TORONTO – “Contemporary lifestyle network” FYI will take the place of Twist TV as of September 1st, Shaw Media confirmed today.
As we reported in June, the new channel is geared towards “reflecting how people actually live their lives today,” says the company’s press release this morning. “Adding FYI to our portfolio cements Shaw Media’s stronghold on female viewers, especially those captivated by contemporary lifestyle programming,” said Barbara Williams, senior vice president of content, Shaw Media. “With its non-prescriptive and social format, FYI brings viewers big personalities and buzzed about series, a perfect blend for exciting on-air entertainment and engaging online conversation.”
The new specialty channel (a branding partnership with A+E Networks, which launched the American channel in July) “offers an adventurous and personalized approach to peoples’ taste, space, look, story, and more. Its off-script format brings viewers a diverse mix of programs exploring lifestyle genres like design and romance, health and wellness, and food and fashion. The network embraces the way a new generation experiences their lives today, not defined by one passion or interest. Appealing to an upscale audience, FYI is creating inspired entertainment with a younger, more modern sensibility,” reads the release.
Anchoring the debut is the premiere of the food series Epic Meal Empire (pictured), featuring Canada’s own viral comedy troupe, Epic Meal Time (check out their YouTube channel for some pretty fun/weird/tasty antics. Mmmm… bacon… with over 600 million views and six million YouTube subscribers). Epic Meal Empire airs Mondays at 10pm/10:30pm ET/PT beginning September 1.
Other FYI features include B.O.R.N. To Style, Married at First Sight (it is what it sounds like…), The Feed, Red Hot Design, and Tiny House Nation. FYI’s full show schedule is coming soon and will be available at FYItv.ca.
As part of the network’s September 1 launch, the new lifestyle channel will be available on a Rogers free preview from September 1-30, 2014. Other BDU announcements will follow.
