 AMI-tv logo | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Accessible Media |
| Sister channels | AMI-audio AMI-télé |
| History | |
| Launched | January 29, 2009, 15 years ago |
| Former names | The Accessible Channel (2009–2012) |
| Links | |
| Website | AMI-tv |
AMI-tv is a Canadian, English-language, digital cable specialty channel owned by the non-profit organization Accessible Media. AMI-tv broadcasts a selection of general entertainment programming with accommodations for those who are visually or hearing impaired, with audio descriptions on the primary audio track and closed captioning available across all programming.
It was launched on January 29, 2009 by a consortium of Canwest, Accessible Media and Bell Media. Later on, Shaw Media acquired Canwest's shares of AMI-tv in 2010 while the latter acquired Bell's shares in 2011 when Bell Canada gained 100% control of its channels. Accessible Media became the sole owner of AMI-tv in 2016 following Corus Entertainment's acquisition of Shaw Media. From that point on, AMI-tv airs some its selected original programming alongside imported programming from other properties.
Along with acquired content, AMI-tv also broadcasts original series on accessibility- and disability-related topics, and has occasionally broadcast simulcasts of news and sporting events in its open described video format.
AMI-tv is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a discretionary "must-carry" service; it must be carried on the lowest level of service by all licensed digital cable, satellite television, and IPTV providers in Canada. On December 16, 2014, AMI launched a French-language version of the network, AMI-télé, under a second Category A licence.