| DTour | |
| Headquarters: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Picture Format: | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Owner: | Canwest (1997–2010) Shaw Media (2010–2016) Corus Entertainment (2016–present) |
| Parent: | TVTropolis G.P. |
| Country: | Canada |
| Area: | Nationwide |
| Former Names: | Prime (1997–2006) TVTropolis (2006–2013) |
| Sister Channels: | HGTV Food Network OWN W Network Slice National Geographic Nat Geo Wild Magnolia Network Cooking Channel History Showcase |
DTour (styled as DTOUR) is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by TVTropolis G.P., a subsidiary of 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.
Adopting its current branding in 2013, DTour largely draws its acquired programming from the U.S.-based Travel Channel, while also airing limited general-interest programing.
The channel was launched as Prime on October 17, 1997, under the ownership of Canwest. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) licensed Prime in 1996[1] 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.
With the launch of sibling channel DejaView in 2001, (showing similar programming to Prime, that being classic television programs from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s), the channel's focus shifted to shows from the late 1980s and beyond.
On June 1, 2006, Prime was rebranded as TVTropolis,[2] which initially focused on sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s and 1990s (such as Seinfeld and Beverly Hills 90210, branded under the slogan Hit TV Lives Here). Additional series focused on television pop culture (such as Inside the Box and FANatical).[2] Over time, the channel lessened its emphasis on scripted shows and reverted to a general entertainment format; focusing on reality series, game shows (including original series Wipeout Canada), and lifestyle series with little emphasis on pop culture.
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.[3] 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%.[4]
On June 5, 2013, at its annual upfront, Shaw conspicuously removed any reference to TVtropolis in announcing its fall programming plans, while announcing a "new" lifestyle channel named DTour (stylized as DTOUR).[5] It was later confirmed through a Telus update to subscribers that DTour would be launched as a rebranded TVtropolis on August 26, 2013.[6] The relaunch of the channel 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, DejaView would begin airing some of the 1990s vintage series that had aired on TVtropolis.
DTour's initial lineup featured programming from Travel Channel in the U.S. (including Adam Richman's Fandemonium, Hotel Impossible and Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern).[5] [7] Travel Channel was owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, which at the time jointly owned the Canadian versions of Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network with Shaw. DTour was not explicitly marketed as a "travel" service, as it would have conflicted with rival service Travel + Escape (now T+E); which had sole use of the travel niche at the time under the CRTC's channel categorization rules. Those rules have since been revoked, with T+E subsequently abandoning the travel genre in favor of paranormal programming.
On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment.[8]
DTour currently airs a mix of travel, lifestyle, and paranormal programming; much of which is sourced from the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Travel Channel and Destination America channels in the U.S..[9] [10] As Prime and TVTropolis, the channel has aired vintage and classic television shows, animated series, reality series, game shows, and other general entertainment programming.