Lifetime
Lifetime is a Canadian English-language specialty television channel serving a female-oriented audience with films, scripted programs, reality series and other entertainment content.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Lifetime is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty television channel associated with the American Lifetime brand. The Canadian service is owned and operated by Showcase Television Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment, and uses the Lifetime name under a brand-licensing arrangement with A&E Networks. Its programming is oriented toward women and combines television films, feature films, scripted dramas, reality programming, talk formats and other original or acquired series. The service originated during the expansion of Canada's digital specialty-channel sector. In November 2000, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved an application from Alliance Atlantis, through its Showcase Television subsidiary, for a national English-language channel provisionally called Romance Television. The proposed service was intended to focus on romance-related programming, including relationship-oriented formats, magazine programs, romantic travel content, classic romantic films, miniseries and made-for-television movies. Rather than launching under the approved working title, the channel debuted on September 7, 2001 as Showcase Diva, a digital offshoot of the existing Showcase service. Its initial schedule emphasized television drama and films aimed at a female audience. The channel subsequently passed through several ownership structures. Canwest Global acquired control of the Showcase Diva operation in January 2008 as part of its acquisition of Alliance Atlantis's broadcasting assets. In October 2010, Shaw Communications gained control after acquiring Canwest's broadcasting interests through the transaction involving CW Media and Goldman Sachs. A major repositioning occurred in 2012. On August 27 of that year, Showcase Diva was relaunched as the Canadian version of Lifetime. The change was implemented through a licensing agreement with A&E Networks, the owner of the U.S. Lifetime service. The rebrand broadened the channel's programming mix beyond films and scripted drama by adding more reality series, talk shows and other programming associated with the Lifetime identity, while retaining a substantial role for made-for-television films and dramatic entertainment. The service expanded its technical and distribution presence in subsequent years. An HD feed launched on May 29, 2013. Lifetime later became available through Canadian streaming aggregation services, joining StackTV in February 2022 and the Global TV application in February 2023. The Canadian channel therefore operates as a linear specialty network with complementary authenticated and bundle-based digital distribution. Its identity remains tied to the licensed Lifetime brand, while its Canadian corporate ownership and distribution are connected to Corus Entertainment.
History
Lifetime's Canadian operation developed from the digital specialty-channel expansion of the early 2000s. Alliance Atlantis, through its Showcase Television subsidiary, received Canadian regulatory approval in November 2000 for a proposed national English-language service called Romance Television. The approved concept described a romance-oriented channel that would carry relationship-themed programs, magazine formats, romantic travel content, classic films, miniseries and made-for-television movies. The service launched on September 7, 2001 under the name Showcase Diva. It functioned as a digital companion to Showcase and concentrated primarily on films and television dramas directed toward a female audience. Its original identity was therefore closer to a specialized film and drama outlet than to the broader mix later associated with the Lifetime name. Ownership changed as Canada's broadcasting sector consolidated. On January 18, 2008, Canwest Global acquired control of Showcase Diva through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis's broadcasting assets. On October 27, 2010, Shaw Communications assumed control after acquiring Canwest and related CW Media interests. These transactions changed the corporate setting of the service without altering its basic role as a Canadian specialty channel. The channel's most important brand change came in 2012. On August 27, Showcase Diva was relaunched as Lifetime Canada under a licensing agreement with A&E Networks, the parent company of the U.S. Lifetime channel. The relaunch connected the Canadian service to the wider Lifetime brand and expanded its programming proposition. In addition to films and television dramas, the channel added more reality series, talk shows and other original series associated with Lifetime's programming portfolio. A high-definition feed was introduced on May 29, 2013. Later, Lifetime adopted additional digital distribution: it was included in the StackTV streaming bundle in February 2022 and was added to the Global TV app in February 2023. The channel is owned through Showcase Television Inc., now a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. It remains a Canadian English-language specialty service, with its programming and brand positioning focused on female-oriented entertainment.
- 2023
Added to Global TV app
[1]The channel became available through the Global TV app in February.
- 2022
Added to StackTV
[1]Lifetime became part of the StackTV streaming bundle in February.
- 2013
HD service introduced
[1]A high-definition feed launched on May 29.
- 2012
Rebrand as Lifetime
[1]Showcase Diva was relaunched as the Canadian Lifetime channel on August 27 under a brand license from A&E Networks.
- 2010
Shaw Communications takes control
[1]Shaw Communications gained control of Showcase Diva following its acquisition of Canwest's broadcasting operations.
