Bell Brings USA Network, Oxygen True Crime to Canada, Rebrands Others

Bell Media announced a major content deal with NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution on Thursday, and will bring USA Network and Oxygen True Crime to Canadian audiences for the first time.

Starting on January 1, 2025, Bell Media will also bring rebranding as part of a larger overhaul that will see five channels updated and new programming added to the company’s TV lineup.

Discovery Channel will rebrand as USA Network, featuring hit series like Suits and The Traitors, along with new shows such as Debriefing the President. Investigation Discovery (ID) will become Oxygen True Crime, offering popular true crime series like Snapped, Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, and Canadian originals such as Fear Thy Neighbour.

Bell Media is also shaking up three additional specialty channels:

• Animal Planet becomes CTV Wild, featuring shows like Yellowstone Wardens and Pets & Pickers.
• Discovery Science rebrands as CTV Nature, focusing on science, history, and nature with titles like Disasters at Sea and BattleBots.
• Discovery Velocity transforms into CTV Speed, maintaining its focus on cars and adventure with series like Heavy Rescue 401 and Bush Wreck Rescue.

“Our newly rebranded suite of specialty channels is bolder, bigger, and better than ever, offering a compelling mix of popular cable hits and fan-favourite Canadian originals,” said Stewart Johnston, SVP Content and Sales, Bell Media, in a statement. “Anchored by the introduction of two top-tier entertainment brands, USA Network and Oxygen True Crime, Bell Media continues to deliver the sought-after content Canadians are looking for.”

All five revamped channels will be available across Bell Media platforms, including TV, CTV.ca, the CTV app, while Crave will stream new shows from USA Network and Oxygen True Crime.

Bell recently launched a lawsuit against Rogers to block the latter from its deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, but later dropped the suit.