CTVLife Channel is a Canadian English languagespecialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts factual and reality programming on topics such as cooking, home improvement and real estate, and entertainment programming. The channel originally launched in 2013 as Gusto TV, under the ownership of the independent producerKnight Enterprises with a Category B license. The network leveraged its library of original programming, as well as other acquired programming. On May 4, 2016, Knight announced that it would sell Canadian rights to the Gusto brand and associated programming to Bell Media. On September 1, 2016, the network's intellectual property was moved under a Bell-owned Category A license, re-launching as Gusto in the channel space of Bell's former general entertainment and music channel M3. Knight retained international rights to the Gusto brand and would continue to produce new programming for the Bell-owned network. As part of a rebranding of several Bell Media-owned specialty channels, the channel rebranded as CTV Life Channel on September 12, 2019.
History
Under Knight Enterprises
In October 2010, Chris Knight was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to operate "MmmTV", described as "a national, English‑language Category 2 specialty programming service devoted to luxury, from vacations and leisure activities to home furnishings and fashion." In the summer and fall of 2013, several media outlets began reporting on aspects Gusto TV and its founder, Chris Knight, owner of Knight Enterprises. In several reports, it indicated the launch of the channel on December 11, 2013. This was confirmed, when on December 5, an official press release was issued by Knight Enterprises. On August 29, 2015, Gusto TV broadcast Live Feed; described by the network as an example of the slow television concept, the special consisted of live footage from the kitchen of the Beckta Dining and Wine Bar in Ottawa.
Under Bell Media
On May 4, 2016, Knight Enterprises announced that it had sold Canadian rights to the Gusto TV brand to Bell Media and that the current channel would be shut down and replaced by a new version of the service under Bell Media ownership. The brand's parent company, Gusto Worldwide Media, will license Gusto TV's current programming to Bell in addition to producing future series for the channel. GWM will continue to own international rights to the Gusto brand and announced plans to launch an internet television service under the brand in 2017. Gusto re-launched on September 1, 2016, replacing Bell Media's entertainment and music network M3 under its existing Category A license. On June 7, 2018, during the CTV upfronts, it was announced that Gusto would be re-branded as "CTV Life", as part of a re-branding of several Bell Media specialty channels under the CTV name. The following year, it was revealed the channel would rebrand as CTV Life Channel on September 12, 2019. Bell also announced an output deal with Mike Holmes and his studio, under which CTV Life Channel would air his future productions, and acquire reruns of his past series.
