Stingray Classica (formerly Classica and Unitel Classica) is a television channel devoted to classical music, opera, ballet and jazz, currently owned by Stingray Group in Canada.
 | |
| Country | |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English French Dutch |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Stingray Group (since 2017) |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | 1995 |
| Replaced | Stingray Brava |
| Closed | 30 April 2021 (South Korea) |
| Replaced by | Orfeo (South Korea) |
| Former names |
|
| Links | |
| Website | classica |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Canal Digitaal Live App | Watch Live |
History
editClassica was owned by Unitel, a distributor of filmed classical music performances also headquartered in Germany. The channel revamped both its logo and programming on 28 May 2014.[1]
In January 2017, Stingray Group in Quebec, Canada, acquired Classica from Unitel: In the deal, Stingray would also be able to use Unitel's library of about 1500 titles and 2000 hours of filmed contents for 11 years, however this deal was terminated and therefore the channel does not feature any content from Unitel. Stingray plans to feature Canadian productions (from both Quebec and outside Quebec) on the channel.[2][3][4][5]
In late 2017, Stingray implemented a new branding and on-air look (similar to the one implemented to Stingray Brava in 2016) of newly renamed Stingray Classica to a version broadcast to Quebec, Canada. The new look was implemented to other versions of Classica operated by Stingray in 2018.
On 1 March 2019, Stingray abolished Stingray Brava brand in favour of Stingray Classica. The Dutch and French versions of Brava was rebranded as Classica, while the pan-European version of Brava was shut down and effectively replaced by that of Classica.
On 30 April 2021, Stingray Classica in South Korea was replaced by Orfeo.
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Logo of Unitel Classica until 2014 -
Logo of Classica from 2014-2018 -
Logo of Stingray Classica since Spring 2018 -
Alternative Logo of Stingray Classica since Spring 2018
Versions
editAs of 2019, Stingray operates a number of versions of Stingray Classica for following areas: Germany, Netherlands and Flanders, pan-Europe, pan-Asia, and Canada.
Germany
editA separate version is available to the customers of Sky in Germany.
Australia
editStingray Classica began streaming in Australia during 2022 via the 7 Network's 7 Plus free-to-air streaming portfolio of AV channels.
Netherlands and Flanders
editA Dutch version, available in the Netherlands and Flanders, was originally launched as Brava NL on 1 July 2009. Stingray acquired Brava (along with its sister channel Djazz TV) on 31 July 2015. On 1 December 2015, the Dutch version of Brava replaced Cultuur 7 in Belgium (which Stingray acquired earlier in October 2015) in its former channel slot. It was rebranded as Stingray Classica on 1 March 2019.
France
editA French feed was launched on 1 March 2019, replacing Stingray Brava.
Canada
editIn January 2017, Canada's CRTC approved Stingray's application for a version of Stingray Brava to be available in Canada as a non-Canadian television channel originating from the Netherlands.[6] The particular version was renamed as Stingray Classica in late 2017.[7][8][9] At launch in 2017, the channel was made available to subscribers of Vidéotron in both standard definition and high definition.[8][9] After Stingray and Bell Canada expanded television distribution deal in May 2018,[10] the channel (along with Stingray's other TV channels) was made available to Bell Fibe TV subscribers in August 2018.[11][12]
Other services
editStingray Classica On-Demand is available to Amazon Prime Video customers in Germany and the United Kingdom, and Amazon Channels customers in the United States.
Related channels
editAs of 2018, Stingray's acquisition of the channel does not affect the following channels yet:
- Classica HD, in Italy
- Classica Japan: Launched on 1 January 1998, the Japanese version of the channel is operated by Tohokushinsha Film Corporation under the license. It features programming from the German channel, along with Japanese productions.
See also
edit- Unitel GmbH & Co.KG
- Stingray Brava: a similar television channel, originated from the Netherlands, acquired by Stingray in 2015.
References
edit- ^ Robert Briel (22 May 2014). "Classica gets a make-over May 28". BroadbandTVNews.com.
- ^ "Stingray Digital to add Classica library of opera, ballet and classical music". The Canadian Press. January 3, 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Stingray et UNITEL concluent une entente de 15 millions $" [Stingray and Unitel conclude a $15 million agreement] (in French). Agence QMI. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via Le Journal de Montréal.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (4 January 2017). "Stingray buys music channel from Mojto firm". TBI Vision. KNect365 TMT, an Informa business. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ Veydarier, Arnaud G. (5 December 2017). "Stingray Classica: A New Start". The Music Scene. Translated by Rodriguez, Adrian. LSM. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "Addition of Stingray Brava to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution". 19 January 2017.
- ^ "Renaming of Stingray Brava as Stingray Classica on the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution". 31 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Premiering on Videotron: Stingray Classica the World's Premium Classical Music Television Channel" (Press release). Stingray Digital Group. October 4, 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018 – via Marketwired.
- ^ a b "Stingray Classica to premiere on Videotron". Cartt.ca. October 4, 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Stingray Renews and Expands Distribution Agreement with Bell" (Press release). Stingray Digital. 2018-05-29. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ "Eight New Stingray TV Channels Available to Bell Subscribers" (Press release). Stingray Digital. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ "Bell subscribers can groove to eight new Stingray TV channels". Cartt.ca. August 28, 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.