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W Network
W Network
from Wikipedia

W Network (often shortened to W) is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily broadcasts general entertainment programming oriented towards a female audience.

Key Information

W Network was established in 1995 as the Women's Television Network (WTN), which had a focus on women's lifestyle programming. The channel was eventually acquired by Corus in 2001 and relaunched under its current branding in 2002. As part of the relaunch, W's programming shifted to a mix of both entertainment and lifestyle programming. By 2017, W had moved its lifestyle programming to its sister networks, shifting to a general entertainment format targeting women. In 2018, the channel became part of output deals with Hallmark Media, and later Comcast's Peacock and Sky Studios in 2020 (an agreement shared with sister network Showcase).

The channel is available in two time shifted feeds, East (operating from the Eastern Time Zone) and West (operating from the Pacific Time Zone).

History

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As Women's Television Network

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Women's Television Network logo; 1995-2002

In June 1994, Linda Rankin, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, (later incorporated as Lifestyle Television (1994) Limited, principally owned by Moffat Communications) was granted a television broadcasting licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to operate a channel called Lifestyle Television, described as offering "information and entertainment programming of particular interest to women."[1]

The channel subsequently launched on January 1, 1995 as the Women's Television Network (WTN).[2] Like Moffat's other cable television operations, WTN was headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Linda Rankin served as the president of the network from its launch.

Programming on the network was originally largely focused on lifestyle programming that many had suggested was "feminist" in nature.[3] Such programming included female takes on traditionally male-dominated activities such as fishing and mechanics, with Natural Angler and Car Care, respectively, while other programs, such as Go Girl!, took a comedic approach at parodying typical female-targeted talk shows that discussed subjects such as beauty and fashion.[3] Other programs included films, current affairs, and occasionally athletic-themed.

The channel suffered from low ratings in the start. Of the slew of new channels launched on January 1, 1995, WTN was initially the lowest-rated channel on average.[4][5] Linda Rankin later resigned in August 1995 citing "differences in management philosophy".[6]

As W Network

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In December 2000, Shaw Communications announced it intended to purchase Moffat.[7] The deal was later closed in early 2001. Shaw announced in March 2001 that it would sell WTN to Corus Entertainment, a company that it spun off in 1999, for CA$205 million (Shaw had primarily acquired Moffat for its cable television systems).[8] Once Corus took ownership of the channel, it moved operations from Winnipeg to Toronto in mid-January 2002, laying off 50 employees in the process.[9] Corus subsequently relaunched the network as W on April 15, 2002, with a more entertainment-oriented mix of recent dramas and movies. On the same date, Corus launched the west coast feed.[10]

In 2009, Corus Entertainment acquired SexTV: The Channel from CTVglobemedia, and relaunched the channel as W Movies — a spin-off of W Network focusing on films aimed towards women, on March 1, 2010.[11] On December 12, 2016, W Movies was closed and replaced by a relaunched, Canadian version of the Cooking Channel.[12]

On August 2, 2011, the channel launched its HD feed, a simulcast of W Network's standard-definition Eastern-time feed. The HD feed was added to Bell Satellite TV satellite and Bell Fibe TV channel lineups on March 23, 2012. It was also available on Eastlink, Optik TV, Shaw Direct, SaskTel, Rogers Cable, Cogeco, and Access Communications.[13] On October 1, 2013, an HD feed for the Western-timed channel was launched on Shaw Cable, then on Shaw Direct on September 18, 2019.

2017–present

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By 2017, W Network had begun to place a larger emphasis on scripted series targeting a female audience to compliment sister channel Showcase, including new acquisitions such as Nashville and Valor. The majority of its lifestyle programming, including the Property Brothers franchise, was moved to HGTV (now Home Network), as well as Corus' other women and lifestyle networks.[14]

On October 25, 2018, Corus announced an output deal with Crown Media Holdings, giving W Network exclusive Canadian rights to original movies and series produced for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. W Network carries branded blocks of Hallmark Channel content, including seasonal programming events such as Countdown to Christmas; many of Hallmark's productions are filmed in Canada.[15][16]

In June 2020, Corus reached output agreements with NBCUniversal Global Distribution for Canadian rights to Peacock original series, shared primarily between W and sister network Showcase.[17] The following month, Corus also reached an agreement with sister company Sky Studios.[18] Devils served as one of the first series to air on W as part of the Sky agreement.[19] As part of the Peacock agreement, the long-running soap opera Days of our Lives (which had long-been carried by sister broadcast network Global in simulcast with NBC) moved to W Network in September 2022.[20]

