Family Jr.

Family Jr. 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 licensing 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.^[1]

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 (2007-11-30)
Former names	Playhouse Disney Channel (2007–2011) Disney Junior (2011–2015)
Links
Website	familyjr.ca

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.^[2]

 

Logo used as Disney Junior from May 6, 2011 to September 17, 2015, before it was relaunched by Corus Entertainment on December 1.

On May 6, 2011, the networks were rebranded under Disney's new preschool television brand, Disney Junior.^[3]

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.^[4] On November 28, 2013, DHX Media (now WildBrain) announced it would acquire the Family Channel networks $170 million, pending CRTC approval.^[5][6] On July 24, 2014, the CRTC approved DHX's purchase of the networks,^[7][8] and the deal was closed on July 31, 2014.^[9][10]

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 brand extensions 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.^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

Programming

Current programming

Canadian productions

• Beep & Mort (September 5, 2023–present)^[16]
• Big Block SingSong (2023–present)^[17]
• Caillou (February 5, 2018–present)
• Chip and Potato (October 15, 2018–present)
• Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (September 4, 2017 - present)^[18]
• The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy (2022–present)
• Happy House of Frightenstein (2021–present)
• Justin Time (September 22, 2011–present)^[19][20]
• Kate & Mim-Mim (September 5, 2015–present)^[21]
• Kiwi & Strit (2022—present)
• Mighty Mike (April 1, 2019–present)
• Polly Pocket (July 8, 2018–present)
• Rev & Roll (September 2, 2019–present)^[22]
• Space Ranger Roger (January 9, 2017–present)^[23]
• Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City (October 17, 2021 – present)^[24]

Upcoming programming

• Powerbirds (TBA 2023)

Acquired programming

• ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks^[25]
• Blippi Visits (2023 – present)^[26]
• Brave Bunnies (September 6, 2022–present)
• Care Bears: Unlock the Magic (October 7, 2019 – present)^[27]
• Curious George (September 18, 2015–present)^[28]
• Dog Loves Books (2020–present)
• DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders (August 7, 2021–present)^[29]
• Grizzy and the Lemmings (March 24, 2018–present)
• Go Jetters (March 1, 2021 – present)^[30]
• Hey Duggee (November 2, 2020 – present)^[31]
• In the Night Garden... (April 11, 2016–present)
• Jungle Beat (2022–present)
• Lucas the Spider (October 16, 2021 – present)^[32]
• Madagascar: A Little Wild (January 9, 2021 – present)^[33]
• Norman Picklestripes (September 19, 2020 – present)^[34]
• Petronix Defenders (January 7, 2023 – present)
• The Smurfs (2023–present)
• Sunny Bunnies (July 2, 2018–present)
• Super Wings (2022–present)
• Teletubbies (December 19, 2015–present)^[35]
• Twirlywoos (September 5, 2015–present)
• Where's Waldo? (2023–present)^[36]

Former programming

• Bananas in Pyjamas (February 19, 2013–February 2017)
• Bob the Builder^[37]
• Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot (March 2010 – June 30, 2012)
• Dinotrux^[38]
• Elias: Rescue Team Adventures^[39][40]
• Franny's Feet (November 30, 2007 – February 4, 2018)^[41]
• Gerald McBoing-Boing (2009 – July 31, 2011)^[42]
• Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (2009 – August 28, 2014)^{[citation needed]}
• Henry's World (November 30, 2007 – September 27, 2013)
• Julius Jr. (May 2, 2015 – June 29, 2018)
• Katie and Orbie (November 30, 2007 – December 31, 2012)
• King (November 30, 2007 – February 2010)
• Kody Kapow
• Lalaloopsy (September 27, 2014 – August 28, 2016)
• Little People^[43]
• Mack & Moxy
• Messy Goes to Okido^[44]
• Nature Cat (July 1, 2016 – July 1, 2019)
• Noddy, Toyland Detective^[45]
• Pajanimals
• Playdate^[46]
• Rainbow Ruby^[47][48]
• Sarah & Duck (July 7, 2014 – September 1, 2019)^[49][50]
• The Save-Ums! (May 24, 2015 – September 1, 2018)^[51]
• The Secret World of Benjamin Bear (November 30, 2007 – August 30, 2015)
• Something Else (November 30, 2007 – 2008)
• Stella and Sam (January 9, 2011 – September 1, 2016)
• Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures (2010–2020)^[52]
• Super Why! (November 7, 2016 – 2020)^[53]
• Thomas & Friends (May 24, 2015 – August 31, 2018)^[54]
• Tickety Toc (April 23, 2012 – July 30, 2018)
• Topsy and Tim
• Waybuloo (April 16, 2016 – 2019)
• Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (July 20, 2009 – June 30, 2015)
• YaYa and Zouk (July 4, 2016 – September 1, 2019)
• Yo Gabba Gabba! (September 5, 2015 – September 1, 2019)
• Yup Yups (September 16, 2013 – 2018)

