Disney Junior is a Canadian English-language specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment which launched on December 1, 2015. It is a localised version of the U.S. network owned by The Walt Disney Company, broadcasting animated programming aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 7.
History
Prior to September 2015, DHX Media (previously Astral Media) operated Disney Junior-branded television services in Canada in the English and French languages as spin-offs of Family Channel since May 6, 2011. In April 2015, Corus acquired Canadian rights to Disney Channel's programming and associated brands. Upon the announcement of the rights deal, Corus stated that it would launch "select Disney branded kids linear television offerings" in the future, after the launch of a Canadian version of Disney Channel.[1][2][3][4]
In August 2015, television provider VMedia stated on its website that Corus would launch Disney Junior and Disney XD channels on December 1, 2015.[5] Upon its launch on September 1, 2015, Disney Channel aired a programming block featuring Disney Junior programs.[6] DHX's Disney Junior services were re-branded as Family Jr. and Télémagino on September 18.[7]
Corus's Disney Junior channel officially launched on December 1, 2015 along with Disney XD.[8] DHX's rights to broadcast Disney Junior programming expired on January 1, 2016.[3]
On September 1, 2017, the channel obtained a discretionary service licence;[9] it had been operating as an exempt channel before then.[10]
There is no French-language counterpart, however, Disney La Chaîne offers the morning programming block Disney Junior sur La Chaîne Disney to carry network programming in the French language.
On April 21, 2018, the network aired its first film, The Lion King (1994), and has continued to air films since then, such as Cars, Cars 2, and Finding Nemo.
Programming
Current programming
Original programming
Animated series
- Alice's Wonderland Bakery (February 12, 2022 – present)
- Disney Junior's Ariel (June 29, 2024 - present)
- Firebuds (September 24, 2022 – present)
- Mickey Mouse Funhouse (August 22, 2021 – present)
- Pupstruction (June 17, 2023 – present)
- Spidey and His Amazing Friends (August 7, 2021 – present)
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (May 4, 2023 – present)
- SuperKitties (January 12, 2023 – present)
Acquired programming
- Bluey (October 4, 2020 – present)
- Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes (March 25, 2023 – present)
- Morphle And The Magic Pets (June 7, 2024 – present)
- PJ Masks (February 7, 2016 – present)
Acquired from Treehouse TV
- Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe (August 2023 – present)
Reruns of ended series
Original programming
- Puppy Dog Pals (April 23, 2017 – present)
- Sofia the First (December 1, 2015 – August 31, 2019; September 1, 2023 (current run))
- T.O.T.S. (June 22, 2019 – August 29, 2022; September 1, 2023 (current run))
Reruns of acquired programming
- Little Charmers (December 31, 2018 – present)
- Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (March 10, 2023 – present)
- Mike the Knight (January 1, 2018 – March 9, 2023; July 31, 2023 (current run))
- The Berenstain Bears (September 3, 2016 – August 30, 2018; July 31, 2023 (current run))
- The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! (August 17, 2020 – present)
- The Remarkable Mr. King (September 11, 2021 – present)
- Trucktown (September 1, 2018 – present)
- The ZhuZhus (November 20, 2017 – present)
Former programming
Original programming
- Doc McStuffins[8] (December 1, 2015 – September 1, 2020; November 6, 2020 – September 1, 2021)
- Elena of Avalor (July 23, 2016 - September 1, 2020)
- Eureka! (June 25, 2022 – June 11, 2023)
- Fancy Nancy (July 14, 2018 – August 29, 2022)
- Goldie & Bear (December 1, 2015 – September 1, 2019)
- Handy Manny (December 1, 2015 – August 31, 2016)
- Henry Hugglemonster (December 1, 2015 – August 26, 2017)
- Jake and the Never Land Pirates[11] (December 1, 2015 – August 28, 2017)
- Little Einsteins (December 1, 2015 – August 26, 2017)
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (December 1, 2015 – September 1, 2019)
- Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (January 21, 2017 – August 29, 2022)
- Miles from Tomorrowland (December 1, 2015 – September 1, 2019)
- Mira, Royal Detective (March 22, 2020 – September 1, 2023)
- Muppet Babies (March 24, 2018 – August 29, 2022)
- Sheriff Callie's Wild West[11] (December 1, 2015 – August 28, 2017)
- Special Agent Oso (December 1, 2015 – August 31, 2016)
- The Chicken Squad (May 16, 2021 – August 2022)
- The Lion Guard (January 17, 2016 – September 1, 2020)
- The Rocketeer (November 10, 2019 – August 30, 2020)
- Vampirina (October 7, 2017 –August 28, 2021)
Live-action series
- Imagination Movers (December 1, 2015 – August 31, 2016)
Acquired programming
- Chuggington (January 23, 2017 – January 1, 2021; July 5, 2021 – March 9, 2023)
- Dinopaws (August 28, 2017 – December 30, 2018)
- Gigantosaurus (January 19, 2019 – September 1, 2023)
- Guess with Jess (December 1, 2015 – September 2, 2016; December 5 – 30, 2016)
- Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (January 6, 2020 – August 15, 2020)
- Jane and the Dragon (December 1, 2015 – September 2, 2016)
- My Big Big Friend (September 1, 2018 – February 25, 2019)
- My Friend Rabbit (December 1, 2015 – August 30, 2018)
- Pikwik Pack (January 14, 2022 – August 2023)
- Rolie Polie Olie (December 1, 2015 – August 30, 2018)
- Timothy Goes to School (September 3, 2016 – August 27, 2017)
- Willa's Wild Life (December 1, 2015 – August 30, 2018)
- Zigby (January 2, 2017 – May 28, 2017)
First launch programming
These are the programs that aired on the first launch of Disney Junior Canada.
