Télétoon

Télétoon (stylized as TÉLÉTOON) is a Canadian French-language Category A specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment that specializes in animation programming. Its name is a portmanteau of "télévision" and "cartoon". Along with its English-language counterpart, it is available in over 7.3 million Canadian households as of 2013.^[1]

History

The original Télétoon logo used from 1997 to 2007. In the station's early years, the red border was not there, and later it sometimes appeared blue, light green, or orange instead of red.

Licensed in 1996 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the French-language channel was the first to launch on September 8, 1997^[2] with the slogan La station de l'animation (The Animation Station, the same as that of the contemporaneous English-language channel), later adding and then switching to Imagine!^[3] It was originally owned by a consortium made up of various other Canadian specialty services and producers; Family Channel acting as managing partner at 53.3% (in a partnership between Astral Media and Western International Communications), YTV at 26.7% (under Shaw Communications), and Cinar and Nelvana with 10% each.^[4]

When Télétoon was launched in 1997, it showed more mature fare as the day progressed, with a strong commitment to air diverse and international programming, and the ability to air a great majority of material uncut. A typical broadcast day started with preschool content at 7:00 a.m. EST and ended with adult content after midnight, airing more adult cartoons such as Duckman and various anime programs.

In 1999, Télétoon started airing bumpers with its first mascot, Teletina.^[5][6] These bumpers were made by Spin Productions in Toronto. Several more bumpers using CGI animation with some made by Guru Studio^[7] premiered on the channel in 2001.^[5] The bumpers were removed in 2007 as part of an on-air rebranding.

Logo used from 2007 to 2011.

On February 5, 2007, Télétoon's on-air appearance was dramatically changed as was its website, and Le Détour's website was moved to teletoon.com, and the look of both the channel and the Le Détour block changed.

On September 6, 2011, Télétoon's branding was changed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of co-owner Astral Media and to reflect the transition from analog to digital television. Télétoon la nuit's on-air branding was not changed.^[8]

Changes in ownership

Changes of ownership have occurred since 1999, starting with Corus Entertainment being spun off from Shaw Communications (who originally owned a stake of Télétoon through YTV) in 1999. In 2000, Western International Communications (who owned a stake of Télétoon through The Family Channel alongside Astral Media) sold its stake of Télétoon to Corus Entertainment (and later sold it to Astral Media in 2001), who in the same year, has acquired Nelvana, another company who own a stake of Télétoon. Through various acquisitions over the years, ownership resulted in Cinar Films owning a 20% stake and Astral Media and Corus Entertainment each owning a 40% stake in the service. In 2006, Cinar sold 10% of its stake of Teletoon to both Astral and Corus, leading the two companies to each own 50% in Télétoon.

Logo used from 2011 until 2014, when it was revised to replace the Es with És.

On March 4, 2013, Corus Entertainment announced that it would acquire Astral Media's 50% ownership interest in Teletoon Canada (owner of Teletoon, Télétoon, Teletoon Retro, Télétoon Rétro and Cartoon Network). The purchase was in relation to Bell Media's pending takeover of Astral (which had earlier been rejected by the CRTC in October 2012, but was restructured to allow the sale of certain Astral Media properties in order to allow the purchase to clear regulatory hurdles).^[9] Bell filed a new application for the proposed takeover with the CRTC on March 6, 2013.^[10] Corus's purchase was cleared by the Competition Bureau two weeks later on March 18;^[11] the CRTC approved the Bell-Astral merger two months later on June 27, 2013.^[12] On December 20, 2013, the CRTC approved Corus's full ownership of Teletoon Canada^[13][14] and it was purchased by Corus on January 1, 2014.^[15] The channel continues to be owned by Teletoon Canada, now wholly owned by Corus Entertainment under its Corus Kids and Corus Média divisions.^[16][17]

Programming

Many of the shows broadcast on Télétoon are simply those shown on its English-language counterpart dubbed into French. Originally, both services had identical schedules, airing the same episode of the same program at the same time. Nowadays, the schedules sometimes differ, because Télétoon carries some translated programs that its English-language counterpart does not, as they are aired on other cable networks. Many of the shows, such as The Simpsons and King of the Hill, are dubbed using local voice-over actors from Quebec, while others, such as Naruto and virtually all series originating from Cartoon Network, are dubbed in France and imported.

Also, unlike on the English-language version, daytime programming on Télétoon is broadcast commercial-free (other than for promotions), since much of the French-language Télétoon's audience is in Quebec. Quebec provincial law prohibits paid commercials during children's programming, generally during the morning and afternoon hours.

Télétoon has been involved in the production of numerous original series. Some co-productions made in association with Télétoon have not run on its English counterpart; these include Au pays des têtes à claques and the second season of Splatalot. The first has the English-Canadian version broadcast on YTV, which co-produced the series since the first season, while the latter has an English-language version currently in production.

Upcoming programs

This is a list of programming set to air on Télétoon.^[18][19]

• Atomic Puppet (French name pending)
• Craqué
• Drôles de colocs (Endangered Species)
• Freak vs Sweet (French name pending)
• Inspecteur Gadget (Inspector Gadget - 2014 version)
• Pirate Express (French name pending)
• Winston Steinburger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong (French name pending)
• ToonMart Marty (French name pending)

Current programs

This is a list of programs being broadcast regularly.^[20]

Past programs

These programs are formerly aired on Télétoon, or are currently on hiatus. The French title is followed by the English one.

