Shaw Multicultural Channel (or simply Shaw Multicultural) was a Canadian ethnic cable televisioncommunity channel, offering programming in 20 different languages. It is owned and operated by Shaw Communications, and is available on cable systems in Vancouver and Calgary regional markets. The channel operates on cable channel 4 in the Greater Vancouver region, on cable channel 10 in the Calgary Region and on Shaw BlueCurve TV channel 901 in those regions.
The channel was launched in 1979 as Rogers Multicultural Channel,[1] under the ownership of Rogers Communications, and was available only in the Vancouver market on Rogers Cable. Shaw took over ownership and renamed the channel in 2000 following an asset swap with Rogers, which also saw Shaw become the primary cable television service provider in British Columbia.[2] Service was subsequently extended to the Calgary market. From 2012 to 2016, it broadcast a Mandarin edition of Global National for the channel.[3]
Despite the sale of Shaw Media and the Global Television Network to Corus Entertainment in 2016, the channel remains owned by Shaw. The channel supports the work of local ethnic television producers and also covers and promotes cultural events in both Metro Vancouver and Calgary.
In September 2024, Shaw announced the closure of the channel for September 15, 2024. Some of its programmes moved to its sister outlets of the over-the-air Omni Television network, CJCO-DT and CHNM-DT.[4]
Programming Languages
At closing time, it broadcast local programmes catering individual communities, as well as news programmes from New Tang Dynasty Television and the Big Bad Boo series 16 Hudson and 1001 Nights.[5] The channel aired content in eighteen languages:
In the past, the channel also aired programmes in Serbian, Romanian, Polish, Russian, Kurdish, Dari, Pashto, Japanese and Slovak, with more programmes sourced from other broadcasters. In 2007, the channel carried NHK News 7, KBS News 9, CTI News (Midday and Primetime), TV Patrol World and Wiadomości, South Asian feature films (in Hindi and Punjabi), the Korean show Music Bank and a pre-packaged programme assembled by Markíza, featuring highlights of its entertainment productions, Najlepšie z Markízy.[6]