Family Channel

For other uses, see The Family Channel.
Family Channel
Launched September 1, 1988 (1988-09-01)
Owned by DHX Media
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
(2011–present)
480i (SDTV)
(1988–present)
Slogan All Time
Country Canada
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
(also available in Jamaica and The Bahamas)
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Formerly called Family Channel (1988–1999)
(still owns the former official name)
Sister channel(s) Family Jr.
Télémagino
Family Chrgd
Timeshift service Family Channel East
Family Channel West
Website www.family.ca
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV 556 (east; SD)
557 (west; SD)
1642 (east; HD)
Shaw Direct Classic lineup:
540 (east; SD)
541 (west; SD)
69 (east; HD)
Advanced lineup:
170 (east; SD)
171 (west; SD)
569 (HD; east)
Cable
Available on most other Canadian cable systems Consult your local cable provider or program listings source for channel availability
IPTV
Bell FibreOP 258 (east; SD)
503 (east; HD)
Bell Fibe TV 556 (east; SD)
557 (west; SD)
1556 (east; HD)
MTS 153 (east; SD)
154 (west; SD)
Optik TV 605 (west; SD)
9604 (east; SD)
604 (east; HD)
SaskTel 130 (east; SD)
VMedia 57 (east; HD)

Family Channel (often known as simply Family) is a Canadian English-language Category A cable and satellite television channel that is owned by DHX Media. Family is positioned as a youth- and teenager-oriented network, primarily broadcasting domestic and imported children's television series, teen dramas, off-network sitcoms, and theatrically released and made-for-television movies targeted towards the demographics. Until 2015, much of Family's programming was sourced from the U.S. cable network Disney Channel; these rights have since been acquired by Corus.

Although it is licensed as a premium television service, the channel is carried on the basic tiers of most Canadian subscription television providers, and is also carried by Flow Cable in Jamaica[1] and on Cable Bahamas in The Bahamas.[2] Family is headquartered in the Brookfield Place office complex, near the Financial District of Downtown Toronto. It has transmitted from Corus Quay since at least 2014.[3]

As of March 2013, Family Channel is available to approximately 6 million pay television households in Canada;[4] it also has the highest total viewership among Canada's children's television channels.[5] It transmits three feeds: Eastern Time Zone feeds in both standard definition and high definition, and a Pacific Time Zone feed solely in standard definition.

History

Early history

Family Channel's original logo, used from 1988 to 1999. The "Channel" font was slightly different from 1997 to 1999.

Family Channel was licensed as a pay television service by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on December 1, 1987; it was originally operated as a joint venture between Allarcom Pay Television Limited (owner of Superchannel) and First Choice with both companies owning a 50% stake in the service.[6]

The network officially launched on September 1, 1988; during its first decade, Family Channel's programming format mirrored that of then fellow U.S. premium service The Disney Channel. Family's programming lineup consisted mainly of domestic and foreign-imported live-action and animated series (with many of the imported series produced by The Walt Disney Company's television production units – Walt Disney Television, and eventually Touchstone Television, now ABC Studios), feature films from the Walt Disney Pictures library, classic films from other American and Canadian film studios, and specials (mostly concerts, documentaries and animated specials). At the time of its launch, Family Channel had broadcast for 16½ hours each day, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time.

Family was originally offered by cable companies as a standalone channel that required an additional monthly subscription fee. In October 1997, most domestic cable and satellite providers started offering the channel as part of a package with that year's wave of new specialty channels. While Family initially continued its "pay" format, including broadcasts of older Disney movies which would be repeated several times a month, it soon changed its programming practices to the point that it now operates as a de facto specialty channel, much like similarly themed channels such as YTV. However, in line with CRTC regulations for premium channels, the channel does not broadcast commercials, and does not interrupt most programs aside from running promotions for its programs and contests underwritten by a sponsor between shows (the latter being the only form of commercial advertising that the network airs).

Rebranding and change in focus

Original version of current logo, used from October 1, 1999 to January 11, 2011.

