Family, officially known as Family Channel and formerly known on-air as The Family Channel,
is a Canadian English-language Category A television channel. Licensed as a premium
television service, Family is the most popular children's channel in Canada in terms of overall
viewership; it is available in approximately 6 million Canadian households as of 2013.
Originally a joint venture between Allarcom Pay Television and the operators of First
Choice, the network was most recently sold by Astral Media to children's programming
distributor DHX Media. While originally positioned as a family-oriented
network, by the late 1990s, Family had shifted its focus towards a predominantly youth audience,
catering towards children and teenagers between 8 and 14 years of age with television series,
theatrical films, and made-for-TV movies targeted towards the demographic. The majority of Family's
programming is sourced from the United States-based Disney Channel and its sister networks, alongside
original, Canadian-produced programming. Family is headquartered in the Brookfield
Place office complex, near the Financial District of Downtown Toronto. It broadcasts in three
feeds; east coast and west coast (Pacific Time, along with a simulcast of the east coast
feed in high definition. The channel—although licensed as a premium service, is carried
on the basic tiers of most television providers in Canada, and is also carried by Flow Cable
in Jamaica and on Cable Bahamas in The Bahamas.
History Early history
Family Channel was licensed as a pay television service by the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission on December 1, 1987; it was originally operated as a joint
venture between Allarcom Pay Television Limited and First Choice Canadian Communications Corporation,
with both companies owning a 50% stake in the service.
In Montreal, the network launched on September 1, 1988 at 6 a.m. Eastern Time. During its
first decade, Family Channel's programming consisted mainly of domestic and foreign-imported
live-action and animated series, feature films from the Walt Disney Pictures library, classic
films from other American and Canadian film studios, and specials. Family Channel's programming
format during this time mirrored that of fellow premium service The Disney Channel in the
United States, which has served as the primary source of Family's imported American programming
since its launch. At the time of its launch, Family Channel had broadcast for 16½ hours
each day, from 6 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 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. Rebranding and change in focus
On October 1, 1999, Family Channel underwent a significant rebranding, introducing a new
logo—a lowercase F enclosed in a circle—to replace its long-time "paint and sun" logo.
In 2000, Corus Entertainment acquired Western International Communications' stake in the
service and subsequently sold it to Astral in 2001. 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 the only family-oriented programming
featured on the channel by the mid-2000s becoming feature films.
In February 2007, Family began airing short programs from Disney Channel, alongside the
channel's own interstitials such as music videos, 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.
In 2009, Astral received approval from the CRTC for a new spin-off network for Family,
tentatively named "Family Extreme". In March 2011, Astral officially announced that it
would launch a Canadian version of Disney XD on June 1, 2011.
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, in an attempt to relieve concerns surrounding Bell's
total market share in English-language television following the merger. Bell filed a new application
for the proposed takeover with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
on March 6, 2013; the CRTC approved the merger on June 27, 2013, with Family Channel and
the Astral channels 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.
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, 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.
The acquisition of Family Channel and its sister networks by DHX was approved by the
CRTC on July 24, 2014. Under DHX ownership, the network is subject to new license conditions
requiring that less than 40% of its yearly Canadian programming be produced by companies
other than DHX. The acquisition was closed on July 31, 2014, forming a new division of
the company known as DHX Television. Programming
Family produces its own original programming, in addition to airing many series and original
movies from the U.S. cable network Disney Channel, and some third-party programming.
Though the majority of Family's international programming comes from Disney Channel and
Disney Junior, some live-action series from the U.S. channel Nickelodeon have aired on
Family Channel in the past, this occurred even as YTV strengthened its programming ties
with Nickelodeon during the 2000s; Nickelodeon's programming has now largely migrated to YTV.
The channel had also previously broadcast some original programming from Disney Channel's
U.S. sister network Disney XD; in April 2012, Pair of Kings became the last Disney XD series
to move exclusively to Family's Canadian sister channel of the same name.
