MEGA Cosmos (Canada)
MEGA Cosmos is a Canadian exempt Category B Greek language specialty channel owned by Odyssey Television Network.
![]() MEGA Cosmos logo | |
Country | Canada |
---|---|
Broadcast area | National |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
Programming | |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Odyssey Television Network |
Sister channels | ERT World Odyssey |
History | |
Launched | 28 June 2012 |
Links | |
Website | MEGA Cosmos Canada |
MEGA Cosmos broadcasts programming primarily from the library of the homonymous pan-hellenic channel. Programming includes news, television dramas, game shows and more.
History
On 12 August 2011, Greek National Television Network (Canada) Ltd., a subsidiary of Odyssey Television Network, was granted approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a television channel called OTN 3, described as "a national, general interest, third-language, ethnic speciality Category B service devoted to the Greek-speaking community in Canada."[1]
Previous to OTN 3 launching, the MEGA Cosmos brand existed in Canada from 2007 to June 2012 through Ethnic Channels Group, who owned the channel and licensed its name and programming from MEGA Cosmos' parent owners in Greece. In June 2012, the channel was shut down.
In June 2012, Odyssey Television Network acquired the rights to MEGA Cosmos programming and subsequently launched their own version of MEGA Cosmos Canada on 28 June 2012 using the OTN 3 licence. Odyssey Television Network television owned much of the MEGA Cosmos programming rights in Canada from 2001 to 2003, when it was aired on the then-named Odyssey II channel. Programming was lost in 2003, subsequently, the channel was then renamed ERT Sat (now known as ERT World) as Odyssey reached a programming and licensing deal with ERT Sat's Greek parent owners.
On September 14, 2018, the CRTC approved Odyssey Television Network's request to convert MEGA Cosmos (OTN3) from a licensed Category B speciality service to an exempted Cat. B third language service.[2]
References
- Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-487 CRTC 2011-08-11
- ERT World – Revocation of licence