Editing BookTelevision

{{short description|Defunct Canadian cable TV channel}}
{{For|the weekend programming block on C-SPAN2|Book TV}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name              = BookTelevision
| logo              = BookTelevision logo.svg
| logo_caption      = '''BookTelevision logo'''
| logo_size         = 180px
| launch_date       = September 7, 2001
| closed_date       = February 21, 2021
| language          = English
| picture_format    = [[480i]] ([[SDTV]])
| network           =
| owner             = [[CHUM Limited]] (2001–2007)<br>[[CTVglobemedia]] (2007–2011)<br>{{small|(CTV Limited)}}<br>[[Bell Media]] (2011–2021)
| parent = [[Access Media Group|Learning and Skills Television of Alberta Limited]] 
| country           = [[Canada]]
| area              = Nationwide
| headquarters      = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
| former_names      = 
| replaced          = 
| sister_channels   = 
| timeshift_service = 
| website           = 
| sat_serv_1        = 
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}}
'''BookTelevision''' was a [[Television in Canada|Canadian]] [[English language]] [[specialty channel]] owned by [[Bell Media]].

The channel was originally established in 2001 by [[Access Media Group|Learning and Skills Television of Alberta Ltd.]], then partially owned by [[CHUM Limited]], airing programming relating to books, [[literature]], and various media.

Following its acquisition by Bell, the network later shifted primarily to airing Bell Media library programming with little relevance to its original format. Amid declining investments in the channel, BookTelevision was shut down on February 21, 2021.

==History==
In November 2000, Learning and Skills Television of Alberta, a company majority owned by [[CHUM Limited]] (60%), was awarded a [[Category A services|category 1]] television broadcasting licence by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) called ''BookTelevision - The Channel'', described as "a national English-language Category 1 specialty television service that will feature magazines and talk shows, dramas and documentaries that are exclusively based upon printed and published works, and offered with additional programming that provides an educational context and promotes reading."<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2000/DB2000-451.htm Decision CRTC 2000-451], CRTC, 2000-12-14</ref>

The channel was launched on September 7, 2001.<ref name="Globe article">[http://www.friends.ca/news-item/4163 The history of CHUM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023055738/http://www.friends.ca/news-item/4163 |date=2013-10-23 }} Globe and Mail article 2006-06-12</ref> Although, shortly after the channel's launch, "The Channel" was dropped from its name and logo, resulting in a name change to simply BookTelevision.

On February 15, 2005, CHUM completed the purchase of the remaining interest in LSTA, bringing its ownership to 100 percent.<ref name="Globe article"/> A year later, in July 2006, [[CTVglobemedia|Bell Globemedia]] (later renamed CTVglobemedia) announced that it would purchase CHUM for an estimated $1.7 billion [[Canadian dollar|CAD]], included in the sale was LSTA and its interest in BookTelevision.<ref>[http://www.fasken.com/experience/detail.aspx?experience=890 Bell Globemedia acquires CHUM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927151854/http://www.fasken.com/experience/detail.aspx?experience=890 |date=2011-09-27 }}; Fasken Martineau; 2006-07-12</ref> The sale was subject to CRTC approval and was approved in June 2007,<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-165.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-165]; CRTC; 2007-06-08</ref> with the transaction completed on June 22, 2007. In 2008, LSTA (then known as Access Media Group) was wound up into CTV Limited (the renamed CHUM Limited).<ref>[http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/db2008-141.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-141], [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]], 14 July 2008</ref>

On September 10, 2010, [[Bell Canada Enterprises|BCE]] (a minority shareholder in CTVglobemedia) announced that it planned to acquire 100% interest in CTVglobemedia for a total debt and equity transaction cost of $3.2 billion CAD.<ref name="bell-pr-2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2010/10/c8677.html|title=Bell to acquire 100% of Canada's No.1 media company CTV|publisher=CNW Group|author=Bell Canada|date=2010-09-10|access-date=2010-09-10}}</ref> The deal which required CRTC approval, was approved on March 7, 2011<ref>[https://www.ctvnews.ca/crtc-approves-bce-s-purchase-of-ctvglobemedia-1.615461 CRTC approves BCE's purchase of CTVglobemedia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629044310/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110307/crtc-approves-ctvglobemedia-purchase-by-bce-110307/ |date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> and closed on April 1 of that year, on which CTVglobemedia was rebranded Bell Media.<ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2011/01/c8471.html Bell completes acquisition of CTV, launches Bell Media business unit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404113706/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2011/01/c8471.html |date=2011-04-04 }} CNW 2011-04-01</ref>

Along with [[Fashion Television (TV channel)|Fashion Television]], the channel later [[Channel drift|abandoned]] its original format, and began to primarily air reruns of library programming from other Bell Media networks, and after CRTC category restrictions were repealed in 2015, reruns of dramas such as [[JAG (TV series)|''JAG'']] and [[Matlock (1986 TV series)|''Matlock'']], properties that had no literary inspiration. The channel ceased investments in original Canadian programming, and was rarely promoted by Bell. In January 2021, the CRTC approved a request by Bell to revoke BookTelevision and Fashion Television's licenses, stating that it planned to shut both channels down on February 21.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Faguy|first=Steve|date=|title=Bell Media to shut down Fashion Television and Book Television on Feb. 22|url=https://blog.fagstein.com/2021/01/21/bell-shuts-fashion-book-tv/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-21|title=Fashion Television Channel – Revocation of licence|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2021/2021-32.htm|access-date=2021-01-21|website=crtc.gc.ca|publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.booktelevision.com}}
* [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2000/DB2000-451.htm Original CRTC Broadcast Decision]

{{CHUM Limited}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Booktelevision}}
[[Category:Defunct specialty television channels in Canada]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:2021 disestablishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in Canada]]
[[Category:Former Bell Media networks]]