Slogan We Can Do Disney! Language English Headquarters Toronto Owned by Corus Entertainment Replaced Teletoon Retro | Country Canada Broadcast area Nationwide Founded 2015 Motto We Can Do Disney! | |
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Launched September 1, 2015 (2015-09-01) Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV) Profiles | ||
Disney Channel is a Canadian English-language exempted Category B specialty channel 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.
Contents
- Disney Channel programming in Canada prior to 2015
- Launch and development
- Carriage
- Programming
- Current blocks
- Former blocks
- References
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.
Disney Channel programming in Canada prior to 2015
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 producer DHX Media and previously held by Astral Media up until its acquisition by Bell Canada in 2013, held Canadian rights to Disney Channel's programming library.- As such, it operated licensed Canadian versions of Disney Channel's spinoff brands, Disney XD and Disney Junior (one of which operated as a multiplex channel of Family airing in English, with a separately-licensed service airing in French) as sister networks.
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.
Corus stated that it would transition "select Disney branded kids linear television offerings" to new properties under its ownership in the future; new Corus-run Disney Junior and Disney XD services launched on December 1, 2015. In the meantime, Disney Channel aired blocks featuring selected Disney Junior and XD programs. Before the Disney XD and Junior blocks ended on this channel and 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.
Disney Channel operates as an "exempted" Category B service: 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.
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 Optik TV, and SaskTel, and national satellite providers Bell TV and Shaw Direct.
Programming
Disney Channel primarily airs animated and live-action series from its United States counterpart, movies, and third-party content from other distributors. It also airs programs from Disney XD, interstitial programs such as Movie Surfers, a look at the latest movies from The Walt Disney Company, special previews of new shows, and, previously, shows from Disney Junior (the new channel launched in Canada on December 1, 2015, along with the new Disney XD network).