Programming

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W Network primarily broadcasts films and television series targeting a female audience, including dramas, sitcoms, and romantic comedies.[21][14] The network has an output agreement with Hallmark Media that gives it the exclusive Canadian rights to Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery original productions, including seasonal programming events such as Countdown to Christmas.[15][16] It also participates in Corus Entertainment's agreements with NBCUniversal for Peacock and Sky Studios original programming.[18][17]

W previously produced and aired unscripted reality shows and lifestyle programming; it was well known for originating the Love It or List It and Property Brothers franchises seen on HGTV in the U.S. These programs moved to Corus' other lifestyle networks (particularly HGTV Canada and Slice) following W's shift to scripted programming.[14]

List of programming

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Original series

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Acquired programming

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
W Network is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty owned by , which announced a recapitalization transaction on November 3, 2025, that would transfer approximately 99% ownership to its lenders in exchange for debt, subject to regulatory and court approvals. It focuses on dramatic series, movies, and programming primarily targeted at women. Launched in January 1995 as the Women's Television Network (WTN) by Moffat Communications Limited, it was originally dedicated to information and entertainment content of interest to female viewers, including shows, topics, and family-oriented features. The channel underwent significant changes in ownership and branding throughout its history. Acquired by Corus Entertainment (a subsidiary of Shaw Communications) in 2001, W Network rebranded from WTN on April 15, 2002, to emphasize "smart and edgy entertainment" for a younger female demographic, while expanding its reach with a West Coast feed. In 2010, it launched a spinoff channel, W Movies, dedicated to feature films (later discontinued in 2016), and introduced an HD simulcast on August 2, 2011. By fall 2017, the network shifted its focus from lifestyle programming—relocated to other Corus channels like HGTV Canada—to scripted dramas and films, aligning with broader trends in specialty television. As of 2025, W Network is the Canadian broadcaster for the , securing exclusive licensing rights in 2018 for all Hallmark movies and scripted series, including seasonal events like the annual Countdown to Christmas with over 40 premieres. Its lineup features premium dramatic series such as Outlander, , The Good Doctor, and , alongside original Canadian content and holiday-themed movies that celebrate relationships and life's milestones, with recent additions announced for winter and spring 2025. Available through cable, satellite, and streaming platforms like within , the network continues to prioritize compelling storytelling for its audience.

History

Women's Television Network era (1995–2002)

The Women's Television Network (WTN) was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on June 6, 1994, as a national English-language Category 1 specialty service operated by Lifestyle Television (1994) Limited, a controlled by Moffat Communications Limited. The service was approved to target a predominantly audience, providing an information-oriented format with a female perspective on topics such as , , relationships, , , home and family, cooking, fitness, , careers, and , while portraying women as competent and multi-faceted individuals and avoiding violent content. As a condition of licence, WTN was required to devote at least 70% of its programming to over the broadcast year and 60% during the evening broadcast period (6:00 p.m. to ), with a minimum expenditure of $9,055,000 on Canadian programming in the second year of operation, increasing to 41% of the previous year's gross revenues thereafter. WTN launched on January 1, 1995, from headquarters in , , initially carried on analog cable systems across as one of the first wave of specialty channels in the post-1993 CRTC policy framework. The network's early programming emphasized and practical advice for women through formats including talk shows, documentaries, and series on , , and daily life challenges, with at least 60% of its workforce required to be female and 25% of foreign programming sourced from non-U.S. countries to diversify content. Operations focused on original Canadian productions developed in , supporting the channel's mandate to fill a gap in women-specific programming not otherwise available on Canadian television. In December 2000, Shaw Communications Inc. announced its acquisition of Moffat Communications Limited, including control of Lifestyle Television and WTN, for $1.2 billion, with the deal completing on January 22, 2001, to integrate the network into Shaw's growing specialty television portfolio. By 2001, WTN employed approximately 50 staff in , primarily engaged in producing original and informational content tailored to female viewers.