On October 1, 1999, Family Channel underwent a significant rebranding, introducing a new logo – a lowercase "f" enclosed in a circle – to replace the "paint and sun" design used since the channel's launch. In October 1999, as part of the break-up of Western International Communications (WIC)—which had bought Allarcom—its stake in Family Channel was sold to Corus Entertainment.[7] In March 2001, in response to complaints by the CRTC over its near-monopoly on ownership of children's specialty channels in Canada (citing YTV, Treehouse TV, and its stake in Teletoon), Corus sold its stake in Family Channel to Astral Media for $126.9 million.[8]

By this point, Family – whose programming had been targeting a broader family audience throughout its schedule, save for some programs targeted mainly at children interspersed within its daytime lineup – began to target a dual audience: kids and teenagers during the daytime, and families at night. Gradually, though, the channel's programming shifted more towards children with feature films being the only family-oriented programming featured on the channel by the mid-2000s.

In February 2007, Family began airing short programs from Disney Channel (such as Disney's Really Short Report, Meet the Family and the Movie Surfers behind-the-scenes segments for Disney-produced films), alongside the channel's own interstitials such as music videos ("FamJam"), contest promotions, and movie interviews produced by now-former corporate sister The Movie Network. On July 1, 2007, Family became the last English-language children's network in Canada to switch to a 24-hour broadcast schedule. On January 11, 2011, Family debuted an updated logo and on-air identity to coincide with the launch of its new high-definition feed.[9]

Sale to DHX Media

On March 4, 2013, following the Competition Bureau's approval of Bell Media's acquisition of Astral Media, Bell announced that it would sell Family and five other channels (Disney Junior English and French, Disney XD, MusiMax and MusiquePlus), in an attempt to relieve concerns surrounding Bell's total market share in English-language television following the merger (Bell's original proposal, which would have included the networks, was rejected by the Bureau in 2012 as it would have given Bell a 42% share of the English television market).[10] Bell filed a new application for the proposed takeover with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on March 6, 2013;[11] the CRTC approved the merger on June 27, 2013,[12] with Family Channel and the other Astral channels that were put up for sale concurrently being placed in a blind trust held by businessman and former Montreal Canadiens president Pierre Boivin, pending their sale to a third-party.[13]

On November 28, 2013, DHX Media announced that it would acquire Family, the two Disney Junior channels, and Disney XD for $170 million. While the Halifax-based company already distributes and produces a large library of children's television series (particularly through its 2012 purchase of the Cookie Jar Group, which gave it ownership of the program libraries of Cinar and DIC Entertainment), the purchase marks DHX's first foray into broadcasting. DHX has indicated that it would leverage its resources and library to add more original, Canadian-produced programming to Family under its ownership.[5][14][15][16][17]

The acquisition of Family Channel and its sister networks by DHX was approved by the CRTC on July 24, 2014.[18][19] Under DHX ownership, the network is subject to new licensing conditions which require that at least 60% of the Canadian programming broadcast by the network on an annual basis be produced by companies other than DHX.[20] The acquisition was finalized on July 31, 2014, with Family and its sister networks becoming part of a newly formed division of the company known as DHX Television.[21]

2015-present: Loss of Disney Channel programming rights

On April 16, 2015, it was announced that Corus Entertainment had acquired Canadian rights to Disney Channel's programming library, and that it would launch a Canadian version of Disney Channel in September 2015. Corus subsequently launched new Disney Junior and Disney XD channels as well. DHX's programming agreement with Disney ended January 2016.[22]

As a result of these changes, Disney programming was phased out of Family Channel's lineup throughout the remainder of 2015, and its Disney XD and Junior networks were rebranded Family Chrgd, Family Jr., and Télémagino respectively. Alongside new and original productions, DHX reached new output deals with AwesomenessTV, Dreamworks Animation, and Mattel in 2015 for programming based on their properties across its networks.[22][23][24][25][26][27] On June 9, 2015, it was announced that a new incarnation of the Degrassi franchise, Degrassi: Next Class, would premiere on Family in 2016. The show is produced by Epitome Pictures, whom DHX had acquired in 2014.[28][29]

Next Class premiered on January 4, 2016 as part of a new primetime block known as "F2N". The F2N block is positioned towards an older teenage audience than the "tween" audience that Family has typically targeted; DHX Television senior vice-president Joe Tedesco explained that the company had original series in development for Family in case it ever did lose its output deal with Disney, and that these decisions were based on a goal to build a "strong lineup" of programs, and was not financially motivated. Tedesco went on to explain that the F2N block was meant to create a "meaningful destination" for teens, and in the case of Degrassi—a series that has historically dealt with teen issues, encourage family viewing.[30]

