OTTAWA and TORONTO – Glassbox Television has received CRTC approval to buy digital specialty channel travel + escape from CTV for $10 million.
As part of the deal, the Commission accepted Glassbox’s proposed tangible benefits package totalling $1 million over seven years to be allocated as follows:
– $850,000 to a self-directed fund to be known as the Glassbox Travel Multiscreen Fund. This fund will finance travel-related audiovisual content development, from concept to screen, by travel writers and emerging producers;
– $150,000 for social benefit initiatives, allocated in the following manner:
• $50,000 to the National Screen Institute;
• $65,000 in scholarships for students in media training programs and awards to students at media-related events and festivals; and
• $35,000 to nextMEDIA Banff.
The independent broadcaster also owns the newly rebranded Bite TV and music service AUX. It originally announced plans to buy the category one travel and leisure service in June.
In other company news, GlassBox announced the expansion of its digital advertising offerings via a partnership with MTV Networks International. Glassbox will become the exclusive Canadian representative for the sites SPIKE.com, described as the premier online destination for men, targeting 18-34 year olds; VH1.com, which connects consumers to the music, artists, and pop culture that matter to them most; GAMETRAILERS.com, the leading International destination for the video game industry; ATOM.com, the digital comedy network serving an avid base of original comedy fans; TVLAND.com, dedicated to presenting the best in entertainment; and LOGOTV.com, the new destination for LGBT audiences, original series, films, news and more.
The new sites will complement the company’s current content and on-line brands bite.ca and AUX.tv which it says reaches “over 2 million unique Canadians per month, who are passionate about their content choices in music, comedy, games and more”.
"Canadians love these MTV Network properties. They represent some of the most engaging content on the web from the most popular entertainment brands,” said Simon Foster, VP of business development at Glassbox, in the announcement.