Rebranding and early development (2002–2016)

In March 2001, Shaw Communications announced the sale of the Women's Television Network (WTN) to Corus Entertainment for CA$205 million, with the transaction receiving CRTC approval on November 16, 2001, and closing on November 19, 2001, granting Corus full control by early 2002. This acquisition positioned WTN as a key asset in Corus's growing portfolio of specialty channels targeted at women, allowing for strategic integration with other properties like YTV and CMT. On April 15, 2002, Corus relaunched the channel as W Network, introducing a new and branding that emphasized women's through a blend of , , and movie content. The rebrand marked a departure from WTN's original focus on informational programming, aiming to broaden appeal while retaining its core female demographic. Accompanying the launch, Corus implemented operational changes, including the relocation of headquarters from to in mid-January 2002, which resulted in approximately 50 layoffs, primarily affecting the Winnipeg-based management and production staff. This move centralized operations in Toronto, facilitating expansion of production facilities and closer alignment with Corus's eastern operations. During its early development phase, W Network evolved its programming by introducing and hybrid formats, such as shows and relationship-focused series, which increased entertainment content to around 80% of the schedule by while maintaining at least 12% for Canadian priority programming to comply with CRTC requirements. This shift helped drive audience growth, with peak viewership achieved in the mid-2000s, largely propelled by original series that resonated with female viewers. Key milestones included securing carriage agreements with major providers like Rogers and Bell by 2010, expanding distribution reach, and the launch of an HD feed on August 2, 2011, simulcasting the standard-definition signal to enhance viewing quality. The CRTC renewed W Network's licence in and again in , affirming its status as a Category 1 women's specialty service and approving continued flexibility in programming categories to support its entertainment focus. These renewals underscored the network's compliance with obligations and its role in serving underserved female audiences, solidifying its position within Corus's lineup through 2016.

Strategic shifts and recent evolution (2017–present)

In 2017, announced its 2017/18 specialty programming lineup, marking a strategic pivot for W Network toward female-targeted scripted series to better compete with emerging streaming platforms, including premieres like the military drama Valor. This shift involved reallocating lifestyle and home improvement content, such as , to sister network HGTV Canada, allowing W to emphasize entertainment-focused scripted fare. Key content partnerships bolstered this direction, starting with a deal on October 25, 2018, granting W Network exclusive Canadian rights to Hallmark Channel's movies and scripted series from Crown Media Family Networks. In June 2020, Corus secured output agreements with for Canadian rights to Peacock original series, enabling W to air U.S. content like the true-crime comedy . A 2020 agreement with followed, bringing European dramas such as Devils to the network. Recent developments have reinforced W Network's focus on premium scripted programming. The soap opera Days of Our Lives joined the lineup in 2022, expanding its daytime offerings. In June 2024, Corus unveiled the 2024/25 schedule, highlighting star-powered dramas to attract core audiences. Winter 2025 premieres include the return of The Way Home Season 3 on January 5 and Based on a True Story Season 2 later in the season. Under Corus ownership, W Network has navigated corporate changes without disruption. In September 2024, Corus introduced Flavour Network and Home Network, rebranding from Food Network Canada and HGTV Canada effective December 30, 2024, to refresh lifestyle programming while preserving W's entertainment slate. The 2025/26 programming slate, announced in June 2025, features Peacock acquisitions like the thriller All Her Fault starring Sarah Snook. Corus reported financial challenges in its fiscal Q4 2025 results on October 30, 2025, with consolidated revenue down 14% year-over-year, but affirmed ongoing operations across its portfolio, including W Network, with no announced shutdowns. On November 3, 2025, Corus announced a recapitalization transaction that reduces total debt and liabilities by more than C$500 million and annual cash interest by up to C$40 million through a debt-for-equity swap with lenders, strengthening its financial position while supporting ongoing operations across its portfolio, including W Network. To adapt to viewer habits, W Network has integrated with the streaming service, offering early access to select episodes such as Season 2 ahead of linear airings. programming remains a , with the 2025 Countdown to Christmas event—featuring 28 new Hallmark movies and six series—launching October 17 on both W Network and .

