blogs/2013/10/comedy-on-much|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219124833/http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/blogs/2013/10/comedy-on-much|archive-date=December 19, 2013|access-date=May 11, 2014}}</ref>

Further changes to The Comedy Network's schedule occurred in the 2017–18 season, with the network aligning its primetime lineup with reruns of [[sitcoms]] (such as ''[[Friends]]'') to target a wider range of viewers (including women), and provide a stronger lead-in to its first-run programs later in the night.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Maloney |first=Val |last2= |title=Fall TV 2017: Specialty targeting shifts |url=https://mediaincanada.com/2017/07/04/fall-tv-2017-specialty-targeting-shifts/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Media in Canada}}</ref>

On June 7, 2018, during the [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] upfronts, it was announced that The Comedy Network would eventually rebrand as "CTV Comedy", as part of a realignment of several Bell Media channels under the CTV name.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2018/06/07/ctv-unveils-their-fall-programming-slate-for-2018.html|title=Magnum P.I. reboot, new Jann Arden comedy on CTV’s fall lineup|work=Toronto Star|access-date=June 7, 2018|language=en}}</ref> On June 8, 2019, it was revealed The Comedy Network would relaunch as '''CTV Comedy Channel''' on September 12, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/bolstered-by-new-acquisitions-new-ctv-suite-of-specialty-channels-to-be-unveiled-sept-12-803447574.html|title=Bolstered by New Acquisitions, New CTV Suite of Specialty Channels to Be Unveiled Sept. 12|work=Newswire|access-date=June 8, 2019|language=en}}</ref>