Disney Junior (Canada)
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
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.
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
.
(Note: many of the programs that are listed as beginning May 6, 2011 were aired on the channel under its previous name.)
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.
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is a current program block on Disney Channel and an upcoming American basic cable and satellite television network intended to replace SOAPnet in February 2012. It began airing on February 14, 2011, replacing Playhouse Disney....
is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
premium television service aimed at preschoolers. It was launched as a multiplex
Multiplex (TV)
A multiplex or mux is a group of TV channels that are mixed together for broadcast over a digital TV channel and separated out again by the receiver...
of Family originally known as Playhouse Disney Channel
Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney was Disney Channel's television block for programs aimed at entertaining preschool aged children, often airing as its own channel outside the United States. It was introduced in 1997 after Disney Channel's move to basic cable from premium cable, with a target audience of children...
on November 30, 2007, a 24/7 commercial-free channel carrying programs aimed at preschool-aged children. Unlike Family, Disney Junior has only one national feed operating from the Eastern Time Zone
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
. For satellite, it is exclusively carried on Bell TV. The channel was re-launched under the new Disney Junior
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is a current program block on Disney Channel and an upcoming American basic cable and satellite television network intended to replace SOAPnet in February 2012. It began airing on February 14, 2011, replacing Playhouse Disney....
brand on May 6, 2011.
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
Treehouse TV
Treehouse TV is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel with programming targeted towards preschoolers that was launched on October 17, 1997. Its name comes from YTV's old children's programming block, The 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.
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
Category 2 specialty channel
A Category B service is a Canadian specialty television channel which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, may be carried, optionally, by all digital cable television and direct broadcast satellite providers.Unlike Category A services, Category B services...
service using its own licence, which originally branded the channel as a spin-off of Vrak.TV
VRAK.TV
VRAK.TV is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel aimed at youth audiences. VRAK.TV is currently owned by Astral Media.-History:...
.
Current programming
- Bear in the Big Blue HouseBear in the Big Blue HouseBear in the Big Blue House is a television program for young children produced for the Playhouse Disney channel by Mitchell Kriegman and The Jim Henson Company. It first aired in 1997, and re-runs of the show continue to air on Playhouse Disney . It is produced by The Jim Henson Company and Shadow...
(May 6, 2011–present) - BunnytownBunnytownBunnytown is a children's television series that airs on Playhouse Disney's block in the United States and Canada, as well as more than seventy other countries...
- Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lotCare Bears: Adventures in Care-a-LotCare Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot is an animated television series by SD Entertainment and Cookie Jar Entertainment that premiered on CBS's KEWLopolis line-up on September 15, 2007, and is designed to be an immediate follow up to the movie Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!...
- DucktalesDuckTalesDuckTales is an American animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. Based on Carl Barks' Uncle Scrooge comic book series, it premiered on September 18, 1987 and ended on November 28, 1990 with a total of four seasons and 100 episodes...
- Franny's FeetFranny's FeetFranny's Feet is an animated series for children. It is produced by DHX Media/Halifax Film in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and created by Cathy Moss and Susan Nielsen. The show follows the adventures of four-year-old Frances "Franny" Fantootsie as she tries on various pairs of shoes and travels to...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Handy MannyHandy MannyHandy Manny is a Disney animated children's television program that premiered on September 16, 2006. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney daily block intended for preschoolers...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Harry and His Bucket Full of DinosaursHarry and His Bucket Full of DinosaursHarry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs is a series of children's books written and drawn by Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds. The series is about a 5-year-old boy named Harry, who has a bucket full of dinosaurs. In the books the dinosaurs talk to Harry but seem to be toys to the other characters...
- Henry's World (May 6, 2011–present)
- Higglytown HeroesHigglytown HeroesHigglytown Heroes is a children's television series currently airing on the Disney Junior portion of the Disney Channel, or, on some cable networks, the Playhouse Disney channel...
- Imagination MoversImagination Movers (TV series)Imagination Movers is an American television series that premiered on September 6, 2008 on Disney Channel. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney daily block intended for preschoolers...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Jake and the Never Land PiratesJake and the Never Land PiratesJake and the Never Land Pirates is a musical animated Disney Junior show based on the successful Disney franchise, Peter Pan. It is the first Disney Junior original show following the switch from Playhouse Disney...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Johnny and the SpritesJohnny and the SpritesJohnny and the Sprites is a musical television show aimed for preschoolers that airs every weekend on the "Playhouse Disney" program of The Disney Channel. The show was created for, is produced by, and stars John Tartaglia . The show's theme song was written by Stephen Schwartz...