As it is a premium service, Family does not air traditional commercial advertising, nor
does it air commercial breaks during programs. The network does air promotions in between
programs, for its own programming and sponsored contests, along with interstitial segments
such as FamJam music videos and similar segments sourced from Disney Channel. The network also
utilizes an "off-the-clock" schedule for programs airing during the early morning hours, with
series airing during that period running in timeslots of 23–27 minutes with limited
promotions between them. Original programming
In addition to carrying original series and movies sourced from Disney Channel, Family
also commissions its own original programming. Past and present original programs include:
Movies The channel also airs films, which are run
without interruption and typically air on weekends. Films aired in these timeslots consist
of either made-for-TV films produced by Disney Channel or older theatrically released feature
films. As it is licensed as a premium service, all films aired on Family are given parental
advisories by either the Canadian motion picture rating system or the Canadian TV Classification
System that appear prior to the start of the feature. Films aired on Family consist of
G, PG and some 14A-rated movies, no films with rated 14+ and above for non-theatrically
released films or 18A and above for theatrically released films are broadcast on the channel.
While it broadcasts original movies produced by Disney Channel, up until 2010, Family Channel
had not produced or distributed its own original made-for-television 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.
"Special edition" airings of some of the network's movies are also sometimes aired, including
sing-along versions of music-based films and "What's What" editions.
Programming blocks Current
Disney XD on Family - Shows feature programs that air on Disney XD.
Disney Junior on Family – Family Channel currently runs a program block featuring shows
targeted at children aged 3–9 on Monday through Fridays from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and 8:45
to 11 a.m., and weekend mornings from 4:30 to 8 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time, called
"Disney Junior". The block, which replaced "Playhouse Disney" on May 6, 2011 as part
of a rebranding of Playhouse Disney's program blocks and standalone channels around the
world into the Disney Junior brand, primarily targets preschoolers as Family's usual target
audience of older children and teenagers are in school at that time. As of July 2013, programs
currently seen in this block include Franny's Feet, Handy Manny, Harry and His Bucket Full
of Dinosaurs, Henry's World, Imagination Movers, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Jungle Junction,
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, The Secret World of Benjamin Bear and Strawberry Shortcake.
FamJams - This block airs between programs and shows Music videos from famous artists.
FamJams sometimes airs seasonal videos during Monstober, Twistmas or Big Ticket Summer.
Seasonal Christmas - Family Channel's December schedule
usually focuses on Christmas programming, with the title of the branding changing every
year. Since 2011, Family has branded its holiday season programming lineup as "Twistmas". The
block features various Christmas-themed films, along with Christmas episodes of the network's
original and imported series. Halloween – In October, Family Channel airs
Halloween-themed programming in an annual event, titled "Monstober", a brand used each
year since 2011. Halloween-themed films and episodes of the network's original and imported
series air within this block. During the month, interstitials featuring tips on Halloween
costumes and Halloween makeovers are also broadcast.
Big Ticket Summer - The network runs summer programming blocks every year with differing
themes. Since 2011, Family Channel has branded its summer programming lineup as "Big Ticket
Summer". This block airs during the months of July and August to take advantage of the
largest possible children's audience, and features new episodes of Family Channel and
Disney Channel series that premiere on Friday evenings. The channel also runs "stacks" or
mini-marathons of a certain show throughout the day that leads into a new episode of that
program. There are segments between shows such as Big Ticket Summer Playlist featuring
superstar playlists of their favourite songs. At the end of the summer, there is a big concert
named the Big Ticket Summer Concert held in changing cities. Cities hosting the 2014 Big
Ticket Summer Concerts are Toronto, Halifax and Edmonton.
Project Pet - This block airs every February with viewer videos of their pets doing clever
or funny things. It also airs The Adventures Of Super Pup and His Sidekick.
