Love Nature Explained

Love Nature
Picture Format:4K UHD
1080i (HDTV)
(downscaled to 576i/480i for the SDTV feed)
Owner:Blue Ant Media
Country:Canada
Headquarters:Toronto, Ontario
Former Names:Oasis HD

Oasis
Sister Channels:BBC Earth
BBC First
Cottage Life
Makeful
Smithsonian Channel
T+E

Love Nature is a Canadian specialty television channel owned by Blue Ant Media. Originally launched on March 12, 2006, the channel broadcasts documentaries and television series related to wildlife and nature.

Outside of Canada, international versions have been owned by Rock Entertainment Holdings and Smithsonian Networks.

History

In August 2005, John S. Panikkar (co-founder of the channel's original owner, High Fidelity HDTV), was granted a licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch OasisHD, described as "a national English-language Category 2 high definition specialty programming undertaking... featuring urban and wild landscapes by Canadian and international cinematographers."[1]

The channel launched in Canada on March 12, 2006, as Oasis HD,[2] focusing on wildlife and nature programming, similar to its current format.

On December 21, 2011, High Fidelity HDTV announced that it had entered into an agreement to be purchased outright by Blue Ant Media. While initially purchasing 29.9% of the company, the remaining 70.1% would be purchased once it is approved by the CRTC.[3] In the summer of 2014, the channel dropped the "HD" moniker and was re-branded as Oasis with a revised logo and new website.

On January 19, 2015, Oasis relaunched as Love Nature. As part of the relaunch, Blue Ant Media announced plans to produce 200 hours of nature programming per-year in 4K Ultra HD.[4]

International

Love Nature (International)
Owner:Rock Entertainment Holdings (Asia)
Smithsonian Networks (U.S)
Country:Worldwide
Area:United States
Argentina
Brazil
Macau
Chile
Mexico
Paraguay
Uruguay
Portugal
Spain
Germany
Sweden
Switzerland
Singapore
Malaysia
Indonesia
United Kingdom
Ireland
Turkey
India
Colombia
Tajikistan
Kenya
Sister Channels:ZooMoo
Rock Entertainment
Rock Extreme (Taiwan only)
Global Trekker
Golden Chinese Drama (Hong Kong only)
Smithsonian Channel
Makeful
Outdoor Channel
Rock Action
Terr Serv 1:Zuku TV (Kenya)
Terr Chan 1:Channel 410

On July 14, 2008, then owners High Fidelity HDTV, announced that it had reached an agreement with Cameron Thomson Group to distribute then Oasis HD, throughout Europe.[5] Although the channel did not launch internationally as planned.

On December 14, 2015, Blue Ant Media and Smithsonian Networks jointly announced that it was partnering in a new joint venture called Blue Skye Entertainment, with the new company focusing on developing and distributing 4K Ultra HD wildlife and nature programming globally via SVOD and linear television services under the Love Nature brand and Smithsonian Network's stand-alone streaming service, Smithsonian Earth.[6] The new company's first product launch came with the launch of the Love Nature SVOD streaming service, which launched in 32 countries at launch, in February 2016.[7]

The channel's first international linear television distribution agreement was signed with StarHub TV in Singapore in November 2016.[8]

The channel launched on Virgin Media on channels 293 and 294 in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 21 July 2018.

The channel launched on Ziggo on channel 205 in the Netherlands on 1 February 2019.[9]

The channel launched on MyTV SUPER on channels 402 and 403 in Hong Kong on 11 March 2019, available in HD and 4K formats.

The channel launched on Unifi TV on channel 502 in Malaysia and channel 746 in the United States on 15 January 2020, available in HD and 4K formats.

The channel launched on AIS Play on channel 505 in Thailand on 1 August 2020, available in HD and 4K formats.

The channel launched on SkyCable on Channel 192 in Philippines on March 28, 2022 available soon in HD format.

The channel launched on Astro in Malaysia on 15 January 2023, available in HD (Channel 558) and 4K (Channel 549). The HD Version later moved to channel 550 on 1 February 2023.

The channel launched on Amazon Freevee in the USA on 22 October 2022, included with an Amazon Prime Membership.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2005/db2005-363.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-363
  2. http://bce.ca/en/news/releases/bev/2006/03/13/73411.html Bell ExpressVu Invites Canadians to Explore New High Definition Oasis and Visual Treasures
  3. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/899171/blue-ant-media-enters-agreement-to-acquire-high-fidelity-hdtv Blue Ant Media Enters Agreement to Acquire High Fidelity HDTV
  4. Web site: Blue Ant rebrands Oasis as Love Nature. Cartt.ca. 22 January 2015.
  5. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20080714/hdtv.html HDTV aims for Europe
  6. Web site: BLUE ANT MEDIA AND SMITHSONIAN NETWORKS LAUNCH JOINT VENTURE BLUE SKYE ENTERTAINMENT . Blue Ant Media . 2017-01-22 . 2017-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170715150751/http://blueantmedia.ca/2015/12/blue-ant-media-and-smithsonian-networks-launch-joint-venture-blue-skye-entertainment/ . dead .
  7. Web site: Love Nature, a New 4K (Ultra-HD) Wildlife and Nature Video Streaming Service, Launches in 32 Countries Worldwide . www.businesswire.com . en . 22 February 2016.
  8. Web site: Love Nature lands on Singapore's StarHub . 30 March 2019.
  9. Web site: Ziggo voegt nieuwe zender toe. TotaalTV.nl. Jarco Kriek. 31 January 2019. nl.