Programming blocks

Current

• Les vendredis superhéros – "Les vendredis superhéros" is an action-oriented programming block airing Friday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. ET.
• Vive les samedis – "Vive les samedis" is a Saturday morning programming block from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, this block was formerly known as Les dessins animés du samedi matin.
• Télétoon présente – "Télétoon présente" is a block on Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, that mostly airs animated movies (such as Tom and Jerry: The Movie, The Powerpuff Girls Movie and Looney Tunes movies, among others). It also airs live action movies such as the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. This block was formerly known as Cinétoon.
• J'aime les jeudis – "J'aime les jeudis" is a programming block airing on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. ET.
• Télétoon la nuit - Animated programming targeted towards teen and adult audiences airs during the nighttime hours as part of the programming block, Télétoon la Nuit (formerly "Le détour sur Télétoon", then "Télétoon Détour"), the French version of Teletoon at Night (formerly Teletoon Detour), which is similar in format to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. However, unlike Adult Swim, although there was a strong early commitment to air diverse and international programming, as well as the ability to air a great majority of material uncut, Télétoon Détour refused to incorporate a single anime series until March 3, 2008.As of fall 2014, Télétoon la Nuit start at 8 p.m.^[18]

Yearly

• Camp Télétoon – The Camp Télétoon block replaces morning programming during the summer vacation period from July to August, containing some of the channel's popular programs, and daily movies. However, in the summer of 2009, Camp Télétoon was placed on hiatus, with Fou rire taking its place. The block returned in the summer of 2012, now airing weeknights from 9:00 to 12:00 a.m. ET.
• Novembre+ - This block features series marathon and premieres of series during the month of November.
• Attache ta tuque - This block features holiday specials

Former

• Original blocks – In 1997, Télétoon chose a different style of animation for each block. Each blocks were represented as planets:^[21] Claymation for Pre-School (4 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Cel animation for Kids (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), Collage for Family (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Paper mache for Adult (9 p.m. to 4 a.m.). Each block's bumpers were made by Cuppa Coffee Studio.^[22]
• Télétoon Déjonté - Launched in 2000, Télétoon Déjonté is a teen and adult-oriented block of the channel; it co-existed with Le Détour sur Télétoon until the block merged with it in 2004.
• Télétoon Kapow! – Launched in September 2003, Kapow! was an action block, which featured the shows Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spider Riders, MegaMan NT Warrior and The Batman. Kapow! was usually shown on weekend mornings in large blocks, although it did air in smaller blocks during the weekdays. Teletoon Kapow! was used as the name of the Canadian Cartoon Network channel license.
• Le Spin – Le Spin was created in September 3, 2007 and air every weekday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. with different shows everyday. Throughout the week, viewers could vote online on the Télétoon website to pick one show that would air during Le Spin block. Once a month, five viewers each got to choose the shows for an entire weekday afternoon.
• Fou rire – The Fou rire block aired weekday mornings from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. ET and on Saturday mornings. It aired shows such as Out of Jimmy's Head, Chowder, and Jimmy Two-Shoes.
• 3 heures vraiment cool – The 3 heures vraiment cool block aired on Monday through Thursdays and Sunday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET. On Thursdays, it was called "Les jeudis vraiment trop cool", and it aired new episodes of The Simpsons, Johnny Test, Jimmy Two-Shoes, Stoked, Total Drama, Majority Rules and 6teen.
• Télétoon Rétro – Télétoon Rétro was the brand for Télétoon's blocks of classic animated programming. In Fall 2008, a digital channel under the same name was launched, featuring classic animated programs.
• Mission:Action – The Mission:Action block aired on weekdays starting at 4:00 p.m. ET, and on Sunday mornings/afternoons. It featured action series such as The Secret Saturdays, Bakugan, Chop Socky Chooks, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Naruto, Wolverine and the X-Men, Johnny Test, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Chaotic, Totally Spies, The Super Hero Squad Show and The Spectacular Spider-Man. New additions included Power Rangers Samurai, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Hot Wheels Battle Force 5, The Amazing Spiez, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders.
• Télétoon Jr. - The Télétoon Jr. block aired weekdays starting at 9:00 a.m. ET. A video-on-demand channel also exist which run a different set of series than those featured on the block.

Related services

Télétoon Sur Demande

Télétoon Sur Demande is a video-on-demand channel featuring series from Télétoon.

Télétoon Jr. Sur Demande

Télétoon Jr. Sur Demande is a video-on-demand multiplex channel and was named after a program block featuring animated series aimed at younger children's; shows included on the Télétoon Jr. Sur Demande channel have included such shows as Caillou, Atomic Betty, George Of The Jungle, The Future Is Wild and Bobby's World. Unlike Télétoon and Télétoon Rétro, the channel do not feature an English counterpart. It is also not available as a programming block on Télétoon anymore.

Télétoon Rétro

Télétoon Rétro is a Category B digital cable and satellite channel that debuted in Fall 2008, and was named after a program block featuring classic animated series; shows included on the Télétoon Rétro channel have included such shows as The Tom and Jerry Show, The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show, Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, The Raccoons, The Jetsons, Astro Boy and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.

English services

Teletoon and Teletoon Retro are the English counterparts to Télétoon and Télétoon Rétro respectively.

Télétoon HD

On March 24, 2014, Télétoon launch a high definition feed called Télétoon HD, which simulcast the standard definition feed.^[23] The channel is available on Cogeco then on Vidéotron and Bell Fibe TV

References

External links

• Télétoon
• Télétoon la Nuit (French)
• Le détour sur Télétoon (French)
• Télétoon Corporative Website (French)

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