Family Jr.
Family Jr. was a Canadian specialty channel owned by WildBrain. A sister channel to Family Channel, it broadcast children's programming aimed at viewers aged 2 to 7. Legally, the channel operated as a multiplex service of Family Channel, stemming from its former licensing status as a premium television service; therefore, it was distributed at no additional charge to Family Channel subscribers. Along with its French-language counterpart, Télémagino, it was available in over 4 million Canadian households as of 2013.
The channel launched on November 30, 2007, as a Canadian version of Playhouse Disney, under license from Disney Channels Worldwide. It then rebranded under Disney's new preschool television brand Disney Junior on May 6, 2011. Following Bell Media's acquisition of Astral in 2013, the channel, along with its sister networks were divested to DHX Media in 2014. In 2015, Family Channel lost the rights to Disney Channel programming to Corus Entertainment: this resulted in the launch of a [Disney Junior (Canadian TV channel)|new Corus-run Disney Junior channel], and DHX's existing Disney Junior channel being rebranded as Family Jr.–a brand extension of Family Channel–on September 18, 2015.
History
As Playhouse Disney and Disney Junior
The channel originally launched as Playhouse Disney on November 30, 2007; as Family was originally licensed as a premium television service, it is allowed to operate multiplex channels consistent with the network's licence, thus the channel did not require separate CRTC approval, and 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 license.
On May 6, 2011, the networks were rebranded under Disney's new preschool television brand, Disney Junior.
On March 4, 2013, Bell Media announced that it would divest the Family Channel networks as part of its then-proposed acquisition of Astral Media. On November 28, 2013, DHX Media announced it would acquire the Family Channel networks $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 brand extensions of Family Channel; Disney Junior was re-branded as Family Jr. on September 18, 2015. A Corus-owned incarnation of Disney Junior later ran from December 1, 2015 to September 1, 2025.Closure
On December 18, 2024, WildBrain announced that it would sell a two-thirds majority stake of its television operations—including Family Channel—to IoM Media Ventures, a Halifax-based company founded by former WildBrain CEO Dana Landry.In April 2025, WildBrain stated that it would be renegotiating aspects of the agreement, citing factors such as a decision by Bell Canada not to renew its carriage agreements for WildBrain's channels, pulling them from their lineup on May 20.
On August 25, 2025, WildBrain announced that it was unable to renew its carriage agreements with Rogers Cable. It therefore announced plans to close all of its specialty channels in the near future, as the loss of these carriage agreements meant the channels had lost most of their value and were "no longer commercially viable". All four networks shut down at 5:59 a.m. Eastern on October 23, though some providers stopped their carriage of the channels at midnight several hours earlier.
Programming
Final programming
Canadian productions
Beep & Mort Big Block SingSong Caillou Chip and Potato Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy Happy House of Frightenstein Jonny Jetboy Justin Time Kate & Mim-Mim Kiwi & Strit Mighty Mike Polly Pocket Rev & Roll Space Ranger RogerAcquired programming
ALVINNN!!! and the ChipmunksArthur Ask the StoryBotsBlippi Visits Brave Bunnies Bubble Guppies Care Bears: Unlock the Magic Curious George Dog Loves Books DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders Fireman Sam Grizzy & the Lemmings Go Jetters Hey Duggee Jungle Beat Lucas the Spider Madagascar: A Little Wild Norman Picklestripes Petronix Defenders The Smurfs Sunny Bunnies Super Wings Teletubbies The Tiny Chef Show Twirlywoos- ''Where's Waldo?''
Former programming
Bananas in Pyjamas Bob the BuilderCare Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot DinotruxElias: Rescue Team AdventuresFranny's Feet Gerald McBoing-Boing Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs Henry's World In the Night Garden... Julius Jr. Katie and Orbie King Kody KapowLalaloopsy Little PeopleMack & MoxyMessy Goes to OkidoNature Cat Noddy, Toyland DetectivePajanimalsPlaydateRainbow RubySarah & Duck The Save-Ums! The Secret World of Benjamin Bear Something Else Stella and Sam Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures Super Why! Thomas & Friends Tickety Toc Topsy and TimWaybuloo Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! YaYa and Zouk Yo Gabba Gabba!- ''Yup Yups''
Disney programming
Titles in bold indicate programs that were moved to the new incarnation of Disney Junior.Bear in the Big Blue House Bunnytown Doc McStuffins DuckTales Handy Manny Henry Hugglemonster Higglytown Heroes Imagination Movers Johnny and the Sprites JoJo's Circus Jungle Junction Jake and the Never Land Pirates The Little Mermaid Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Miles from Tomorrowland My Friends Tigger & Pooh Out of the Box Sheriff Callie's Wild West Special Agent Oso Sofia the First- ''Stanley''