The channel is devoted primarily to French-language drama programming focusing on mystery, suspense, and thriller TV series and films.

[1] In November 2000, a consortium consisting of Groupe TVA (45.05%), CanWest (45.0%), and Rogers Communications (9.9%), were granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a television channel called 13ème Rue, described as "a national French-language Category 1 specialty television service consisting of mystery, fantasy suspense and horror.

"[2] Prior to the channel's launch in September 2004, the CRTC approved an application by Groupe TVA to acquire both CanWest's and Rogers' shares in the service, later tentatively renamed as Canal Mystère.

[3] The channel launched shortly thereafter as Mystère on October 21, 2004,[4] focusing on mystery, horror, and fantasy programming.

Prior to the renaming, roughly two years, Mystère began implementing changes to its schedule to include more mystery, suspense, and thriller programming.