ESPN Classic (Canadian TV channel)


ESPN Classic is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by CTV Speciality Television Inc. and ESPN. ESPN Classic broadcasts a range of archive sports coverage, talk shows, documentaries and films.

History

ESPN Classic was licensed as Classic Sports in November 2000 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and was launched on September 7, 2001 as ESPN Classic Canada. A few years after its launch, "Canada" was dropped from its name and logo to "ESPN Classic". ESPN Classic is the only ESPN-branded channel broadcasting in Canada, although in addition to owning a stake in the Canadian version of ESPN Classic, ESPN is part-owner of TSN, along with Bell Media.

Programming

The channel's programming consists primarily of archived sporting events associated with TSN-owned event rights, including hockey, the CFL and NFL, basketball, and curling, as well as SportsCentre-branded highlights compilations and countdowns originating from the main TSN network.