Yoopa


Yoopa is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Groupe TVA, a division of Quebecor Media. Initially aimed at preschoolers, Yoopa now broadcasts programming targeted toward children, aged 2 to 12.
A magazine for parents using the Yoopa name was launched on April 1, 2010 in conjunction with the launch of the television channel. The magazine replaced EspaceParents.ca, owned by TVA Publications, a division of Groupe TVA.

History

In February 2010, TVA Group was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to launch a television channel called TVA Junior, described as "a national French-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking aimed exclusively at children from two to six years old."
The channel was launched on April 1, 2010 in as Yoopa.

Dispute with Vrak.TV Junior

Before Yoopa's launch and its approval by the CRTC, fellow broadcaster Astral Media had been approved for a similar channel in March 2006 called Vrak.TV Junior. Prior to its launch, Astral Media claimed that it had secured carriage on a number of other television providers, except Vidéotron — who has a hold of 51% of the Quebec market, the largest French market in Canada — owned by Quebecor Media, the parent of TVA Group. Astral claimed Vidéotron's refusal to carry the channel was to avoid competition for its upcoming channel, Yoopa. Astral attributed the delay in the launch of Vrak Junior to Vidéotron's refusal to carry the channel. Vidéotron categorically denied the accusation.
Vrak.TV Junior was launched on July 5, 2010 as Playhouse Disney Télé on Bell TV. Vidéotron launched the channel on March 1, 2011.

Current programming

International distribution