View source for MSNBC Canada

{{Infobox television channel
| name = MSNBC Canada
| logo = MSNBC Canada.png
| logo_caption = '''MSNBC Canada logo'''
| logo_size = 150px
| launch_date = September 7, 2001
| closed_date = December 1, 2004
| replaced_by = [[MSNBC]]
| picture_format = 480i [[SDTV]]
| owner = [[Rogers Media]] (33.34%)<br>[[Shaw Communications]] (33.33%)<br>[[NBCUniversal]] (33.33%)
| country = Canada
| area = National
| headquarters = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
}}
'''MSNBC Canada''' was a [[Television in Canada|Canadian]] short-lived [[English language]] [[Category 2 specialty channel|category 2]] [[digital cable]] [[specialty channel]] owned and operated by [[Rogers Media]] in partnership with [[Shaw Communications]] and [[MSNBC]].

MSNBC Canada was a national news television service that consisted of programs featuring news headlines, breaking news coverage, analysis, and information; [[news magazines]], and documentaries. The channel shared its branding and the majority of its programming with its American counterpart, MSNBC. In addition to MSNBC programs such as ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews|Hardball]]'', ''[[MSNBC Documentaries|MSNBC Investigates]]'', and ''[[Imus in the Morning]]'',<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020407234442/http://msnbccanada.ca/programming.html Internet Archive of MSNBC Canada's website] retrieved on 2011-10-21</ref> the channel consisted of repeated programs from the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] and [[CPAC (TV channel)|CPAC]], as its way to fulfill its [[Canadian content]] requirements. The channel also occasionally aired [[informercials]].

==History==
In November 2000, Rogers Broadcasting Limited (on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated) (later incorporated as [[MSNBC]] Canada Corp. in partnership with Shaw and [[General Electric]], then-owner of [[MSNBC]]) was granted approval for a television broadcasting licence by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) called ''MSNBC Canada'', described as ''"a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service consisting of an innovative hybrid of Canadian and US breaking-news coverage, in-depth news analysis and long-form actuality programming."''<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2000/DB2000-650.htm Decision CRTC 2000-650] CRTC 2000-12-14</ref>

The channel was launched on September 7, 2001, as '''MSNBC Canada'''. However, after over two years on the air, the channel's owners announced its decision to shutter the service citing difficulties in operating a 24-hour breaking news service, which relied primarily on MSNBC programs, with then-current CRTC mandated [[Canadian content]] requirements, calling them ''"disruptive to subscribers and have proven to be financially burdensome beyond expectation"''.<ref name="Shutter network">[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2003/pb2003-67.htm Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2003-67] CRTC 2002-12-18</ref> MSNBC Canada owners wished to shutter the service and replace it with the American feed instead, a process that would require CRTC approval.<ref name="Shutter network"/> On December 18, 2003, a Rogers and Shaw application requesting MSNBC to be allowed to broadcast in Canada was made public<ref name="Shutter network"/> and was approved on September 16, 2004.<ref name="MSNBC US approval">[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2004/pb2004-71.htm Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-71] CRTC 2004-09-16</ref>

On December 1, 2004, MSNBC Canada was discontinued and replaced by the direct American feed, MSNBC.<ref>[http://www.channelcanada.com/Article751.html MSNBC now 100% American programming in Canada] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404074322/http://www.channelcanada.com/Article751.html |date=2012-04-04 }} Channel Canada 2005-02-02</ref> The MSNBC Canada licence was revoked at the request of its owners by the CRTC on December 2, 2005.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2005/db2005-571.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-571] CRTC 2005-12-05</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Television news in Canada}}
{{Shaw Communications}}
{{Rogers Communications}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Msnbc Canada}}
[[Category:Defunct specialty television channels in Canada]]
[[Category:MSNBC]]
[[Category:24-hour television news channels in Canada]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2004]]
[[Category:NBCUniversal networks]]