Canada’s next TV network will come with coffee and doughnuts.

After a successful trial in London last year, Tim Hortons announced Wednesday it’s launching TimsTV, a national digital programming network broadcast to the iconic chain’s 2,200 Canadian restaurants.

The in-restaurant television network is expected to be rolled out at the end of February as a joint project between Tim Hortons and Cineplex Inc.

“It is obviously something that we think is quite exciting,” said Mike Langdon, director of communications with Cineplex Entertainment .

Besides touting the freshness and quality of Tim Hortons products, the network will broadcast entertainment programming and community information, he said.

TimsTV is open to national, regional and local advertisers who “fit” with the Tim Hortons brand values, Langdon said.

“We’ve just begun rolling it out to prospective advertisers, so it is in its very early days. The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive,” Langdon said.

“What is really neat about it is they are able to target right down to the store level.”

Tim Hortons tested TimsTV in 50 London restaurants starting in 2013.

The pilot showed Tim Hortons customers were interested in seeing more news, entertainment and more weather.

The equipment for the digital network will be installed and maintained by London-based Cineplex Digital Networks, formerly EK3.

One of the stars of London’s high-tech sector, EK3 was purchased in 2013 for $40 million in cash, plus an additional $38 million if certain targets were met, by Cineplex Inc.

Cineplex Digital Networks president Nick Prigioniero said the partnership with Tim Hortons will bring more cutting-edge technology to Tim Hortons locations.

Source: London Free Press