Playhouse Disney, Disney Junior, and Disney Channel programming

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

• Bear in the Big Blue House (November 30, 2007 – September 30, 2013)
• Bunnytown (November 30, 2007 – 2012)
• Doc McStuffins (April 8, 2012 – August 30, 2015)
• DuckTales (October 2011–September 30, 2013)
• Handy Manny (November 30, 2007 – August 7, 2014)
• Henry Hugglemonster (April 21, 2013 – January 1, 2016)
• Higglytown Heroes (November 30, 2007 – September 30, 2013)
• Imagination Movers (2008–August 30, 2015)
• Johnny and the Sprites (November 30, 2007 – September 2, 2012)
• JoJo's Circus (November 30, 2007 – September 1, 2013)
• Jungle Junction (January 23, 2010 – August 30, 2015)
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates (May 2, 2011 – December 1, 2015)
• The Little Mermaid (November 30, 2007 – August 31, 2014)^[55]
• Little Einsteins (November 30, 2007 – January 1, 2016)
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (November 30, 2007 – September 17, 2015)
• Miles from Tomorrowland (February 21–August 30, 2015)
• My Friends Tigger & Pooh (November 30, 2007 – September 3, 2010)
• Out of the Box (November 30, 2007 – August 31, 2014)
• Sheriff Callie's Wild West (February 2, 2014 – December 1, 2015)
• Special Agent Oso (2009–January 1, 2016)
• Sofia the First (January 19, 2013 – August 31, 2015)
• Stanley (November 30, 2007 – September 27, 2013)

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.^[56]

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

• Treehouse TV
• List of Canadian television channels

References

1. . Newswire.ca. March 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
2. "Broadcasting Decision 2006–98". CRTC. March 27, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
3. Disney/ABC Television Group Announces Disney Junior, a New 24-Hour Channel for Preschoolers and Their Families, The Futon Critic, May 26, 2010
4. Biblic, Mirko (June 27, 2013). "Re: Voting Trust Agreement between BCE Inc. and Pierre Boivin, the trustee Application No. 2013-0243-9–Approved". CRTC. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
5. "DHX Media to buy Family, other children's channels". Toronto Star. November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
6. "DHX to acquire Family Channel, three others from Bell Media". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
7. . DHX Media. July 24, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
8. Vessing, Etan (July 24, 2014). "DHX Media approved for Family Channel takeover". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
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27. . Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
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30. "Go Jetters".
31. "TV Schedule for Family Jr".
32. "Lucas the Spider". FamilyJr.ca. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
33. "FamilyJr.ca". FamilyJr.ca.
34. "Norman Picklestripes". FamilyJr.ca. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
35. "Teletubbies". FamilyJr.ca. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
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39. Family Jr. [@FamilyJr_TV] (July 2, 2017). "Don't miss the premiere of Elias: Rescue Team Adventures tomorrow at 4:50pm ET!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
40. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
41. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
42. . www.playhousedisney.ca. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
43. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
44. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
45. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
46. "FAMILY JR. SETS A PLAYDATE FOR OCTOBER 3–DHX Media". Dhxmedia.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
47. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
48. "Rainbow Ruby set for Canadian premiere". Kidscreen.com. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
49. Sarah & Duck [@Sarah_and_Duck] (July 7, 2014). "We're really excited to be on in Canada on @DisneyJuniorCA! Let us know if you saw us for the first time today!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
50. "Sarah and Duck". FamilyJr.ca. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
51. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
52. . ToonBarn. January 10, 2012. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
53. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
54. . FamilyJr.ca. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
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External links

• Official website