View source for DTour

{{more citations needed|date=June 2024}}
{{short description|Canadian English-language specialty channel}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = DTour
| logo = Dtour Logo.svg
| logo_caption = '''DTour logo'''
| launch_date = {{start date and age|October 17, 1997}}
| closed_date = 
| headquarters = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| picture_format = [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])<br>[[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])
| owner = [[Canwest]]<br>(1997–2010)<br>[[Shaw Media]]<br>(2010–2016)<br>[[Corus Entertainment]]<br>(2016–present)
| parent = TVTropolis G.P.
| country = Canada
| area = Nationwide
| former_names = Prime (1997–2006) <br>TVTropolis<br>(2006–2013)
| replaced = 
| sister_channels = [[Home Network]]<br>[[Flavour Network]]<br>[[W Network]]<br>[[Slice (TV channel)|Slice]]<br>[[National Geographic (Canadian TV channel)|National Geographic]]<br>[[National Geographic Wild (Canadian TV channel)|Nat Geo Wild]]<br>[[History (Canadian TV network)|History]]<br>[[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]]<br>[[Global Television Network|Global]]
| timeshift_service = 
| website = {{URL|www.dtourtv.com|DTour}}
}}

'''DTour''' (styled as '''DTOUR''') is a [[Television in Canada|Canadian]] [[English language]] [[Discretionary service|discretionary]] [[specialty channel]] owned by [[Corus Entertainment]].

The channel was originally established by [[Canwest]] in 1997 as '''Prime''', a cable companion to [[Global Television Network|Global]] with a general entertainment format focusing on classic series and programming acquired from Global and [[E! (Canadian TV system)|CH]]. In 2006, the channel was re-branded as '''TVTropolis''', carrying a similar format but with a focus on contemporary sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as pop culture-themed programs. 

Adopting its current branding in 2013, DTour largely drew its acquired programming from the U.S.-based [[Travel Channel]], while also airing limited general-interest programing. In March 2025, the channel dropped Travel Channel programming and quietly retreated to a focus on contemporary dramas and sitcoms. 

==History==
===As Prime and TVTropolis===
The channel was launched as '''Prime''' on October 17, 1997, under the ownership of [[Canwest]]. The [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) licensed Prime in 1996<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1996/DB96-604.HTM Decision CRTC 96-604] CRTC 1996-09-04</ref> as a specialty television service directed towards men and women 50 years of age and older. However, the channel did not explicitly market itself as a channel for the "[[baby boomer]]" generation, preferring instead to position itself as a general entertainment channel. Prime's slogan, on-air and in advertising, was "Canada's Entertainment Network".{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Prime's schedule featured a mix of general interest television programs, including home improvement and design series, along with classic television series.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

With the launch of sibling channel [[DejaView]] in 2001, (showing similar programming to Prime, that being classic television programs from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s), the channel's focus shifted to shows from the late 1980s and beyond.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

On June 1, 2006, Prime was rebranded as '''TVTropolis''',<ref name="Prime becomes TVtropolis">{{cite web|title=Prime to restyle as TVtropolis |publisher=MediaInCanada.com |url=http://ads.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20060504/tvtropolis.html |date=2006-05-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402092348/http://ads.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20060504/tvtropolis.html |archive-date=2012-04-02 }}</ref> which initially focused on sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s and 1990s (such as ''[[Seinfeld]]'' and ''[[Beverly Hills 90210]]'', branded under the slogan ''Hit TV Lives Here''). Additional series focused on television [[popular culture|pop culture]] (such as ''[[Inside the Box]]'' and ''[[FANatical]]'').<ref name="Prime becomes TVtropolis"/> Over time, the channel lessened its emphasis on scripted shows and reverted to a general entertainment format; focusing on reality series, game shows (including original series ''[[Wipeout Canada]]''), and lifestyle series with little emphasis on pop culture.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

