The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2019. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.
Events Date Event SourceMarch 1Bell Media rebrands The Movie Network Encore as Starz.March 9Much discontinues the daytime Playlist block of music videos, citing decreased viewership and interest. It was replaced by repeats of Comedy Now! and Just for Laughs: Gags during the morning hours. The Much Retro Lunch block remained the only regularly-scheduled music-video programming on the channel, until its discontinuation in March 2020.April 1Action was replaced by a full-time Canadian version of Adult Swim, which replaced both the original Adult Swim programming block and Teletoon at Night, which closed on March 4 and April 1, respectively.April 10Quebecor removes the TVA Sports channels from Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV due to a carriage dispute despite being warned not to do so by the CRTC. An injunction by the Quebec Superior Court forces Quebecor to restore access to the channels two days later.June 13Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, in which the Toronto Raptors won their first-ever NBA championship title, is watched by an overall audience of 7.7 million Canadians across all television channels that were broadcasting the game in Canada. An estimated 15.9 million viewers are estimated to have watched at least some portion of the game, with 9.9 million viewers watching the final minute.July 19Nelvana Limited, the Toronto-based television production and distribution arm of Corus Entertainment, files a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging that Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Treehouse Dispensary "wilfully copied and is using a confusing similar imitation" of the logo it has used since the November 1, 1997 launch of its children's specialty channel, Treehouse (which has been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its Treehouse Direct VOD service since November 2007). Nelvana stated that the statewide medical marijuana dispensary chain promised to stop using the logo, but did not provide a timeline nor did it follow through in a timely manner on its agreement to change the logo (although it had commissioned a new logo released on its social media accounts in May). Nelvana is seeking a declaratory judgment affirming that the trademarked logo was infringed upon and engaged in unfair competition and false advertising, financial damages (including any profits the dispensaries made while using and promoting the logo) and the seizure, delivery and destruction of any cannabis or cannabis-derived products that violate its trademark.August 27Vidéotron launches the Helix IPTV service, using the Xfinity X1 platform.September 12Bell Media rebrands The Comedy Network, Space, the original Bravo and Gusto, respectively as CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Sci-Fi Channel, CTV Drama Channel and CTV Life Channel, aligning them with the branding of the CTV Television Network.November 9After 39 years, Don Cherry appears for the last time on Hockey Night in Canada, and is later fired from Sportsnet on November 11, after receiving backlash from viewers and social media when he singled out Toronto-area immigrants for not wearing poppies during a tribute to Canada's war veterans during his Coach's Corner segment. The actions are also condemned by the NHL, Hockey Canada, sponsor Labatt (the licensee for Budweiser), and the CBC (which co-produces the program in conjunction with Sportsnet under a deal that runs through 2026).
Television programs
Programs debuting in 2019 Series currently listed here have been announced by their respective networks as scheduled to premiere in 2019. Note that shows may be delayed or cancelled by the network between now and their scheduled air dates.
Start date Show Channel SourceJanuaryHolly HobbieFamily ChannelJanuary 7CoronerCBCJanuary 9UnspeakableCBCJanuary 10CavendishCBCFebruary 25Passe-PartoutTélé-QuébecMarch 1Northern RescueCBCMarch 4Street LegalCBC"'Street Legal' reboot among new shows in CBC's 2018/19 lineup". National Post, May 24, 2018.March 6DiggstownCBCMarch 15Under New ManagementCBCMarch 20JannCTVMarch 25Hudson & RexCitytvMarch 25The MurdersCitytvApril 19History ErasedHistoryGreg David, "Corus Entertainment 40 outstanding Canadian series for 2019-2020". TV, eh?, May 30, 2019.April 28Mary's Kitchen CrushCTVScott Campbell, "Mary’s Kitchen Crush starts to serve up tasty recipes on April 28". Inside Ottawa Valley, August 25, 2019.May 2The 410CBC GemVictoria Ahearn, "CBC Gem drama series ‘The 410’ dramatizes drug-smuggling case involving Indo-Canadian truck drivers". Toronto Star, May 1, 2019.May 24Big Food Bucket ListFood Network"John Catucci shares his Big Food Bucket List beginning May 24 on Food Network Canada". TV, eh?, April 24, 2019.June 17Fak YaassOutTV"Tecumseh-raised actor draws from personal life for TV show about being Greek and gay". Windsor Star, May 29, 2019.July 15Molly of DenaliCBCSeptember 7Agent Binky: Pets of the UniverseTreehouse TVSeptember 17TallBoyzCBCDecember 16Family Feud CanadaCBCDecember 31New EdenCraveTBABig BlueCBC"Upfronts ’18: CBC debuts 17 new series". Playback, May 24, 2018.TBADepartureGlobalTBAKingdom ForceCBCUnconfirmed datePrideOutTV
Programs ending in 2019
End date Show Channel Source September 20 Killjoys CTV Sci-Fi Channel November 24 Anne with an E CBC
Television films Date Film Channel SourceMarch 22To the WorldsCBCJohn Doyle, "A true, uplifting hour about unlikely skating champs". The Globe and Mail, January 17, 2019.March 22Village of the MissingCBCSelina Chignall, "CBC ‘Docs POV’ to investigate serial killer Bruce McArthur in “Village of the Missing”". RealScreen, Marcy 5, 2019.August 2Daughter of the WolfSeptemberClaws of the Red DragonNTD CanadaCraig Offman and Steven Chase, "Canadian film company alleges interference by Ottawa after CMF pulls funding on Huawei docudrama with ties to Stephen Bannon". The Globe and Mail, September 12, 2019.October 13La BohèmeCBC GemBrent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada, March 30, 2021.November 22The SanctuaryHollywood SuiteUnknown dateChristmas JarsCitytv
Networks and services Network conversions and rebrandings Old network name New network name Type Conversion date Notes TMN Encore Starz Cable/satellite March 1 Action Adult Swim (channel) April 1 The Comedy Network CTV Comedy ChannelSeptember 12 Space CTV Sci-Fi Channel Bravo (original) CTV Drama ChannelOriginal channel name and branding by Bell Media; a new Bravo channel from Rogers Sports & Media launched on September 1, 2024 under license from NBCUniversal, using the former channel allotments and license of OLN. Gusto CTV Life Channel
Network closures Network Type Closure date Notes Adult Swim (original programming block) March 4 Teletoon at Night April 1 Comedy Gold September 1 IFC September 30 Cosmopolitan TV fyi December 31
Notes
See also 2019 in Canada List of Canadian films of 2019 List of most watched Canadian television broadcasts of 2019
References
External links List of 2019 Canadian television series at IMDb