Ottawa-based production company Knight Enterprises is expanding into broadcasting with a new TV channel focused on luxury living.

On Tuesday, the CRTC approved the application for Mmm.tv, a national, English-language Category 2 specialty channel.

Chris Knight, the founder and president of Knight Enterprises, tells MiC the new channel is the first of three he plans to launch in the next five years.

The channel’s call letters, Mmm.tv, will also be the channel’s website URL. Knight says online will be a focus for the new property.

‘We’re very dedicated not only to our linear concept but also broadband and video on demand,’ he says. ‘We’re going to play robustly in all three fields.’

Knight is now negotiating carriage and figuring out the programming while aiming for a launch date in May – a target he admits is optimistic.

Tight-lipped on his launch strategy, Knight shared some programming details with MiC, including the debut of a 90-minute, live morning show, and a strong emphasis on food, travel and family-themed shows. This, he says, fits nicely with programming such as This Food, That Wine that Knight Enterprises already produces for broadcast in 98 countries.

The new station will also bring lifestyle programming from around the world that Canadians otherwise don’t have a chance to see, and will rely on co-productions with other countries.

As for why Knight decided to grow from production into broadcasting, he says, ‘I’ve been in television for 15 years, and I’ve produced hundreds of hours of programming, and I think the future is in aggregating content.’