Family Jr.


Family Jr. is a multiplex channel of the Canadian specialty channel called Family Channel. Launched on November 30, 2007, it broadcasts programming aimed at preschool-aged children.
The channel 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 Junior by Corus Entertainment.
Along with its French-language counterpart, Télémagino, it is available in over 4 million Canadian households as of 2013. As it is a multiplex channel of Family Channel, the service is distributed at no additional charge to its subscribers.

History

As Playhouse Disney and Disney Junior

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, 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.
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.
On May 6, 2011, the networks were re-launched under Disney's new preschool television brand Disney Junior.
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. 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 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.

Programming

Current programming

Canadian productions

Family Jr. HD

On May 1, 2013, a high definition simulcast of Family Jr.'s 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. launched its own On Demand channel on May 6, 2011.

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.