Family Jr.
Family Jr. was a Canadian specialty channel owned by WildBrain. A sister channel to Family Channel, it broadcast children's programming aimed at viewers aged 2 to 7. Legally, the channel operated as a multiplex service of Family Channel, stemming from its former licensing status as a premium television service; therefore, it was 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. It then rebranded under Disney's new preschool television brand Disney Junior on May 6, 2011. Following Bell Media's acquisition of Astral in 2013, the channel, along with its sister networks were divested to DHX Media in 2014. 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–on September 18, 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, 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 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 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 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 ran from December 1, 2015 to September 1, 2025.Closure
On December 18, 2024, WildBrain announced that it would sell a two-thirds majority stake of its television operations—including Family Channel—to IoM Media Ventures, a Halifax-based company founded by former WildBrain CEO Dana Landry.In April 2025, WildBrain stated that it would be renegotiating aspects of the agreement, citing factors such as a decision by Bell Canada not to renew its carriage agreements for WildBrain's channels, pulling them from their lineup on May 20.
On August 25, 2025, WildBrain announced that it was unable to renew its carriage agreements with Rogers Cable. It therefore announced plans to close all of its specialty channels in the near future, as the loss of these carriage agreements meant the channels had lost most of their value and were "no longer commercially viable". All four networks shut down at 5:59 a.m. Eastern on October 23, though some providers stopped their carriage of the channels at midnight several hours earlier.
Programming
Final programming
Canadian productions
- Beep & Mort
- Big Block SingSong
- Caillou
- Chip and Potato
- Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
- The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy
- Happy House of Frightenstein
- Jonny Jetboy
- Justin Time
- Kate & Mim-Mim
- Kiwi & Strit
- Mighty Mike
- Polly Pocket
- Rev & Roll
- Space Ranger Roger
- ''Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City''
Acquired programming
- ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks
- Arthur
- Ask the StoryBots
- Blippi Visits
- Brave Bunnies
- Bubble Guppies
- Care Bears: Unlock the Magic
- Curious George
- Dog Loves Books
- DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders
- Fireman Sam
- Grizzy & the Lemmings
- Go Jetters
- Hey Duggee
- Jungle Beat
- Lucas the Spider
- Madagascar: A Little Wild
- Norman Picklestripes
- Petronix Defenders
- The Smurfs
- Sunny Bunnies
- Super Wings
- Teletubbies
- The Tiny Chef Show
- Twirlywoos
- ''Where's Waldo?''
Former programming
- Bananas in Pyjamas
- Bob the Builder
- Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot
- Dinotrux
- Elias: Rescue Team Adventures
- Franny's Feet
- Gerald McBoing-Boing
- Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs
- Henry's World
- In the Night Garden...
- Julius Jr.
- Katie and Orbie
- King
- Kody Kapow
- Lalaloopsy
- Little People
- Mack & Moxy
- Messy Goes to Okido
- Nature Cat
- Noddy, Toyland Detective
- Pajanimals
- Playdate
- Rainbow Ruby
- Sarah & Duck
- The Save-Ums!
- The Secret World of Benjamin Bear
- Something Else
- Stella and Sam
- Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures
- Super Why!
- Thomas & Friends
- Tickety Toc
- Topsy and Tim
- Waybuloo
- Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
- YaYa and Zouk
- Yo Gabba Gabba!
- ''Yup Yups''
Disney programming
- Bear in the Big Blue House
- Bunnytown
- Doc McStuffins
- DuckTales
- Handy Manny
- Henry Hugglemonster
- Higglytown Heroes
- Imagination Movers
- Johnny and the Sprites
- JoJo's Circus
- Jungle Junction
- Jake and the Never Land Pirates
- The Little Mermaid
- Little Einsteins
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Miles from Tomorrowland
- My Friends Tigger & Pooh
- Out of the Box
- Sheriff Callie's Wild West
- Special Agent Oso
- Sofia the First
- ''Stanley''
Related services