FLASHBACK: PrideVision TV, Canada’s First LGBT+ Channel, Launches (September 7, 2001)

TODAY in 2SLGBTQI+ history…

September 7, 2001, saw the launch of PrideVision TV, Canada’s first LGBT+-focused 24-hour cable television channel. It was the world’s second LGBT+ channel, following in the footsteps of the Gay Cable Network in the United States, which was established in 1982 in New York City and wound down operations in 2000–2001.

PrideVision TV was created by Headline Media Group Inc., and launched that fall with a lineup of lifestyle and entertainment programs created specifically for gays and lesbians, including dramas, comedies, feature films, documentaries, talk shows and even pornographic films (which only aired nightly after 12:00 am Eastern Time). The pornographic programming didn’t help build an audience and stirred controversy when Shaw Cable and Star Choice refused to offer PrideVision TV during the three-month free preview period, citing concerns over content. PrideVision appealed to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), arguing the exception was discriminatory, and won. 

Still, the channel struggled to build a sizeable audience across the country and lost millions because of high-cost programming commitments, limited subscriber revenue and weak advertising, all which led to eventual cutbacks that eroded its programming. 

Despite PrideVision’s woes, in late 2003 veteran broadcaster William Craig (a former employee of the CRTC who ran a series of regional sports networks in the United States) signed a deal to buy the struggling specialty television station. Finally, in February 2005, it was officially announced that PrideVision would drop its adult programming and relaunch as OUTtv in March 2005. Over the years, OUTtv has been owned by a number of different investors. However today OUTtv marches on and is available to residents of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States, airing a variety of popular TV series, documentaries and movies from all over the world as well as original LGBTQ2+-focused productions which are exclusive to the channel.