DTour is a Canadian English languageCategory Acable and satellite televisionspecialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel was originally established by Canwest in 1997 as Prime, a cable companion to Global with a general entertainment format focusing on classic series and programming acquired from Global and CH. In 2006, the channel was re-branded as TVTropolis, carrying a similar format but with a focus on contemporary sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s and 90's, as well as pop culture-themed programs. In 2013, the channel was re-launched as DTour, which largely draws from the U.S. cable networkTravel Channel, as well as other co-owned sister networks.
History
The channel was launched as Prime on October 17, 1997 under the ownership of Canwest. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission licensed Prime in 1996 as a specialty television service directed towards men and women 50 years of age and older. However, the channel did not explicitly market itself as a channel for the "baby boomer" generation, preferring instead to position itself as a general entertainment channel. Prime's slogan, on-air and in advertising, was "Canada's Entertainment Network". Prime's schedule featured a mix of general interest television programs, including home improvement and design series, along with classic television series such as The Golden Girls, M*A*S*H, All in the Family, The Cosby Show and Newhart. It also hosted repeat showings of several series from sister broadcast networks Global and CH, including The Apprentice, The Restaurant, Bob and Margaret, The Price Is Right, Entertainment Tonight Canada and '. With the launch of the cable channelDejaView in 2001, showing similar programming to Prime, the channel's focus shifted to shows from the late 1980s and beyond. On June 1, 2006, Prime was renamed TVTropolis''', which initially primarily focused on sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s and 1990s, with additional television series focused on television pop culture. Over time, the channel lessened its emphasis on sitcoms and dramas, focusing on other programs such as reality series, game shows and lifestyle series, with little emphasis on theme of television pop culture, rather focusing on general entertainment.
2010-present
On October 27, 2010, Shaw Communications purchased Canwest after it had entered into creditor bankruptcy protection in late 2009. As a result, Shaw acquired control of Canwest's stake in TVtropolis and rebranded Canwest as Shaw Media. On January 14, 2013, Shaw announced that it would purchase the remaining interest in TVtropolis from Rogers Communications for $59 million, bringing its total to 100%. On June 5, 2013, at its annual upfront, Shaw conspicuously omitted any reference to TVtropolis in announcing its fall programming plans, while announcing a "new" lifestyle channel named DTour. It was later confirmed through a Telus update to subscribers that DTour would be launched as a rebranded TVtropolis on August 26, 2013. The relaunch of the channel as DTour occurred that day at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time; a high definition feed of DTour was introduced on Shaw Cable on September 5, 2013. Following the rebrand, sister channel DejaView added some of the 1990s vintage series that had aired in repeats on TVtropolis, including Everybody Loves Raymond. DTour largely features programming from Travel Channel in the U.S.. Incidentally, Travel Channel was at that point controlled by Scripps Networks Interactive, which was already partnering with Shaw on Canadian versions of Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network. However, DTour was not explicitly marketed as a "travel" service, as it would have conflicted with Travel + Escape which had sole use of the travel niche at the time under the CRTC's channel categorization rules. On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment.
Programming
DTour's lineup consists primarily of travel-oriented shows, many of which are sourced from Travel Channel. As TVTropolis, it aired programming ranging from 1980s and 1990s sitcoms, animated series, reality series, game shows, and other general entertainment programming. In marketing material, it was described as a channel focusing on "hit" television series and celebrities that "have defined pop culture".
Logos
Prime did not use the crescent device, typical of many Canwest Global channels, until later in 1998. Its first logo was the word PRIME in Microgramma font and instead of "Canada's Entertainment Network" used the slogan "Canada's Superstation".