Programming

Family's lineup primarily consists original and imported series aimed at pre-teens and young teenagers, a daytime block of preschool-oriented programs (programmed by sister network Family Jr.), and a primetime block featuring reruns of sitcoms and other programs aimed at an older teenage audience.[30]

Historically, Family had been the main Canadian outlet for the programming of the U.S. cable network Disney Channel, including its live-action and animated programs, as well as its made-for-TV films. Family began to phase out Disney programming in late 2015 following Corus Entertainment's acquisition of exclusive Canadian rights to Disney Channel's programming and associated brands. For a period, the network also aired programming from Disney Channel's spin-off network Disney XD; these programs were phased out following the launch of a local Disney XD channel run by Family in 2012. Family has also acquired and aired programming from other sources, including previous live-action Nickelodeon series, and the Australian series The Elephant Princess). Since the loss of Disney programming, the majority of Family's acquired programming has come from AwesomenessTV, a joint venture of DreamWorks Animation and Hearst Corporation, as part of an output deal with DHX.[30]

Family airs films on Friday and Saturday evenings and on weekend afternoons; they consist of either theatrical releases, or, previously, Disney Channel made-for-TV films. Family commissioned its first original movie, Vacation with Derek, a movie based on the popular original series Life with Derek, which premiered on the channel in June 2010. In addition, Family Channel has also been involved in one other made-for-TV film co-production, the 2010 film 16 Wishes, which was co-produced in association with Disney Channel and MarVista Entertainment.

As it is a premium service, Family does not air traditional commercial advertising, nor does it air commercial breaks during most programs. The network does air promotions in between programs, and in some cases during programs, for its own programming and underwritten contests, along with interstitial segments such as FamJam (which airs teen pop music videos), and in the past, selected interstitial segments from Disney Channel U.S., and features on upcoming family films produced by former sister The Movie Network.

Original programming

Past and present original programs produced for Family include:

Upcoming original programming

  • Savvy (2016)[36]
  • Raising Expectations (2016) [37]

Acquired programming

Programming blocks

Current

Seasonal

Former

Related services

Family Jr.

Main article: Family Jr.

Family Jr. is a multiplex service of Family Channel that features programs aimed at a preschool audience. It originally launched on November 30, 2007 as the Playhouse Disney Channel,[42] and was re-launched as Disney Junior on May 6, 2011, following the launch of the brand in the United States earlier that year.[43] On September 18, 2015, due to Corus Entertainment's acquisition of rights to Disney's children's programming and brands, the channel was re-branded as Family Jr.[44][45]

Because Family is licensed as a premium service, which allows for the addition of multiplex channels that are consistent with the programming requirements designated by the network's licence, no additional licence was required to launch the service. Existing subscribers of Family are automatically eligible to receive Family Jr. free of charge, subject to carriage by their television service provider; however, it is not available on a standalone basis. The use of Family's existing licence also allows the service to compete with the preschooler-targeted specialty channel, Treehouse TV, despite the format protection guidelines for specialty channels enforced by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. This is so, because Family's nature of service is to broadcast programming targeted toward "youth to age 17," in which case, a preschool audience would qualify.[46]

A French-language version of the channel, now known as Télémagino, was launched on July 5, 2010 as Playhouse Disney Télé; it also changed its name to Disney Junior on May 6, 2011 to coincide with the rebranding of the English channel. Unlike the English-language Family Jr., Télémagino operates under a separate Category B license.

Family Chrgd

Main article: Family Chrgd

Family Chrgd (pronounced "charged", stylized Family CHRGD) is a Category B digital cable and satellite television channel as a spin-off of Family Channel that features programs aimed towards children aged 6–12.[47] It originally launched on June 1, 2011 as Disney XD.[48] Its future lineup will feature new seasons of its original slate, in addition to new shows produced by DHX subsidiaries and other studios (such as the aforementioned Fangbone!), as well as new program supply agreements with Mattel.[45] The re-branding took effect on October 9, 2015.[47] Unlike Family Channel, Family Jr., and Télémagino, Family Chrgd operates as an advertiser-supported service.

