Anime lovers in central Canada have gotten a bit of good news this week, and it involves the expansion of anime broadcasting.

On Tuesday, Cogeco Cable Inc. announced the launch of the Super Channel package (from Allarco Entertainment) in its Ontario locations. What will be of special interest to anime fans is the news that the Standard Definition (SD) channel 2 will be for "alternative" programming. As well as the more supposedly "male-oriented" programs (action, horror, sci-fi, extreme sports), the channel will carry several anime shows. The series currently being run are programs licensed by Manga Entertainment (Noein, Tokko, Tactics and Street Fighter II V).

Cogeco Cable, the second largest cable operator in Ontario, is offering a free trial of the entire Super Channel package to all its "Digital Select" subscribers in that province until February 29. So if your area is served by Cogeco, be sure to have a peek, on channel 191.

Bell’s digital ExpressVu service also carries the complete Super Channel package, on its channel 327. And Rogers Cable, while not running all of the Super Channels, does carry the "alternative" SD 2 with anime programming, both in Ontario and New Brunswick. (It will be channel 369.) If you’re a subscriber of either of these services, you may be interested in checking this out. But you’ll have to order the package up front, since both Bell and Rogers launched Super Channel before Christmas, and any "free trials" that might have been available are long over.

Both Rogers and Cogeco already offer ADV Films’ Anime Network on Demand. But this is a chance to expand your horizons, since the programs on SD 2, Anime on Demand, and YTV’s Friday evening "Bionix" slot do not duplicate each other.

(Source: Cogeco)