The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2015. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.
Events
Notable events January Date Event8Global News suspends Leslie Roberts, the anchor and executive editor of its local newscasts on flagship station CIII-DT, after a Toronto Star investigation reveals that he is also a silent partner in a public relations firm which was regularly placing its clients on his own programs."Global TV anchor Leslie Roberts suspended". Toronto Star, January 8, 2015.26CTV suspends all scheduled broadcasts of the new season of its sitcom Spun Out, after cast member J. P. Manoux is arrested on charges of voyeurism."How J.P. Manoux’s arrest put Spun Out behind bars: Menon". Toronto Star, January 29, 2015.
February Date Event13The Quebecor Media-owned news channel Sun News Network ceases broadcasting.
March Date Event1The 3rd Canadian Screen Awards airs on CBC."Canadian Screen Awards Unveil Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter, January 13, 2015.
April Date Event12Kevin Bazinet wins the third season of La Voix.I16Broadcaster Corus Entertainment announced that it had reached an agreement with the Disney–ABC Television Group to acquire long-term, Canadian multi-platform rights to distribute Disney Channel's programming library and associated brands. As a result, Canadian versions of Disney Channel in English and French would launch on September 1, 2015.
May Date Event12Sarah Hanlon wins season 3 of Big Brother Canada.20Corus Entertainment announces that its three CBC Television affiliate stations in Ontario — CHEX-DT in Peterborough, CHEX-TV-2 in Oshawa and CKWS-DT in Kingston — will switch their affiliation to CTV effective August 31. Legally, the affiliation deal is described by Corus as a "program supply agreement" (the term "affiliation" has specific legal implications under CRTC rules), as Corus maintains editorial control over the stations' programming and the ability to sell local advertising, and is not delegating responsibility for CTV programs aired by the stations to Bell Media, CTV's parent company."Local TV landscape changes as CHEX strikes deal with CTV" . Peterborough Examiner, May 20, 2015.
June Date Event1After 15 years, Cogeco officially signs Bpm:tv off the air.Cogeco announces bpm:tv's shutdown9The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation fires Evan Solomon, the host of Power & Politics on CBC News Network and The House on CBC Radio One, after the Toronto Star publishes conflict of interest allegations that Solomon was using his journalistic connections for personal benefit by running a private art sales brokerage business for clients including past interview guests on his CBC shows.
December Date Event11CHCH-DT announces that due to the bankruptcy of its production entity, Channel 11 L.P., created by Channel Zero, which in turned stemmed from the loss of federal subsidy and an inability to draw "national advertising revenue" to a local station, the station's news department would experience major cutbacks; the station's daytime rolling news blocks and all weekend newscasts were immediately canceled. The station's morning newscast (Morning Live) and its 6:00 and 11:00 evening newscasts will continue."CHCH TV suspends newscasts as company declares bankruptcy". Hamilton Spectator, December 11, 2015.
Television programs
Programs debuting in 2015 Start date Show Channel SourceJanuary 3Guilt Free ZoneAPTNGreg David, "APTN’s Guilt Free Zone returns for raucous laughs and rockin’ talent". TV, eh?, May 22, 2018.January 7The Book of NegroesCBC Television"Book of Negroes debuts Jan. 7 on CBC". Halifax Chronicle-Herald, November 27, 2014.January 9Sports on FireHBO CanadaJanuary 8The ExpandablesHGTV"HGTV’s ‘The Expandables’ helps create space for cramped homeowners". Global News, January 9, 2015.SunnysideCity"Sunnyside a surreal new Canadian sketch-com awash in ponies" . canada.com, January 7, 2015.January 13Schitt's CreekCBC Television"How Eugene Levy convinced CBC to name his show ‘Schitt’s Creek’". Toronto Star, January 12, 2015.January 21Young Drunk PunkCityCBC Television"Calgary-shot Young Drunk Punk to get second run on CBC this fall in innovative deal between networks". Calgary Herald, January 9, 2015.February 2Songs of FreedomVision TVFebruary 18X CompanyCBCMarch 17Game of HomesW"Cameron Mathison Talks 'Game Of Homes' Anticipation". ET Canada, March 12, 2015.May 4Game OnYTV"It's Game On for Daily Show's Samantha Bee". Toronto Star, April 29, 2015.May 12Masters of FlipWMay 21BetweenCityJune 23Fool CanadaCBC TelevisionStill StandingAugust 31Chef in Your EarThe Food Network"Food Network to Launch Canadian Original Series" . Broadcaster, July 31, 2015.September 1First Dates CanadaSlice"Shaw Media Begins Production on New Documentary Series to Appear on Slice". Broadcaster, January 12, 2015.October 2Crash GalleryCBC Television"CBC-TV Unveils Fall Schedule" . Broadcaster, September 16, 2015.October 4ExhibitionistsKeeping Canada AliveOctober 5This LifeOctober 14The Romeo SectionNovember 6Interrupt This ProgramNovember 8Blood and WaterOMNIDate unknownLe nouveau showARTV, Ici Radio-Canada Télé
Changes of network affiliation Show Moved from Moved to Fugget About It Teletoon at Night Adult Swim
Programs ending in 2015 End date Show Channel First aired Status Source January 29 Detentionaire Teletoon 2011 Ended May 25 Grojband 2013 Canceled July 11 Packages from Planet X 2014 July 16 Steven and Chris CBC 2008"Chris Hyndman death prompts end of Steven and Chris show". CBC News, August 21, 2015.Christopher Hyndman, co-host of CBC's Steven and Chris, dead. CBC News, August 4, 2015. July 29 Rookie Blue Global Television Network 2010 Ended
Television stations Stations changing network affiliation Date Market Station Channel Prior affiliation New affiliation Source August 31 Peterborough, Ontario CHEX-DT 12.1 CBC CTV, Global (secondary) Kingston, Ontario CKWS-DT 11.1 Oshawa, Ontario CHEX-TV-2 22 (analog)
Network conversions and rebrandings Old network name New network name Type Conversion date Notes Bite Makeful August 24 Teletoon Retro Cartoon Network and Disney Channel September 1 Disney Junior Family Jr. September 18DHX Media was acquiring the Disney rights to Corus Entertainment. Disney XD CHRGD October 9
Deaths
Date Name Age Notability SourceJanuary 17Don Harron90Canadian actor, writer, and radio personality, best known for appearances as Charlie Farquharson on Hee Haw and other programs.Obituary for Don Harron from the Globe and Mail, 1/17/2015April 15Jonathan Crombie48Best known as Gilbert Blythe in the Anne of Green Gables television movies."Jonathan Crombie, Anne of Green Gables actor, dead at 48". CBC News, April 18, 2015.April 23Lois Lilienstein78Musical performer who starred on The Elephant Show and Skinnamarink TV as a member of children's trio Sharon, Lois & Bram.August 4Chris Hyndman49Interior designer, talk show host (Designer Guys, Steven and Chris)November 20Jim Perry82American-born game show host (Canadian shows included Definition, Headline Hunters, Miss Canada pageant)
See also 2015 in Canada List of Canadian films of 2015
References
External links List of 2015 Canadian television series at IMDb