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Disney Jr. (Canada)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about a Canadian television channel that was operated by Corus Entertainment and launched on December 1, 2015. For the Canadian English-language channel formerly known as Disney Junior, see Family Jr. For the French-language channel previously known as Disney Junior, see Télémagino.

Disney Jr.
Final logo used from 2024 to 2025
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
LanguageEnglish
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerCorus Entertainment
(branding licensed from Disney Branded Television)
Sister channels
History
LaunchedDecember 1, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-12-01)
ClosedSeptember 1, 2025; 9 months ago (2025-09-01)
Replaced byDisney Channel (programming)
Former namesDisney Junior (2015–2024)
Links
WebsiteDisney Jr. Canada (archived July 2025)

Disney Jr. was a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment which launched on December 1, 2015. It was a localized version of the American cable network of the same name operated under license from Disney Branded Television, a division of The Walt Disney Company which broadcast animated programming aimed at children and preschoolers ages 2 to 8.

History

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Original run (2011–2015)

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From May 6, 2011 to September 18, 2015, DHX Media (now WildBrain) operated an English-language Disney Junior-branded channel in Canada as a multiplex of Family Channel (originally launched as Playhouse Disney on November 30, 2007). The channel had a French-language counterpart (launched on July 5, 2010 as Playhouse Disney Télé), operating under a separate license.

In April 2015, Corus acquired Canadian rights to Disney Channel's programming and associated brands. After the announcement of the rights deal, Corus stated that it would launch several Disney branded channels in the future, after the launch of a Canadian version of Disney Channel.[1][2][3][4]

Relaunch and second closure (2015–2025)

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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 rebranded as Family Jr. and Télémagino on September 18, 2015, and both channels shut down on October 23, 2025.[7]

Corus's English-language Disney Junior channel officially launched on December 1, 2015 alongside their Disney XD channel.[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 was no French-language counterpart launched, however, La Chaîne Disney offered the morning programming block Disney Junior sur La Chaîne Disney to carry the network's programming in the French language, until the network's permanent closure (along with Disney Jr. itself) on September 1, 2025.

On April 21, 2018, the network aired its first film, The Lion King (1994), and continued to air films (including Cars, Cars 2, and Finding Nemo) until early 2021.

In December 2022, Disney Junior was added to StackTV, along with Disney Channel and Disney XD.

On July 10, 2025, Corus announced that they would close Disney Jr. alongside a selection of Disney-licensed channels (Disney XD, La Chaîne Disney and ABC Spark), as well as the unrelated Nickelodeon, at midnight permanently on September 1, due to financial pressure occurring at the company.[11] Despite the closure, Corus confirmed that it would continue to air the channel's content on Disney Channel. The last show to air on the channel before its midnight closure was the Bluey minisode "Tattoo Shop", after which the channel switched to a slate stating "This channel is no longer available". Within the 24-hour channel shutdown on September 1, 2025, there were no major changes to the programming block itself.[12]

Logos

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  • 2017–2024
    2017–2024
  • 2024–2025
    2024–2025

References

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  1. ^ "Corus Entertainment and Disney/ABC Television Group Join Forces in Landmark Licensing Agreement" (Press release). Corus Entertainment. CNW Group. April 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "DHX Media to buy Family, other children's channels". Toronto Star. November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Corus gains Canadian rights to Disney Channel content". The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  4. ^ "DHX-Disney Divorce Almost Done". Cartt.ca. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  5. ^ "Changes to Kids Channels". VMedia. August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "It's #HereForReal Canada! Corus Entertainment Launches Disney Channel in 10 Million Households" (Press release). Toronto: Corus Entertainment. September 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Disney XD & Disney Junior to Roll Out in Canada Next Month". WorldScreen. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "Corus Entertainment Inc. – Licence renewals for English-language television stations and services". May 15, 2017.
  10. ^ "List of Exempt Category B and Exempt Third-Language Services". www.crtc.gc.ca. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "Corus to pull plug on some kids channels amid financial pressure". Cartt.ca. July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  12. ^ "TV Schedule for Disney Junior Canada". TV Passport. Archived from the original on August 28, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
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