TRAVEL CHANNEL BECOMES EXPAT
June 9th, 2010
If you live in Canada and love travel, then this news is for you.
CTVGlobeMedia, Canada’s largest private television network, has sold its specialty travel-based channel to a broadcast media group headed by two media icons, Raja Khanna and Jay Switzer.
Launched initially as CTV Travel back in 2001 the channel was re-branded as Travel+Escape five years later. Programming was similar to Cox’s Travel Channel in the United States and Britain’s Travel Channel International (TCI).
In recent years one of CTV’s other specialty channels, OLN, has been programming travel-based fare and seemed to eclipse Travel+Escape as the travel TV venue of choice in Canada – Word Travels would be a prime example of that.
I’ve worked with Raja in the past on projects, and know Jay through reputation (he was President and CEO of former powerhouse broadcaster CHUM Limited in Toronto). Between the two of them I can’t see this acquisition being anything but a well-deserved boost for new travel programming. Specifically, with Raja’s pioneering online media background, I can foresee a significant, and possibly primary online component for the channel as its content is spread over different outlets and released to mobile devices. I’ve produced and directed a number of travel series for Travel+Escape over the years, and I’m personally happy to see any change here that brings new and compelling travel content to the airwaves (and WiFi!) My two cents.
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Canada’s broadcasting regulatory body, similar to the FCC in the United States) still has to approve the sale.
Bottom line: This is good news for those of us who love travel television. Hey, we all need a vicarious hit once in awhile when we’re landlocked or desk-bound, yes?
Stay tuned, as they say.
[REW]
Do you like to watch…? Comments below.