Former Power Box - Until 2006, Family carried an
early morning program block of Japanese-themed action shows including W.I.T.C.H., Power Rangers:
Dino Thunder, Oban Star Racers and Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go! that started at
6 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time. "Power Box" was discontinued in 2006, and was replaced
with Jetix. Jetix - Family launched its version of the
Jetix block on September 10, 2006, replacing "Power Box". The original Canadian Jetix block
included Get Ed, Oban Star Racers, Yin Yang Yo!, Pucca, Power Rangers: Mystic Force, Power
Rangers: Jungle Fury and Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive. Jetix aired on weekend mornings
from 6:03 to 7:45 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time; Jetix ended on August 1, 2009.
Mad Dash - "Mad Dash" was a block that mainly featured Disney-produced live-action and animated
series; it aired weekday afternoons from 11:49 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time.
Notable shows that aired within the block included Pucca, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,
Wizards of Waverly Place, Cory in the House, Fish Hooks, Ned's Declassified School Survival
Guide, Phineas and Ferb, Recess and The Replacements. "Mad Dash" was discontinued in early March
2010. Non Stop - This block aired mostly live-action
sitcoms every weekday evening and throughout the weekend. Notable shows that aired on this
block included The Suite Life on Deck, Hannah Montana, Sonny With a Chance, Wizards of Waverly
Place, Zeke and Luther, Aaron Stone, Jonas, and Overruled!, as well as reruns of The Suite
Life of Zack & Cody, Cory in the House, Life with Derek, and The Latest Buzz. "Non Stop"
ended on January 11, 2011. An off-shoot of this block called Non Stop Weekends ran on
Saturday and Sunday evenings until 9:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time; it was discontinued
on January 9, 2011, two days before the main "Non Stop" block ended.
Family Nights - Airing every Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern and
Pacific Time, it featured The Suite Life on Deck, Hannah Montana and other series. "Family
Nights" was discontinued on June 25, 2010. Surprise Stack Attack! - On October 13, 2011,
Family began airing 'stacks' of surprise programming. In program listings, it was referenced as
"To Be Announced" as Family Channel did not release the schedules for the block in advance.
"Surprise Stack Attack!" aired on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time,
ending on May 31, 2012. Related services
Disney Junior
The Canadian version of Disney Junior launched as a multiplex channel of Family, originally
known as Playhouse Disney Channel, on November 30, 2007. It operates as a 24-hour commercial-free
channel carrying programs aimed at preschool-aged children. The channel was relaunched under
the new Disney Junior brand on May 6, 2011. Unlike Family, Disney Junior only operates
a Eastern Time Zone feed, which is broadcast nationally.
Because 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. Existing subscribers of Family are automatically eligible to receive
Disney Junior 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-aimed specialty channel, Treehouse TV, despite the
format protection guidelines for specialty channels. 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. A French-language version of Disney Junior launched on July
5, 2010. It was rebranded as Disney Junior on May 6, 2011 to coincide with the rebranding
of the English channel. However, unlike the English version of Disney Junior, the French
version is a category 2 service operating on a separate licence from Family Channel.
Family HD On January 11, 2011, Family Channel launched
a high definition feed called Family HD that simulcasts the East Coast standard definition
feed. The channel broadcasts in the 1080i picture format. Most of the channel's original
programming as well as Disney Channel-produced programs produced from 2009 onward is produced
and broadcast in HD, along with feature films, Disney Channel original movies made after
2005 and select episodes, films and series produced before 2009.
Family On Demand Family OnDemand is the channel's video on
demand service that is available to subscribers of the channel; it features select episodes
of original series produced by Family Channel, as well as original programming supplied by
Disney Channel, which provides the vast majority of the American program content on the linear
Family channel. A Disney Junior version launched on May 6, 2011.
Radio Disney In October 2011, Family Channel began offering
a live audio stream of U.S. children's music network Radio Disney through Family.ca.
References
External links Official website