Other services

References

  1. "Flow Cable channel lineup". Flowjamaica.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  2. Cable Bahamas channel lineup Archived August 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2858
  4. "Family Channel | Family Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD Available on Free Preview in March". Newswire.ca. March 1, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "DHX Media to buy Family, other children's channels". Toronto Star. November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  6. "Decision CRTC 87-905". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
  7. "Canuck players plan splitting up of WIC". Variety. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  8. "Corus sells Family, buys femme web". Variety. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Family Channel turns on new look". Playbackonline.ca. January 11, 2011.
  10. "BCE takeover of Astral OK'd by Competition Bureau". The Montreal Gazette (via The Canadian Press). March 4, 2013.
  11. "Astral and Bell Comment on New Acquisition Application to CRTC". Broadcaster Magazine. March 6, 2013.
  12. "CRTC approves Bell-Astral merger". CBC News. June 27, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  13. "Canadian Kids Comedy Hits iTunes Before TV, But Not in Canada - UPDATED". MediaCaster Magazine. July 10, 2013.
  14. "DHX to acquire Family Channel, three others from Bell Media". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  15. Etan Vlessing (August 20, 2012). "DHX Media expands by buying Cookie Jar Entertainment". KidScreen. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  16. Steve Clarke (August 20, 2012). "DHX grabs Cookie Jar: Canuck kids' entertainment companies combine". Chicago Tribune (via Variety. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  17. "DHX Media receives CRTC approval on $170M acquisition of Family Channel and three other children's channels". DHX Media. July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  18. Etan Vessing (July 24, 2014). "DHX Media approved for Family Channel takeover". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  19. "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-388". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  20. "DHX Media closes Family Channel acquisition and announces management changes". Canada Newswire. July 31, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Corus Entertainment snaps up Disney content from DHX Media, plans to launch Disney channel in Canada". Financial Post. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  22. "DHX to Bring AwesomenessTV Shows to Canadian Television". Variety. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  23. "DreamWorks Animation Inks Strategic Content Pact With DHX Media". Deadline.com. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  24. "DHX MEDIA TO EXTEND FAMILY CHANNEL BRAND, FEATURE NEW AND ORIGINAL CONTENT". DHX Media. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  25. "DHX-Disney Divorce Almost Done". Cartt.ca. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  26. "Corus gains Canadian rights to Disney Channel content". The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  27. "DHX Media buys Degrassi TV studio". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  28. "Degrassi: Next Class to debut on Family Channel, Netflix". CBC News. June 9, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Vlessing, Etan. "Why Family is going to be just fine without Disney". Cartt.ca. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  30. Ginger Bertrand (July 12, 2012). "Principal photography starts on THE NEXT STEP a new tween drama from Temple Street Productions for Family Channel". Astral. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  31. "Try It". Family. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  32. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1176555/family-channel-disney-junior-and-disney-xd-partner-to-promote-active-lifestyles-during-healthy-me-week
  33. "IT’S NOT OVER! DEGRASSI: NEXT CLASS DEBUTS ON FAMILY CHANNEL IN JANUARY 2016". DHX Media. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  34. "Family Channel heads Backstage". Kidscreen. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  35. http://kidscreen.com/2015/09/22/canadas-family-channel-gets-savvy-with-tween-girls/
  36. "DHX's Family greenlights The Wonderful Wayneys". Kidscreen. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  37. "'Degrassi: Next Class' Creator Talks Switch to Netflix: "That's Where the Kids Are"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  38. http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?stnNum=11156
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  40. "Radio Disney brings more music to Family.ca". Article.wn.com. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  41. "Playhouse Disney splashes out for Canuck launch". KidScreen. November 1, 2007.
  42. "Disney Junior launches May 6 with new programs and a nod to Classic Disney Characters and Magic". Canada Newswire. March 3, 2011.
  43. "DHX Television's Rebranded Family Jr. and Télémagino Networks Revealed Today" (Press release). DHX Media. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  44. 1 2 Dickson, Jeremy (August 21, 2015). "DHX TV reveals fall skeds for rebranded channels". Kid Screen. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  45. "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-386". Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Retrieved November 28, 2002.
  46. 1 2 "DHX Television's Family Chrgd to Go to Air". October 7, 2015.
  47. "Astral Launches Disney XD June 1, 2011 - Kids' Specialty Channel and Multi-Platform Brand to Debut Across Canada". Canada Newswire. March 11, 2011.
  48. "Disney Junior On Demand". Disneyjunior.ca. August 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2013.

External links

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