TORONTO – Bite TV, the TV channel that was one of the original brands of what is now Blue Ant Media, will be no more as of Monday when it completely alters course as Makeful.
The company describes Makeful as “a new lifestyle specialty channel celebrating the maker community and the creation of one-of-a-kind, handmade goods. Featuring passionate, entertaining makers who share their ideas and provide inspiration, Makeful’s programming combines food, design, style and DIY series. Makeful also unites craft-enthusiasts and provides opportunities to learn new skills through its digital and social platforms. BeMakeful.com”
“While the channel provided our loyal audience with smart, quirky and relevant programming, Blue Ant Media has made the decision to rebrand this property,” said company spokesperson Sarah Etherden in an email to Cartt.ca.
“We have identified an incredible opportunity to reach out to a unique audience with Makeful, a new multi-platform lifestyle brand that will feature the maker community and the creation of one-of-a-kind, handmade goods.”
(Ed note: Before anyone dismisses this out of hand, as I was tempted to do because this is not my thing, Pinterest reportedly has more than 50 million users. Craft enthusiasts are plentiful.)
“The rebrand of Bite TV to Makeful is just one part of what will be a multi-platform brand launch this fall. We have bigger plans for the brand that will include digital and social platforms, exclusive new programming and live events. We will unveil all of our plans for this new brand officially in the short term,” added Etherden
Bite TV began its life in 2005 (the same year as YouTube) as an interactive, quirky, edgy channel featuring short form videos and programs on gaming, animation, computers, comedy, and amateur videos mostly aimed at young males. It really pushed the envelope on TV and interactivity at launch. Many people didn’t know what to make of it, but it sure was different. Programmers interacted, on air, most often in a text flow along the bottom with viewers. It was kind of like a YouTube channel mashed up with Twitter (and keep in mind, this was before Twitter existed).
In 2010, however, then-owner Glassbox TV (which Blue Ant purchased from founder Jeffrey Elliott in 2011) received CRTC permission to alter the service so that it could air sitcoms and movies. By then, the interactivity was stripped out and the channel was refocused as a comedy channel. However, with Bell Media owning both Comedy Network and Comedy Gold, and with many over-the-top outlets competing for content and viewers, the independent broadcaster has decided it’s time for something new and as far as we know, there is no other TV channel aimed directly at “makers”.
As for programming on the new Makeful channel, here are some highlights:
Chefs 1 City: One legendary destination, three celebrated chefs and one insiders’ culinary tour of the world’s greatest food scenes.
Fix It & Finish It; Antonio Sabato Jr. and his fast-acting team surprise helpless homeowners with one-room, one-day transformations that you’ve got to see to believe.
Miguel’s Feasts: Loveable and cheeky chef Miguel Maestre hits the road in his adopted homeland of Australia to meet the people, learn their traditions and eat amazing local food.
