Disney Junior (Canadian English TV channel)

Disney Junior
Disney Junior logo, 2011-present
Launched	November 30, 2007 (original launch; as Playhouse Disney Channel) May 6, 2011 (relaunch; as Disney Junior)
Owned by	Astral Media
Picture format	480i (SDTV)
Slogan	Where the Magic Begins
Country	Canada
Language	English
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Formerly called	Playhouse Disney
Sister channel(s)	Family Disney XD
Website	Disney Junior
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV	Channel 549
Cable
Rogers Cable	Channels 68, 218
Vidéotron	Channel 159
Available on most other cable systems	Check local listings for availability
IPTV
Bell Aliant TV	Channel 259
Optik TV	Channel 74

Disney Junior is a Canadian English language premium television service aimed at preschoolers. It was launched as a multiplex of Family originally known as Playhouse Disney Channel on November 30, 2007, a 24/7 commercial-free channel carrying programs aimed at preschool-aged children.^[1] Unlike Family, Disney Junior has only one national feed operating from the Eastern Time Zone. For satellite, it is exclusively carried on Bell TV. The channel was re-launched under the new Disney Junior brand on May 6, 2011.^[2]

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, 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.^[3]

A French language version of the channel, then known as Playhouse Disney Télé, launched on July 5, 2010. It was re-launched 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 using its own licence, which originally branded the channel as a spin-off of Vrak.TV.

List of programs broadcast by Disney Junior

Current programming

• Bear in the Big Blue House (May 6, 2011–present)
• Bunnytown
• Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot
• Ducktales
• Franny's Feet (May 6, 2011–present)
• Handy Manny (May 6, 2011–present)
• Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs
• Henry's World (May 6, 2011–present)
• Higglytown Heroes
• Imagination Movers (May 6, 2011–present)
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates (May 6, 2011–present)
• Johnny and the Sprites (May 6, 2011–present)
• JoJo's Circus (May 6, 2011–present)
• Jungle Junction (May 6, 2011–present)
• Katie and Orbie (May 6, 2011–present)
• Little Einsteins
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (May 6, 2011–present)
• Out of the Box (July 1, 2011–present)
• The Secret World of Benjamin Bear (May 6, 2011–present)
• Special Agent Oso (May 6, 2011–present)
• Stanley (May 6, 2011–present)
• Stella and Sam (May 6, 2011–present)
• Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures
• Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (May 6, 2011–present)

(Note: many of the programs that are listed as beginning May 6, 2011 were aired on the channel under its previous name.)

Former programming

• Gerald McBoing-Boing (May 6, 2011–July 31, 2011)

Future programming

The list of programs below is expected, announced, or rumoured to debut on the channel's lineup.

• 7D (TBA)
• Art Attack (TBA)
• Doc McSuffins (TBA 2012)
• Oki's Oasis (TBA 2013)
• Sofia the First (TBA)
• The Wiggles (TBA)
• Tinga Tinga Tales (TBA)

Interstitial programming (cartoon shorts)

• A Poem Is...
• Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?
• Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales
• Choo-Choo Soul
• Dance-a-Lot Robot
• Feeling Good with JoJo!
• Franny's Treasures
• Handy Manny's School for Tools
• Happy Monster Band
• Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol
• Mickey's Mousekersize
• Shane's Kindergarten Countdown
• Shanna's Show
• Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps
• Tasty Time With ZeFronk
• Where Is Warehouse Mouse?

Related services

Disney Junior OnDemand

Disney Junior OnDemand is a video on demand service featuring programming from Disney Junior, available to subscribers of Family and Disney Junior. Disney Junior launched its own On Demand channel on May 6, 2011. ^[4]

References

1. ^ Playhouse Disney splashes out for Canuck launch, KidScreen, 2007-11-01
2. ^ DISNEY JUNIOR LAUNCHES MAY 6 WITH NEW PROGRAMS AND A NOD TO CLASSIC DISNEY CHARACTERS AND MAGIC, CNW, 2011-03-03
3. ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-386, CRTC, 2002-11-28
4. ^ Disney Junior On Demand

External links

• Disney Junior (English)