Family Jr.

Family Jr.
Country Canada
Broadcast area Nationwide
Network Family
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Programming
Language(s) English
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner WildBrain
Sister channels Family Channel
Télémagino
WildBrainTV
History
Launched November 30, 2007
Former names Playhouse Disney Channel (2007–2011)
Disney Junior (2011–2015)
Links
Website familyjr.ca

Family Jr. (formerly Playhouse Disney and the original incarnation of Disney Junior Canada) is a Canadian specialty channel owned by WildBrain. A sister channel to Family Channel, it broadcasts children's programming aimed at viewers aged 2 to 7. Legally, the channel operates as a multiplex service of Family Channel (stemming from its former status as a premium television service); therefore, it is distributed at no additional charge to Family Channel subscribers. Along with its French-language counterpart, Télémagino, it was available in over 4 million Canadian households as of 2013.

The channel launched on November 30, 2007, as a Canadian version of Playhouse Disney, under license from Disney Channels Worldwide (which had a library agreement with Family Channel at the time). It then rebranded under Disney's new preschool television brand Disney Junior in 2011. In 2015, Family Channel lost the rights to Disney Channel programming to Corus Entertainment: this resulted in the launch of a new Corus-run Disney Junior channel, and DHX's existing Disney Junior channel being rebranded as Family Jr.–a brand extension of Family Channel–in September 2015.

History

As Playhouse Disney and Disney Junior

The channel originally launched as Playhouse Disney on November 30, 2007; as Family was originally licensed as a premium television service, it is allowed to operate multiplex channels consistent with the network's licence (which dictated that it provide a service with programming aimed at youth aged 17 and younger), thus the channel did not require separate CRTC approval, and would be offered at no additional charge to television providers who already carry Family Channel.

A French-language version, originally known as Playhouse Disney Télé, was launched on July 5, 2010. Unlike the English version, it operates under a separate Category B license.

On May 6, 2011, the networks were rebranded under Disney's new preschool television brand, Disney Junior.

On March 4, 2013, Bell Media announced that it would divest the Family Channel networks as part of its then-proposed acquisition of Astral Media. On November 28, 2013, DHX Media (now WildBrain) announced it would acquire the Family Channel networks $170 million, pending CRTC approval. On July 24, 2014, the CRTC approved DHX's purchase of the networks, and the deal was closed on July 31, 2014.

As Family Jr.

On April 16, 2015, it was announced that Corus Entertainment had acquired rights to Disney's children's television library and brands, succeeding a previous license agreement with DHX. Corus stated that following the launch of a Canadian version of Disney Channel, it would re-launch Disney's other linear children's television brands in Canada in the future. In anticipation for this transition, DHX concurrently announced that its Disney-branded networks would be re-branded as spin-offs of Family Channel; Disney Junior was re-branded as Family Jr. on September 18, 2015. A Corus-owned incarnation of Disney Junior later launched on December 1, 2015.

Programming

Current programming

Canadian productions

Upcoming programming

Acquired programming

Former programming

Playhouse Disney, Disney Junior, and Disney Channel programming

Programs in bold indicate that the programs moved to new Disney Junior (Canadian TV channel)

Related services

Family Jr. HD

On May 1, 2013, a high definition simulcast of Family Jr.'s (as Disney Junior) standard definition feed was launched. It is available on Bell Aliant, Eastlink, Rogers Cable, SaskTel, Shaw Direct, and Telus Optik TV.

Family Jr. On Demand

Family Jr. On Demand is a video on demand service featuring programming from Family Jr, available to subscribers of Family. Family Jr. (as Disney Junior) launched its own On Demand channel on May 6, 2011.

Family Jr. Go

Family Jr. Go is a service available on the App Store and Google Play Store. It was initially only available to television customers of Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct, but expanded to other providers as years went by. It shows new and old episodes of Family Jr. programming and is part of the Family app.

See also