The network was originally launched on September 7, 2001 as Mystery under a joint partnership between Canwest, Rogers Media and Groupe TVA, that is devoted to police drama to thrillers, suspense and reality programming.

The channel was licensed as 13th Street by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on November 24, 2000, to Canwest (45.05%), Groupe TVA (45.05%) and Rogers Communications (9.9%).

Before the channel's launch, both Canwest and Groupe TVA acquired Rogers' shares in the service equally.

The channel was described as "a national English-language Category 1 specialty television service devoted to mystery and suspense programming.

It will provide a wide assortment of genre-specific programs including movies, television series, short films and documentaries that will focus exclusively on the delivery of entertaining programming on suspense, espionage and classic mysteries.