In August 2005, John S. Panikkar (co-founder of the channel's original owner, High Fidelity HDTV), was granted a licence by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch OasisHD, described as "a national English-language Category 2 high definition specialty programming undertaking... featuring urban and wild landscapes by Canadian and international cinematographers.

"[1] The channel launched in Canada on March 12, 2006, as Oasis HD,[2] focusing on wildlife and nature programming, similar to its current format.

As part of the relaunch, Blue Ant Media announced plans to produce 200 hours of nature programming per-year in 4K Ultra HD.

[4] On July 14, 2008, then owners High Fidelity HDTV, announced that it had reached an agreement with Cameron Thomson Group to distribute then Oasis HD, throughout Europe.

[8] Since the global launch, it was expanded to Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, even Middle East and Africa.