The CRTC has okayed a Weather Network application to create a new Category 2 cable channel — to be known as the Environment Network — to air climate- and science-related documentaries, drama and comedy, including new series The Weather & You and Climates of the World and movies such as Twister.

‘We view this as a natural extension of what we do,’ says Pierre Morrissette, CEO of Oakville, ON-based Pelmorex Communications, which owns The Weather Network. ‘The categories that [the new channel] will cover are everything from global warming, climate change, droughts, floods, forest fires, earthquakes and tsunamis to water quality and quantity.’

Eight million Canadians watch TWN per week. Pelmorex also operates the French-language weather channel MétéoMédia, which currently boasts three million subscribers. Morrissette says a French equivalent of the Environment Network may be added in future. ‘Initially we’re starting with the launch of an English service, and we’ll see how that goes,’ he says.

He adds that it’s too early to even ballpark when his new channel will be up and running, ‘because there are still too many elements to get lined up.’

From Media in Canada