Canada’s first gay specialty channels, OUTtv and the newly rebranded and interactive HARDtv, are expanding their reach into Quebec’s digital TV markets. The channels will become part of the Quebecor-owned Videotron’s Illico Digital TV as part of two packages that allow viewers to choose 30 channels for $30.

OUTtv, a gay lifestyle and general-interest channel that owns and operates the adults-only gay channel HARDtv, currently has moe than 300,000 subscribers across Canada. Videotron’s Illico Digital TV has nearly 600,000 subscribers.

In Quebec, both channels are currently available in Grand Montreal, Sorel, Gatineau, Rockland, Riviere-du-Loup, Saguenay, St-Felicien, Mont-Laurier, and Maniwaki, to name a few. The expansion will extend the channels’ reach to Quebec North and St-Siméon. Both channels will mark the Feb. 28 expansion date with strategies aimed at drawing in new viewers. OUTtv will hit the new markets with a free three-month preview, while HARDtv will cut its price.

HARDtv, formerly Hard On Pridevision, rebranded and relaunched this month. The channel is also launching an interactive show it claims will be the first of its kind that allows viewers to interact with the live TV show via the Internet. Boyscondo TV Live, an adult male voyeur show, launches March 1 and will air Thursdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST/PST. Viewers will be able to interact live via the Internet with models in a studio on screen, while watching live on TV as the models interact with the viewers. Service prices for HARDtv range from $9.99 to $11.95, depending on the provider, which is half the price of the competition.

OUTtv is currently owned by Vancouver-based prodco Shavick Entertainment (52%), Toronto’s Pink Triangle Press (23%), Toronto-based prodco Peace Point Entertainment Group (15%) and Score Media Group (10%).

A version of this story appeared in Media in Canada