Ownership and operations

Ownership history and corporate affiliation

The W Network traces its ownership roots to Moffat Communications Limited, which launched the channel as the Women's Television Network (WTN) on January 1, 1995. Moffat held ownership until December 2000, when Shaw Communications Inc. announced its acquisition of Moffat Communications for approximately $1.2 billion, with the transaction closing on January 22, 2001. Shortly thereafter, in a related corporate reorganization, Shaw transferred ownership of WTN to Corus Entertainment Inc., a move approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2001-702 on November 16, 2001, valuing the assets at $205 million and requiring $20.5 million in tangible benefits over five years. This transfer marked the beginning of Corus's stewardship of the network, which was rebranded as W Network in April 2002. Under Corus Entertainment Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CJR.B), W Network has been integrated into the company's specialty television portfolio since 2001. As of 2025, it operates as a sister channel to other Corus-owned discretionary services such as Slice, Showcase, Flavour Network, and Home Network, following the transfer of HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada to Rogers Communications earlier in the year. The network's licensee is W Network Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Corus Entertainment Inc. Key executives overseeing content relevant to W include John Gossling, Chief Executive Officer, and Rachel Nelson, Vice President of Original Programming and Head of Corus Studios, who guide programming strategies across the specialty brands. Corus's corporate expansions in the , notably the $2.65 billion acquisition of completed on April 1, 2016, significantly bolstered its overall media assets, including synergies for channels like W through shared production resources and distribution deals, though W itself was already under Corus ownership. More recently, the company has faced financial pressures, implementing workforce reductions totaling 25% of full-time positions by August 2024 amid declining linear advertising revenue, and closing five children's channels—ABC Spark, Nickelodeon Canada, , Disney Jr., and La Chaîne Disney—on September 1, 2025, as part of cost-cutting measures; these changes did not directly affect W Network. W maintains ongoing CRTC compliance as a national English-language , with its broadcasting licence renewed periodically as part of Corus's larger ownership group, most recently through administrative extensions to ensure alignment with regulatory standards for and ownership limits.

Technical specifications and broadcast operations

W Network primarily broadcasts in a high-definition (HD) format, which serves as the standard for its programming, while maintaining a downscaled standard-definition (SD) feed for compatibility with legacy cable and satellite systems. Audio transmission includes for basic playback and for enhanced immersion on supported devices, aligning with common North American broadcast standards for Canadian specialty channels. These specifications ensure broad accessibility across modern and older equipment without requiring separate SD-only channels. The network operates two regional feeds to accommodate Canada's primary time zones: an Eastern Time (ET) feed for central and eastern provinces, and a Pacific Time (PT) feed for western audiences, with programming delayed by three hours on the PT feed to maintain simultaneous primetime viewing. No dedicated feeds exist for the Atlantic or Mountain time zones, where viewers rely on the ET feed with local adjustments by providers. This dual-feed structure, introduced with the PT feed on April 15, 2002, supports national coverage while minimizing operational complexity for . High-definition service launched on August 2, 2011, initially as a of the existing SD feed on select providers, marking W Network's transition to modern viewing standards amid growing HD adoption in . Expansion continued, achieving full national HD availability by the mid-2010s as infrastructure upgrades by distributors like Rogers and Bell enabled widespread carriage. This upgrade improved visual quality for and drama content without altering the core programming schedule. Broadcast operations are managed from master control facilities in , , where oversees 24-hour programming playback, signal distribution, and quality assurance for all feeds. The network complies with (CRTC) accessibility mandates, providing for 100% of English-language programming during broadcast hours and described video (audio narration of visual elements) for at least 4% of programming annually, targeting viewers who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or partially sighted. These requirements, enforced since 2015 updates to CRTC policies, ensure inclusive access across linear TV. W Network is carried as a discretionary on major Canadian multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), including Rogers (channel 100 in ), Bell Fibe TV, Telus Optik TV, Shaw (now Rogers), Videotron, and SaskTel, typically within entertainment or lifestyle tiers requiring additional subscription fees. Availability spans urban and rural areas, with on-demand integration through provider apps; as of 2025, it reaches Canadian households via these platforms, reflecting Corus's strong distribution partnerships. For digital extensions, W Network integrates with Corus's streaming service, launched in 2019, offering live linear feeds and on-demand episodes via Channels, the Global TV App, and select MVPD apps like Rogers Ignite and Bell Fibe for authenticated subscribers. This provides multi-device access without geographic restrictions within , though no dedicated standalone W Network app exists, emphasizing Corus's unified streaming ecosystem over siloed offerings.