- Bananas in Pyjamas (February 19, 2013 – September 17, 2015)
- Bear in the Big Blue House (May 6, 2011 - May 25, 2012; September 3, 2012 - September 29, 2013)
- Bubble Guppies (May 10, 2011 - December 31, 2012)
- Bunnytown (May 6, 2011 – May 2012)
- Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot (May 6, 2011 – June 30, 2012)
- DuckTales (October 2011 – September 30, 2013)
- Franny's Feet (May 6, 2011 – September 1, 2014; August 31, 2015 – September 17, 2015)
- Gerald McBoing-Boing (May 6, 2011 – July 31, 2011)
- Henry's World (May 6, 2011 – August 31, 2013)
- Higglytown Heroes (May 6, 2011 – September 27, 2013)
- Johnny and the Sprites (May 6, 2011 – September 2, 2012)
- JoJo's Circus (May 6, 2011 – September 1, 2013)
- Julius Jr. (May 2, 2015 – September 17, 2015)
- Jungle Junction (May 6, 2011 – August 30, 2015)
- Justin Time (September 16, 2012 - September 17, 2015)
- Kate and Mim-Mim (September 5, 2015 – September 17, 2015)
- Katie and Orbie (May 6, 2011 – December 31, 2012)
- Lalaloopsy (September 27, 2014 – September 17, 2015)
- My Friends Tigger & Pooh (May 6, 2011 - September 17, 2015)
- Out of the Box (July 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012; December 31, 2012 – August 31, 2014)
- Sarah & Duck (July 7, 2014 – September 17, 2015)
- Stanley (May 6, 2011 – September 29, 2013)
- Stella and Sam (May 6, 2011 – September 17, 2015)
- Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures (May 6, 2011 – September 17, 2015)
- The Secret World of Benjamin Bear (May 6, 2011 – August 30, 2015)
- The Little Mermaid (September 16, 2013 – August 31, 2014)
- Thomas & Friends (May 24, 2015 – September 17, 2015)
- Tickety Toc (April 23, 2012 – September 17, 2015)
- Tinga Tinga Tales (June 26, 2016 - January 1, 2017)
- Topsy and Tim (September 5, 2015 – September 17, 2015)
- Twirlywoos (September 5, 2015 – September 17, 2015)
- Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (May 6, 2011 – June 30, 2015)
- Yo Gabba Gabba! (September 5, 2015 – September 17, 2015)
- Yup Yups (September 16, 2013 – September 17, 2015)
Notes
- ^ Season 6 “PJ Masks: Power Heroes” only
- ^ Season 4 only
- ^ Is a live-action T.V series
References
- ^ "Corus Entertainment and Disney/ABC Television Group Join Forces in Landmark Licensing Agreement" (Press release). Corus Entertainment. CNW Group. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "DHX Media to buy Family, other children's channels". Toronto Star. November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ a b "Corus gains Canadian rights to Disney Channel content". The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ "DHX-Disney Divorce Almost Done". Cartt.ca. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ "Changes to Kids Channels". VMedia. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ "It's #HereForReal Canada! Corus Entertainment Launches Disney Channel in 10 Million Households" (Press release). Toronto: Corus Entertainment. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ "DHX TELEVISION'S REBRANDED FAMILY JR. AND TÉLÉMAGINO NETWORKS REVEALED TODAY" (Press release). DHX Media. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
- ^ a b "Disney XD & Disney Junior to Roll Out in Canada Next Month". WorldScreen. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-150.htm
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20160414051439/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/BCASTING/catb_e3l.htm
- ^ a b "Disney Junior". disneychannel.ca Buzz Blog. Corus Entertainment. November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.[permanent dead link]
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