- 2008
Canwest Global takes control
[1]Canwest Global acquired control of the channel through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis's broadcasting assets.
- 2001
Launch as Showcase Diva
[1]The channel launched on September 7 as a digital offshoot of Showcase, emphasizing female-oriented films and television dramas.
- 2000
Regulatory approval for Romance Television
[1]The CRTC approved Alliance Atlantis's application for a national English-language specialty service centered on romance-related programming.
Products and positioning
A women-focused Canadian specialty entertainment channel combining films, made-for-television movies, scripted drama, reality programming, talk formats and other content under the internationally recognized Lifetime brand.
Specialty television channel · 2012
Lifetime Canada
The core Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel. It serves a female-oriented audience through a mixture of films, made-for-television movies, scripted dramas, reality series, talk programs and other entertainment formats. The service is operated by Showcase Television Inc. within Corus Entertainment and carries the Lifetime identity under license from A&E Networks.
High-definition television feed · 2013
Lifetime HD
The high-definition version of the Canadian Lifetime channel, introduced as part of the service's technical distribution expansion. It provides the channel's programming in an HD presentation where carried by television distributors.
Streaming bundle · 2022
Lifetime on StackTV
A digital distribution arrangement that made the Canadian Lifetime service available through Corus's StackTV streaming bundle, extending access beyond conventional specialty-channel packages.
Authenticated streaming distribution · 2023
Lifetime on Global TV app
A digital access option added through the Global TV app, allowing the Canadian channel to be distributed through another Corus-associated streaming application.
Brand decisions
2023
Expansion into the Global TV appStrategyBackground
Corus continued to make specialty programming available through its digital applications.
Action taken
Lifetime was added to the Global TV app in February 2023.
Aftermath
The service received another digital distribution outlet for Canadian viewers.
2022
Expansion into StackTVStrategyBackground
Canadian television viewing was increasingly distributed through streaming bundles in addition to linear specialty packages.
Action taken
Lifetime was added to the StackTV streaming bundle in February 2022.
Aftermath
The channel gained an additional digital distribution route.
2013
Launch of the HD feedGeneration changeBackground
Following the Lifetime rebrand, the channel expanded its technical distribution capabilities.
Action taken
A high-definition feed was launched on May 29, 2013.
Aftermath
The service became available in HD where supported by Canadian television distributors.
2012
Rebrand Showcase Diva under the Lifetime identityStrategyBackground
Showcase Diva had historically focused primarily on films and television dramas for a female audience. The operator reached an arrangement with A&E Networks to use the Lifetime brand in Canada.
Action taken
The service was relaunched as Lifetime on August 27, 2012, while broadening its schedule to include more reality series, talk shows and other Lifetime-associated original programming.
Aftermath
The change aligned the Canadian channel with the international Lifetime brand and established its current positioning as a broader women-focused entertainment service.
Recent events
Lifetime partners with Reba McEntire and Thistle Farms for Gift of a Lifetime[2]
Lifetime partnered with Reba McEntire and Thistle Farms for its 2021 Gift of a Lifetime initiative. McEntire selected Thistle Farms as the charity for the initiative.
Reported
Lifetime teams with K. Michelle on a reality series[3]
Lifetime is set to premiere My Killer Body with K. Michelle, a reality series hosted by K. Michelle, in 2022. The article reports that the singer was working with the Lifetime network on the show.
Lifetime announces 30th-anniversary movie programming[4]
Lifetime announced a summer-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Lifetime Original Movie, featuring special movie-marathon weekends and new premieres. The programming was scheduled to begin May 30–31, 2020.
Reported
Life Time acquires Cherry Creek Athletic Club[5]
Life Time acquired Denver-based Cherry Creek Athletic Club for an undisclosed sum. The club's transition to a Life Time property took effect on September 6, 2019.
Sources6 sources
- 1Lifetime (Canadian TV channel)en.wikipedia.org
- 2Lifetime与Reba McEntire及Thistle Farms合作推出“Gift of a Lifetime”thefutoncritic.com
- 3Lifetime 与 K. Michelle 合作推出真人秀yahoo.com
- 4Lifetime 宣布推出 30 周年电影特别节目thefutoncritic.com
- 5Life Time 收购 Cherry Creek Athletic Clubamericanspa.com
- 6Breaking News - Lifetime Partners with KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) on New PSA Featuring the Cast from "Torn from Her Arms" Premiering October 30 | TheFutonCritic.comthefutoncritic.com
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