Unis (TV channel)

Unis is a Canadian French language specialty channel. The channel broadcasts general entertainment programming, with a particular focus on highlighting francophone communities outside Quebec.

The channel shares a broadcasting licence with its sister channel, TV5 Québec Canada (TV5), which focuses on international and Quebec francophone programming.

History
After the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) call for applications regarding services who wish to be regulated to be distributed on the basic package of all television service providers in Canada, TV5's application was made public in January 2013. Within this application, TV5 proposed an additional service, Unis, which would operate under TV5's existing broadcast licence as a secondary feed, and would "offer programming focused primarily on reflecting the diversity of the Canadian Francophonie," while TV5 would continue to focus on offering programming primarily reflecting the international Francophonie.

The application was approved on August 8, 2013.

The channel launched on September 1, 2014.

Programming
Programmes airing on the channel include Couleurs locales, a cultural newsmagazine series; Balade à Toronto, a music series showcasing live performances by francophone artists; Vu de l’intérieur, a documentary series on homes and interior design; J’habite ici, a documentary series showcasing towns and cities through the eyes of local francophone residents; Qu’est-ce qu’on sauve?, a series profiling people committed to protecting animals or safeguarding historical buildings in Ontario; Ma caravane au Canada; Canada plus grand que nature; 5e élément and Pense vite!.

In 2015, the channel announced that it had commissioned its first original dramatic series, St. Nickel. The series, filmed in Sudbury, Ontario by Carte Blanche Films, debuted on Unis in 2016.