Family Jr.

Family Jr. is a Canadian English-language Category A specialty channel owned by DHX Media. Launched on November 30, 2007, the service broadcasts programming aimed at preschool-aged children. Family Jr. is operated as a multiplex channel of its parent network Family, under CRTC regulations allowing channels licensed as premium television services to operate additional feeds consistent with their overall licencing. The channel was previously operated under Disney's preschool television brands during the late 2000s, including Playhouse Disney and later Disney Junior, but the channel was later rebranded as a preschool spinoff of Family in 2015, following the acquisition of Canadian rights to Disney's children's programming library by Corus Entertainment.

Unlike Family and Family Chrgd, which operate both Eastern and Pacific Time Zone feeds, Family Jr. operates solely on an Eastern Time Zone schedule.

Along with its French-language counterpart, Télémagino, it is available in over 4 million Canadian households as of 2013.^[1]

History

As Playhouse Disney and Disney Junior

The channel originally launched as Playhouse Disney on November 30, 2007; as Family is licensed as a premium service which allows for the addition of multiplex channels that are consistent with the network's licence (which dictates that it provide a service with programming aimed at youth aged 17 and younger), no additional licence was required to launch the service, and the channel would be offered at no additional charge to television providers who already carry Family Channel.^[2][3]

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.^[4]

On May 6, 2011, the networks were re-launched under Disney's new preschool television brand Disney Junior.^[5] Family's remaining multiplex channel, Jetix, was shut down on June 1, 2011 and got replaced by Disney XD on all cable and satellite providers.

Following the sale of Astral Media to Bell Media, the two Disney Junior services and their sister networks (along with Astral's French-language music networks) were put up for sale to relieve concerns over Bell's concentration of media ownership following the merger.

On November 28, 2013, DHX Media announced it would acquire the two Disney Junior services and their sister networks for $170 million, pending CRTC approval.^[6][7] On July 24, 2014, the CRTC approved DHX's purchase of the networks,^[8][9] and the deal was closed on July 31, 2014.^[10][11]

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 relaunched Disney's other linear children's television brands in Canada in December 2015 and are anchored by returning favorites as well as shows that never aired on the DHX versions.

In anticipation for this transition, DHX concurrently announced that its Disney-branded networks were re-branded as spin-offs of Family Channel.

Disney Junior was the first channel to be rebranded, and it was re-branded as Family Jr. on September 18, 2015. Then Disney XD, the second channel to be rebranded, was renamed Family Chrgd October 9, 2015.

On December 1, 2015, Corus Entertainment launched a replacement Disney Junior-branded channel to follow Disney Channel's launch in Canada.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Programming

Current programming

Upcoming programming

• Chloe's Closet (Premieres January 2, 2017)
• Lily's Driftwood Bay (Premieres January 2, 2017)
• Noddy, Toyland Detective (Premieres January 2, 2017)
• The Furchester Hotel (Premieres January 2, 2017)
• Space Ranger Roger (To Be Announced)^[22]

Former programming

Some shows are now airing on the resurrected Disney Junior channel in Canada.

Note: The shows PJ Masks and Rolie Polie Olie did not air due to Disney Junior being rebranded.

Extra Disney Junior (Canada) Programs

Originals

• PJ Masks
• Rolie Polie Olie

Acquired programming in Reruns

The following acquired shows are also airing on the resurrected Disney Junior channel in Canada:

• The Berenstain Bears
• Timothy Goes to School (Now on Disney Junior, no longer airing on Treehouse TV)
• Willa's Wild Life (acquired from YTV)

Short series

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 Eastlink, Rogers Cable, 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 and Family Jr.. Family Jr. (as Disney Junior) launched its own On Demand channel on May 6, 2011. ^[24]

Family Jr. Go

Family Jr. Go is a service available on the App Store and Google Play Store. It is available to television customers of Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct. It shows new and old episodes of Family Jr. programming and is part of the Family app.

References

External links

• Official website

Children's television in Canada
Preschoolers	Disney Junior Family Jr. Telebimbi Télémagino TeleNiños Treehouse TV Yoopa
Children and teens	ABC Spark BBC Kids Cartoon Network Disney Channel English French Disney XD Family Channel Family Chrgd Nickelodeon Teletoon English French Vrak YTV
Defunct	Discovery Kids HSTN Teletoon Retro English French
Additional resources on North American television North America List of local television stations in North America DTV transition North American TV mini-template Canada Canadian networks List of Canadian television networks List of Canadian television channels List of Canadian specialty channels Local Canadian TV stations List of United States stations available in Canada 2001 Vancouver TV realignment 2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment Mexico Mexican networks Local Mexican TV stations United States American networks List of American cable and satellite networks List of American over-the-air networks Local American TV stations (W) Local American TV stations (K) 1994 United States broadcast TV realignment 2006 United States broadcast TV realignment List of Canadian television stations available in the United States Insular Areas TV