On October 27, 2010, [[Shaw Communications]] purchased Canwest after it had entered into [[bankruptcy protection|creditor bankruptcy protection]] in late 2009. As a result, Shaw acquired control of Canwest's stake in TVtropolis and rebranded Canwest as [[Shaw Media]].<ref>[http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/headline_news/article.jsp?content=b4951353 Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media] {{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On January 14, 2013, Shaw announced that it would purchase the remaining interest in TVtropolis from [[Rogers Communications]] for [[Canadian dollar|$]]59 million, bringing its total to 100%.<ref>[http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/shaw-announces-agreement-with-rogers-for-purchase-and-sale-of-assets-tsx-sjr.b-1745530.htm Shaw Announces Agreement With Rogers for Purchase and Sale of Assets] Marketwire.com press release 2013-01-14</ref>

===As DTour===
On June 5, 2013, at its annual [[Upfront (advertising)|upfront]], Shaw conspicuously removed any reference to TVtropolis in announcing its fall programming plans, while announcing a "new" lifestyle channel named '''DTour''' (stylized as ''DTOUR'').<ref name="shaw-ads-dtour">[http://www.shawmedia.ca/advertising/television/BrandOverview.aspx?brandId=6442453177 DTOUR - Overview], Shaw Media. Retrieved 2013-08-14.</ref> It was later confirmed through a [[Telus Communications|Telus]] update to subscribers that DTour would be launched as a rebranded TVtropolis on August 26, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telus.com/content/help/customer-messages/article.jsp?categoryId=optiktv&articleId=TVtropolis-changes|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130815000810/http://www.telus.com/content/help/customer-messages/article.jsp?categoryId=optiktv&articleId=TVtropolis-changes|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 15, 2013|title=Channel changes|publisher=[[Telus Communications|Telus]]|date=2013-08-01|access-date=2013-08-14|quote=On Aug. 26, TVtropolis will be changing to DTOUR.}}</ref>

The channel initially focused on travel, leisure, and [[paranormal television|paranormal]] programming,<ref name=":0" /> much of which imported from the American cable network [[Travel Channel]] (then-owned by [[Scripps Networks Interactive]], which at the time jointly owned the Canadian versions of [[Flavour Network|Food Network]], [[Home Network|HGTV]] and [[Magnolia Network (Canadian TV channel)|DIY Network]] with Shaw).

On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to [[Corus Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corusent.com/news/corus-entertainment-completes-acquisition-shaw-media/|title=Corus Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Shaw Media|access-date=April 2, 2016|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610040835/http://www.corusent.com/news/corus-entertainment-completes-acquisition-shaw-media/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In March 2025, DTour quietly dropped [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]-owned factual programming and reverted back to a general entertainment format, focusing on contemporary dramas and sitcoms such as ''[[All American (TV series)|All American]]'' (whose first-run episodes moved from sister network [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]] to DTour), ''[[Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]]'', and ''[[Two and a Half Men]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hathout |first=Ahmad |date=2025-03-03 |title=Corus’s DTOUR relaunches with a focus on drama and weekend comedies |url=https://cartt.ca/coruss-dtour-relaunches-with-a-focus-on-drama-and-weekend-comedies/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Cartt.ca |language=en-CA}}</ref> Later that year in June, DTour was added to Corus' [[StackTV]] streaming service.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuC9ITk7sqA |title=DTOUR Canada - StackTV Bumper |date=2025-07-02 |last=canadian tv archiver HD |access-date=2025-07-03 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Programming==
{{further|List of programs broadcast by DTour}}
DTour currently airs a mix of [[Drama (film and television)|dramas]] and [[Sitcom|sitcoms]] from the 2010s and late-2000s, including library programs previously aired by [[Global Television Network|Global]] and [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]]. As Prime and TVTropolis, the channel has aired vintage and classic television shows, animated series, reality series, game shows, and other general entertainment programming.

==Logos==
<gallery>
File:Primetv.svg|Logo as Prime (1997–2006)
File:TV Tropolis Logo.svg|First logo as TVtropolis (2006–2013)
File:Tvtropolis logo.svg|Second logo as TVtropolis (2008–2013, only used on commercials)
File:Dtour Logo.svg|Logo as DTour (2013–present)
</gallery>

==See also==
*''[[Wipeout Canada]]''
*[[DejaView]]
*[[MovieTime]]
*[[Global Television Network|Global]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.dtourtv.com}}

{{Corus Entertainment}}

[[Category:Specialty television channels in Canada]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Corus Entertainment networks]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in Canada]]