Programming

Original productions

W Network's original productions have primarily focused on lifestyle and reality formats, particularly home renovation and relationship-themed series, developed through collaborations between the channel and independent Canadian producers, often facilitated by Corus Studios for distribution and financing. These efforts have helped meet (CRTC) requirements for priority programming, which mandate at least 50% Canadian programming throughout the broadcast day and during the evening broadcast period for discretionary services like W Network. Early flagship series such as , which premiered in 2008 and featured designers and realtor competing to renovate or sell homes, was produced by Big Coat Productions in association with W Network and became a cornerstone of the channel's lineup, spawning international adaptations including U.S. and Vancouver spin-offs. Another seminal original, , debuted on W Network in 2011, produced by Cineflix Productions, and followed twin brothers Jonathan and as they guided families through property searches and renovations; it quickly became the channel's highest-rated program among women aged 25-54 during its initial seasons and ran until 2017 before transitioning to Canada. Spin-offs like Love It or List It Vacation Homes (2016), also from Big Coat Productions, extended the franchise by focusing on vacation properties and was nominated for a 2017 Canadian Screen Award for Best Lifestyle or Reality Program, with its episode "Kelly & Brent" winning for Best Direction in a Lifestyle or Reality Program, highlighting the impact of W's early reality formats on Canadian television. Post-2017, W Network scaled back on extensive original series development, prioritizing cost-effective made-for-TV movies and limited co-productions to fulfill content obligations amid a broader Corus strategy emphasizing acquisitions and international partnerships. Notable examples include the The Love Club anthology film series, commissioned in 2022 and expanded in 2023, produced by Nikki Ray Media Agency with Corus Studios handling global sales; these four-film cycles explored themes of friendship and romance, airing as winter specials to capitalize on holiday viewership. Seasonal holiday specials, such as custom Christmas-themed originals, have also been produced in limited runs to align with the channel's focus on feel-good storytelling. By 2025, original production remains minimal, with Corus announcing a slate of 50 new Canadian scripted movies across its specialty networks, including select titles for W Network like relationship dramas, but emphasizing co-productions such as The Way Home—a time-travel family series where W serves as the primary Canadian broadcaster for the Hallmark-commissioned project produced by and . This approach underscores a strategic pivot toward high-impact, quota-compliant content that leverages W's audience for women without the full burden of in-house series development.

Acquired programming

W Network has secured numerous U.S. acquisitions to bolster its lineup of dramas and content targeted at female audiences. In October 2018, , W Network's parent company, entered into a multi-year output deal with Crown Media Holdings, granting W Network exclusive Canadian broadcast rights to originals, including series and movies. This agreement has enabled W Network to air seasons 1 through 6 of the family drama , which follows the O'Brien family's multigenerational stories in a coastal town. As part of the ongoing partnership, W Network featured dozens of new movies in 2025, contributing to its seasonal programming blocks. Another key U.S. acquisition is the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, which W Network began airing exclusively in starting September 12, 2022, weekdays at 1 p.m. ET/PT. The Emmy Award-winning series, produced by Corday Productions, follows interconnected lives in the fictional town of Salem and transitioned from to Peacock in the U.S. that same year, with W Network securing linear broadcast rights. On the international front, W Network has expanded through deals with , including Peacock originals since 2020, when Corus announced an agreement to license select Peacock content for Canadian broadcast across its networks. This includes the comedic thriller Based on a True Story, starring , with season 2 airing on W Network following its U.S. Peacock premiere. Additional Peacock acquisitions in the 2025/26 slate feature the limited series All Her Fault, a mystery thriller starring as a mother searching for her missing son after a playdate gone wrong, which debuted on W Network in fall 2025. W Network also licenses content from , such as the comedy-drama season 2, which explores 1960s British television through the eyes of aspiring comedian Sophie Straw. Earlier deals brought U.S. series like the music industry drama Nashville, chronicling country stars' personal and professional struggles, and the military thriller Valor, focusing on covert helicopter pilots, to W Network's schedule. Scheduling for acquired programming emphasizes primetime drama slots from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT, where series like and Nashville anchor evenings, while soaps and lifestyle shows fill daytime hours. Holiday marathons, particularly Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas block starting in October 2025, feature back-to-back movies and specials, often with early access via streaming. Recent winter 2025 returns included season 3 of the time-travel family drama The Way Home on January 5, premiering episodes weekly on W Network after its U.S. debut. These acquisitions provide Canadian broadcast only, without , allowing W Network to rotate content to comply with CRTC licensing requirements for an 80% focus on women's entertainment programming, ensuring a mix of dramas, romances, and fare.

References

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