Family Jr.

Family Jr. is a Canadian English-language 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, the Category A-licensed Family Channel, under CRTC regulations allowing channels licensed as premium television services to operate additional feeds consistent with their overall licensing.

The channel was previously operated under Disney's preschool television brands, including Playhouse Disney and later Disney Junior, but adopted the Family Jr. brand in 2015 following the acquisition of Canadian rights to Disney's children's programming library by Corus Entertainment. Corus subsequently relaunched the Canadian version of Disney Junior.

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

Only logo used under the Playhouse Disney brand

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]

Following the sale of Astral Media to Bell Media, the two Disney Junior services and their sister networks were put up for sale to relieve concerns over Bell's market share 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 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. On December 1, 2015, Corus launched a replacement Disney Junior-branded channel.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Programming

Canadian productions

• Elias: Rescue Team Adventures (July 3, 2017-present)^[17][18]
• Franny's Feet (May 6, 2011-September 1, 2014; August 31, 2015-present)^[19]
• Justin Time (September 16, 2012-present)^[20][21][22]
• Yup Yups (September 16, 2013-present)^[23]
• Kate and Mim-Mim (September 5, 2015-present)^[24]
• Little People (March 14, 2016-present)^[25]
• Rainbow Ruby (April 23, 2016-present)^[26]
• Nature Cat (July 1, 2016-present)^[27][28][29]
• Playdate (October 3, 2015-present)^[30]
• The Save-Ums! (May 24, 2015-present)^[31]
• Super Why! (November 7, 2016-present)^[32]
• Space Ranger Roger (January 9, 2017-present)^[33]

Acquired programming

• ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks (June 18, 2017; July 9, 2017-present)
• Bob the Builder (December 5, 2015-present)^[34]
• Curious George (September 18, 2015-present)^[35]
• In the Night Garden (April 11, 2016-present)
• Julius Jr. (May 2, 2015-present)
• Messy Goes to Okido (April 9, 2016-present)^[36]
• Noddy, Toyland Detective (May 15, 2017-present)^[37]
• Sarah & Duck (July 7, 2014-present)^[38][39]
• Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures (May 6, 2011-present)
• Teletubbies (December 19, 2015-present)^[40]
• Thomas & Friends (May 24, 2015-present)^[41]
• Tickety Toc (April 23, 2012-present)
• Topsy and Tim (September 5, 2015-present)
• Twirlywoos (September 5, 2015-present)
• Waybuloo (April 16, 2016-present)
• YaYa and Zouk (July 4, 2016-present)
• Yo Gabba Gabba! (September 5, 2015-present)

Current Films

• Lucky Duck
• Barbie: Dreamtopia

Upcoming programming

• Dragon Tales (2017 TV series) (TBA)
• Madeline (2018 TV series) (TBA)

Former programming

• Bananas in Pyjamas (February 19, 2013-February 2017)
• Bear in the Big Blue House (May 6, 2011-May 25, 2012; September 3, 2012-September 30, 2013)
• Bunnytown (May 6, 2011-May 2012)
• Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot (May 6, 2011-June 30, 2012)
• Doc McStuffins (April 8, 2012-August 30, 2015)
• DuckTales (October 2011-September 30, 2013)
• Gerald McBoing-Boing (May 6-July 31, 2011)
• Handy Manny (May 6, 2011-August 7, 2014)
• Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (May 6, 2011-August 28, 2014)
• Henry Hugglemonster (April 21, 2013-January 1, 2016)
• Henry's World (May 6, 2011-September 27, 2013)
• Higglytown Heroes (May 6, 2011-September 30, 2013)
• Imagination Movers (May 6, 2011-August 30, 2015)
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates (May 6, 2011-December 1, 2015)
• Johnny and the Sprites (May 6, 2011-September 2, 2012)
• JoJo's Circus (May 6, 2011-September 1, 2013)
• Jungle Junction (May 6, 2011-August 30, 2015)
• Katie and Orbie (May 6, 2011-December 31, 2012)
• Lalaloopsy (September 27, 2014-August 28, 2016)
• Little Einsteins (May 6, 2011-January 1, 2016)
• The Little Mermaid (September 16, 2013-August 31, 2014)
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (May 6, 2011-September 17, 2015)
• Miles from Tomorrowland (February 21-August 30, 2015)
• Out of the Box (July 1, 2011-August 31, 2012; December 31, 2012-August 31, 2014)
• The Secret World of Benjamin Bear (May 6, 2011-August 30, 2015)
• Sheriff Callie's Wild West (February 2, 2014-December 1, 2015)
• Sofia the First (January 19, 2013-August 31, 2015)
• Special Agent Oso (May 6, 2011-January 1, 2016)
• Stanley (May 6, 2011-September 27, 2013)
• Stella and Sam (May 6, 2011-September 1, 2016)
• Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (May 6, 2011-June 30, 2015)

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

Extra Disney Junior (Canada) Programs

• PJ Masks
• Rolie Polie Olie

Acquired programs in Reruns

• Guess with Jess
• The Berenstain Bears
• Timothy Goes to School (Now Airing on Disney Junior, No Longer Airing on Treehouse TV)
• Willa's Wild Life (Acquired from YTV)

Short Series

• Adventures in Nutrition with Captain Carlos
• The Bite Sized Adventures of Sam Sandwich
• Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?
• Choo Choo Soul
• Dance-a-Lot Robot
• Feeling Good with JoJo!
• Franny's Treasures
• Handy Manny's School for Tools
• Happy Monster Band
• Jake's Buccaneer Blast
• Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol
• Mickey Mousekersize
• Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Minnie's Bow-Toons
• Muppet Moments
• Nina Needs to Go!
• A Poem Is...
• Quiet Is...
• Shane's Kindergarten Countdown
• Shanna's Show
• Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps
• Tales of Friendship with Winnie the Pooh
• Tasty Time with ZeFronk
• Where Is Warehouse Mouse?

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. ^[42]

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