Disney Channel (Canada)

For the Canadian French equivalent, see Disney La Chaîne.
Disney Channel
Launched September 1, 2015 (2015-09-01)
Owned by Corus Entertainment
(branding licensed from The Walt Disney Company)
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Country Canada
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Sister channel(s)
Website disneychannel.ca
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV Channel 1649 (HD)
Channel 563 (SD)
Shaw Direct Channel 535 (SD) (West)
Channel 75 (HD) (East)
Cable
Available on most Canadian cable systems Check local listings, channels may vary
IPTV
Bell Fibe TV Channel 568 (SD)
Channel 1568 (HD)
MTS Channel 150 (SD)
Channel 1150 (HD)
SaskTel MaxTV Channel 98 (SD)
Channel 398 (HD)
Optik TV Channel 9606 (SD)(West)
Channel 606 (HD) (West)
Channel 9607 (SD) (East)
Channel 607 (HD)
VMedia

Channel 63 (SD)

(East)

Disney Channel is a Canadian English-language exempted Category B specialty channel[1] owned by Corus Entertainment. First broadcasting on September 1, 2015, it is a localized version of the U.S. cable network Disney Channel, broadcasting live-action and animated programming aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 14.

The channel launched as part of a new licensing agreement between Corus and the Disney–ABC Television Group, which succeeded a previous program supply agreement between Disney and Family Channel (owned by DHX Media). Its launch marks the first time that a Disney Channel-branded television service has operated in Canada.

History

Origins

Since its launch on September 1, 1988, the English-language Category A hybrid premium/basic cable and satellite television channel Family-which is now owned by children's programming library owner DHX Media and previously by Astral Media prior to his July 5, 2013 acquisition by Bell Canada[2][3][4]-held Canadian rights to Disney Channel's programming library. As such, it operated licensed Canadian versions of Disney Channel's spinoff brands, Disney XD (later Family CHRGD) and Disney Junior (later Family Jr. and Télémagino; the latter of which operated as a multiplex channel of Family airing in English with a separately-licensed service airing in French) as its multiplex channels.[2]

Launch and development

On April 16, 2015, Corus Entertainment announced that it had reached a "landmark" agreement with the Disney–ABC Television Group to acquire long-term, Canadian multi-platform rights to Disney Channel's programming library; the cost and duration of the licensing deal were not disclosed. Corus also announced that it would launch a Canadian version of Disney Channel on September 1, 2015; the service consists of a linear television channel, along with TV Everywhere apps (Watch Disney Channel Canada), and video-on-demand services for television platforms. This marks Corus' second Disney/ABC-licensed service behind ABC Spark – a localized version of ABC Family.[5][6]

Corus stated that it would transition "select Disney branded kids linear television offerings" to new properties under its ownership in the future;[5] new Corus-run Disney Junior and Disney XD services launched on December 1, 2015.[7][8][9] In the meantime, Disney Channel aired blocks featuring selected Disney Junior and XD programs.[10] For the 2015-16 television season, DHX consequently re-branded its Disney XD and Junior networks as Family Chrgd and Family Jr. respectively, and began phasing out Disney programming from the two channels and Family; DHX's licensing agreement with Disney formally ended in January 2016.[2][6][11]

Disney Channel operates as an "exempted" Category B service:[1] as of new policies implemented in 2012, channels with less than 200,000 subscribers that would otherwise meet the definition of a Category B service are exempted from licensing by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.[12]

Carriage

Corus stated that Disney Channel was available in 10 million households on launch, with carriage across most major Canadian cable providers, IPTV providers Bell Fibe TV, Telus, and SaskTel, and national satellite providers Bell TV and Shaw Direct.[10]

Programming

Current programming

Reruns

Acquired programming

Former programming

Blocks

Former blocks

References

  1. 1 2 "Corus ownership chart" (PDF). CRTC. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 David Friend (April 16, 2015). "Corus gains Canadian rights to Disney Channel content". The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ "CRTC approves Bell-Astral merger". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 27, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  4. ↑ Bertrand Marrote (November 28, 2013). "DHX to acquire Family Channel, three others from Bell Media". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Corus Entertainment and Disney/ABC Television Group Join Forces in Landmark Licensing Agreement" (Press release). Corus Entertainment. CNW Group. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Corus Entertainment snaps up Disney content from DHX Media, plans to launch Disney channel in Canada". Financial Post (Postmedia Network). April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Corus Entertainment Brings the Magic of Disney Junior Alive on Tuesday, December 1". Corus Entertainment. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  8. 1 2 "The Force Arrives at Corus Entertainment’s Disney XD on Tuesday, December 1". Corus Entertainment. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Changes to Kids Channels". VMedia. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "It’s #HereForReal Canada! Corus Entertainment Launches Disney Channel in 10 Million Households" (Press release). Toronto: Corus Entertainment. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  11. ↑ Dickson, Jeremy (August 21, 2015). "DHX TV reveals fall skeds for rebranded channels". Kid Screen. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Broadcasting Order CRTC 2012-689: New exemption order respecting certain programming undertakings that would otherwise be eligible to be operated as Category B services, and amendments to the Exemption order respecting certain third-language television undertakings". CRTC. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 "Disney Channel September 2015 Programming Highlights". Corus Entertainment. Corus® Entertainment Inc. September 8, 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Get Ready Canada! Disney Channel Arrives on September 1!" (Press release). Toronto: Corus Entertainment. August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Disney Channel October 2015 Programming Highlights" (Press release). Toronto: Corus Entertainment. October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 Padovano, Joanna (August 12, 2015). "Disney Channel Sets Premiere Date for Canada". World Screen (Toronto). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  17. ↑ http://www.corusent.com/news/quick-witted-tween-uses-her-inventions-to-navigate-life-in-the-comedy-series-stuck-in-the-middle-on-a-preview-episode-sunday-february-14-on-disney-channel/
  18. ↑ "Star Wars Rebels Season 2". Disney Channel Canada. October 27, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ http://www.disneychannel.ca/schedule
  20. ↑ "Disney XD". disneychannel.ca Buzz Blog. Corus Entertainment. November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  21. ↑ http://www.corusent.com/news/lab-rats-elite-force-a-spinoff-of-popular-comedy-series-lab-rats-and-might-med-premieres-wednesday-march-2-on-corus-entertainments-disney-xd/
  22. ↑ "Disney Junior". disneychannel.ca Buzz Blog. Corus Entertainment. November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
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