CTV Sci-Fi Channel

Final logo of Space, used from 2013 to 2019

The channel was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1996.[1] It debuted on October 17, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT), as Space: The Imagination Station, launching under the ownership of CHUM Limited, airing the film Forbidden Planet, followed by a commentary on that film by author Robert J. Sawyer, followed by the film Mars Attacks!. The Sawyer commentary was the first example of the interstitial materials — mostly produced by Mark Askwith — that became SPACE's signature: short, snappy, mini-documentaries on science fiction and science topics shown between programs, collectively known as "SPACE Flow". Daily installments include Space News (formerly SPIN, for "Space Information and News").[2]

CTVglobemedia took over Space on June 22, 2007, as a result of a takeover of CHUM Limited. At the same time, the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers later that year. On October 22, 2010, Space relaunched with a living room design and CGI look; Their "swirl" symbol, which had gone modified into dome during the period. Ownership changed hands once again when on April 1, 2011, BCE Inc. gained 100% control of CTVglobemedia's non-publishing assets that it did not already own, placing Space under the ownership of Bell Media.

On February 8, 2011, the Reeves-Stevenses submitted a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in support of an application by CTVglobemedia to renew the broadcasting license of Space.[3]

On July 6, 2011, a high definition simulcast of Space was launched.[4]

On March 4, 2013, Space introduced a new logo to coincide with the premiere of the channel's new original co-production Orphan Black. A Bell Media executive explained that the branding was designed to reflect upon the broadening of the sci-fi genre beyond outer space and "people in polyester onesies running around with taser guns", by portraying the new logo in the form of real-life objects with a "phenomenal twist" to symbolize the "space around you", by replacing the living room design from 2010.[5] Through Bell Media's acquisition of Astral Media, Space is now co-owned with the French-language science-fiction channel, Ztélé (since renamed Z).

On June 7, 2018 during the CTV upfronts, it was announced that Space would be rebranded as "CTV Sci-Fi", as part of a re-alignment of several Bell Media specialty channels under the CTV brand.[6] The following year, it was revealed the channel would rebrand as CTV Sci-Fi Channel on September 12, 2019.[7]

CTV Sci-Fi Channel's programming includes scripted television series and films primarily focused on the science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, horror, and paranormal genres. The channel has produced original series (including the daily newsmagazine Innerspace, and scripted dramas such as Orphan Black), as well as co-produced and acquired programming primarily from the U.S. Syfy cable network.

• Official website