(May 6, 2011–present) - JoJo's CircusJoJo's CircusJoJo's Circus is a musical comedy series for preschool children. The series debuted in 2003 and airs in the United States on the Disney Channel as part of the Playhouse Disney morning programming schedule at 6am eastern time. The program airs daily on both the UK and Australian versions of...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Jungle JunctionJungle JunctionJungle Junction is a current CGI animated children's television series created by Trevor Ricketts. It airs on Disney Junior in the United States, as well as Playhouse Disney in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and on Playhouse Disney in Asia. It is produced in the UK by...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Katie and OrbieKatie and OrbieKatie and Orbie is an animated television series aimed at preschoolers, originally broadcast in Canada in 1994 by Family Channel and later aired in the United States on PBS from 1995–1997 and on Disney Channel from 1997–2000. In Canada, the series still airs on Family and Disney Junior...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Little EinsteinsLittle EinsteinsLittle Einsteins is an animated television series on Disney Junior. The educational preschool series was developed for television by Douglas Wood who created the concept and characters, and a subsequent team headed by Emmy Award-winning director Olexa Hewryk and Dora the Explorer co-creator Eric...
- Mickey Mouse ClubhouseMickey Mouse ClubhouseMickey Mouse Clubhouse is a children's television series, that premiered in prime time on Disney Channel on May 5, 2006. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney daily block intended for preschoolers...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Out of the Box (July 1, 2011–present)
- The Secret World of Benjamin BearThe Secret World of Benjamin BearThe Secret World of Benjamin Bear was an animated television series produced from 2003 to 2009 by PorchLight Entertainment and Amberwood Entertainment...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Special Agent OsoSpecial Agent OsoSpecial Agent Oso is a current Disney Channel series created by Ford Riley. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney block intended for preschoolers...
(May 6, 2011–present) - StanleyStanley (TV series)Stanley is an animated television series that was aired on Playhouse Disney, based on the series of children's books written by Andrew Griffin...
(May 6, 2011–present) - Stella and Sam (May 6, 2011–present)
- Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty AdventuresStrawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty AdventuresStrawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures is the 2009 relaunch of Strawberry Shortcake featuring the voice of Anna Cummer as the title character and it is the remake of the previous Strawberry Shortcake series. The series, produced by Moonscoop, follows the adventures of Strawberry and her...
- Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an American animated television series created by Bob Boyle. The series is animated in Toon Boom and Adobe Flash software, produced by Bolder Media, and Starz Media...
(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 AttackArt AttackArt Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of ITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The brand new series launched on Disney Junior on June 6 2011 and is presented by...
(TBA) - Doc McSuffins (TBA 2012)
- Oki's Oasis (TBA 2013)
- Sofia the First (TBA)
- The WigglesThe WigglesThe Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
(TBA) - Tinga Tinga TalesTinga Tinga TalesTinga Tinga Tales is a Kenyan/British 78 episodes children's series based on African folk tales and aimed at 4- to 6-year olds. It was commissioned by the BBC for its CBeebies channel, and by Disney Channel for its Disney Junior block....
(TBA)
Interstitial programming (cartoon shorts)
- A Poem Is...
- Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?Can You Teach My Alligator Manners? is a show that airs on Disney Junior in the USA, Canada and Great Britain and Ireland.-Synopsis:Mikey's pet alligator Al needs some help learning how to behave properly...
- Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales
- Choo-Choo SoulChoo-Choo SoulChoo Choo Soul is a children's entertainment act composed of singer Genevieve Goings as a hip-hop train conductor and her partner, Constantine “DC” Abramson, a dancer and beatboxer dressed as a railroad engineer.-History and recordings:...
- Dance-a-Lot Robot
- Feeling Good with JoJo!
- Franny's Treasures
- Handy Manny's School for Tools
- Happy Monster BandHappy Monster BandHappy Monster Band is a television short aired on Playhouse Disney produced by Kickstart Productions. Series is Created by Don Carter. The show is about a group of monsters that perform songs about friendship, love, exercising, chores, and other preschool related themes. Season 2 follows the...
- Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol
- Mickey's Mousekersize
- Shane's Kindergarten Countdown
- Shanna's ShowShanna's ShowShanna's Show was a five-minute animated show appearing on the Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney. It had 18 episodes in each season except Season 3 and Season 5 ....
- Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps
- Tasty Time With ZeFronkTasty Time With ZeFronkTasty Time with ZeFronk is an animated series of five-minute long shorts produced for and airs on Disney Junior and previously on Playhouse Disney.-Summary:...
- Where Is Warehouse Mouse?Where Is Warehouse Mouse?Where Is Warehouse Mouse? is a series of 3-minute shorts that air on Playhouse Disney and Playhouse Disney , that feature the character Warehouse Mouse from the pre-school show Imagination Movers. The show is set within the Season 2 Imagination Movers studio.-Season 1:The shows first season ran for...
Disney Junior OnDemand
Disney Junior OnDemand is a video on demandVideo on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content 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.