Family Channel (Canadian TV channel)
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | The Family Channel Inc. (Astral Media) |
Family, sometimes referred to as Family Channel, is a Canadian premium television service marketed to children. It is owned by Astral Media.
History
Family was licensed as a pay TV service by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1987 as a joint venture between Allarcom Pay Television and First Choice, with both companies owning a 50% stake in the service. It launched as Family Channel on September 1, 1988. In 2000, Corus Entertainment acquired WIC's stake in the service and subsequently sold it to Astral in 2001.
In most respects it now acts as a speciality service as are similar services such as YTV. However, in line with CRTC regulations for premium channels, no commercials are shown on this channel, aside from promos for other programs aired between shows. Dance Fever, which aired on Family in 2003, is the only program to have ever taken breaks during the show. Family was the only English-language children's network in Canada to have off-air hours, since Treehouse TV expanded their schedule to be run 24/7. However, it now appears that, as of July 1, 2007, Family has switched to a 24/7 broadcast schedule.
In February 2007, Family began airing short shows and commercial-style breaks from Disney Channel such as Disney's Really Short Report, Meet the Family, and the returning feature Movie Surfers. It also became closer to a Disney Channel identity when they air music videos. Every two weeks, there are a group of music videos that can be aired at three different lengths. As an extra, they started to air a program called "Win It", which gives out prizes to every winner who competed in their contest. Some of the contests include sponsors such as LaSenza Girl, movies, and prize packs from TV shows usually broadcasted on the channel.
Aside from some common programming, Family has never been affiliated with the U.S. channel previously known as The Family Channel, however, American cable providers have used Family Channel's "Paint and Sun" logo, for its logo on the channel guide.
Logos
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Family logo used until 1999
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Family logo used since 1999 to the present
Programming
Family airs its own original programming, as well as many series and original movies from U.S. service Disney Channel, along with some series from Nickelodeon and ABC Family. It also airs theatrical films.
The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East (Eastern Time) and West (Pacific Time).
Family runs episodes of their programming by production code order, instead of the order of their original broadcast run on American and other foreign channels. Many times this does place episodes out of order storyline wise, as many shows film episodes out of order.
Original programming
Family gets its shows from Disney Channel and Nickelodeon mostly, but it also airs its own original programming. The original programs are:
- Mentors (1999-2004)
- Radio Free Roscoe (2002-2005)
- King (2003-present)
- Darcy's Wild Life (2004-2006)
- Naturally, Sadie (2005-2007)
- Life with Derek (2005-present)
- The Latest Buzz (2008-present)
Featured movies
Family airs movies on Fridays and weekends. It airs three movies on Friday nights, with the first one sometimes being a featured movie, such as Kim Possible: So the Drama or High School Musical, Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years and Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. The second movie a PG, PG-13, or 14A rated movie. An example of this would be Double Teamed. The third movie of the Friday night would be in the rating ranges of General to Restricted. An example of the third movie would be RocketMan. Family shows four movies for Saturdays and Sundays each, with two during the afternoon and two at night, with one of the Sunday afternoon airings sometimes a repeat of Friday's featured movie. Prior to September 2005 Family also aired a movie on Mondays-Thursdays nights.
Programming blocks
Jetix
Family began their own Jetix block on September 10, 2006, replaced the "Power Box" block. The original Canadian Jetix block includes Get Ed, Oban Star Racers, Yin Yang Yo, Pucca, Power Rangers: Mystic Force, Power Rangers: Jungle Fury and Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive. Jetix airs from 6:03AM ET through 7:45AM ET on weekend mornings.
Two shows that was part of the Power Box block, retro Spider-Man and Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!, have been dropped with the conversion to Jetix.
Power Box
Until 2003, Family showed a Jetix-type early morning programming block of Japanese-themed fighting shows including W.I.T.C.H., Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, Oban Star Racers, Spider-Man and S.R.M.T.H.F.G.. In 2003, Power Box programming was dropped and replaced with a new type of Power Box called Jetix.
Playhouse
It airs shows especially for preschoolers every weekday mornings from 4:30AM - 6:30AM ET with a break for Mad Dash shows until 8:45AM, and it ends for the day at 11:25AM ET. Notable shows currently airing are: Little Einsteins, Franny's Feet, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Higglytown Heroes, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Handy Manny , My Friends Tigger and Pooh and a few more.
Mad Dash
It airs mainly Disney animated shows for pre-teens and teens every weekday afternoons from 11:49AM ET until 5:03PM ET. Notable shows currently airing are: Kim Possible, The Proud Family, American Dragon: Jake Long, Filmore!, The Emperor's New School, Disney's Recess, The Replacements and The Weekenders.
Non Stop
Its airs mostly live-action sitcoms every weekday evenings & all weekend long. Notable shows currently airing are: That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana, Cory in the House, Zoey 101, Phil of the Future, Lizzie McGuire, Flight 29 Down, Naturally, Sadie, Wizards of Waverly Place, Life with Derek, and The Latest Buzz.
Non Stop Weekends
Every Saturday and Sunday, Family runs a series of "Non Stop" programming in a different schedule until 9:00 p.m.
Family OnDemand
Like what many channels are doing now, Family has created "Family OnDemand". An on demand television channel allowing viewers to play, fast-forward, rewind and pause the program. It contains programming from the program blocks shown above. It is updated every Tuesday and is currently only available Cogeco Digital Cable customers (Channel 351), Source Cable (Channel 125) and to those who subscribe to Family. The service launched March 4, 2008 from Astral Media.
Playhouse Disney Canada
A Canadian version of Playhouse Disney launched as a multiplex channel of Family on November 30, 2007. As with its Disney-owned counterparts in the rest of the world, it is a commercial-free channel carrying programs aimed at preschool-aged children, 24 hours a day. Unlike the flagship feed, Family, that has both an East and West coast feed, Playhouse Disney has only one national feed operating from the Eastern Time Zone.
Because Family is licensed as a premium service, no additional licence is required to launch the channel. Existing subscribers of Family will automatically be eligible to receive Playhouse Disney free of charge, subject to carriage by their cable or satellite provider; however, it is not available on a standalone basis. The use of a premium service licence also means that the channel can compete directly with Canada's existing preschooler-aimed speciality channel, Treehouse TV, despite the format protection guidelines for speciality channels.
International distribution
- Jamaica - distributed on Flow Cable systems. [1]
- Bahamas - distributed on Cable Bahamas systems. [2]