Family Jr.

**Family Jr.** is a multiplex channel of the Canadian specialty channel Family Channel. Launched on November 30, 2007, it broadcasts programming aimed at preschool-aged children.

The channel previously operated under Disney's preschool television brands, including **Playhouse Disney** and later **Disney Junior**, but adopted the Family Jr. brand in 2015 following the acquisition of Canadian rights to Disney Junior by Corus Entertainment (who relaunched its own Canadian version as a separate service).

Along with its French-language counterpart, Télémagino, it is available in over 4 million Canadian households as of 2013. As it is a multiplex channel of Family Channel, the service is distributed at no additional charge to its subscribers.

## History

### As Playhouse Disney and Disney Junior

The channel originally launched as Playhouse Disney on November 30, 2007; as Family is licensed as a premium service which allows for the addition of multiplex channels that are consistent with the network's licence (which dictates that it provide a service with programming aimed at youth aged 17 and younger), no additional licence was required to launch the service, and the channel 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 Category B license.

On May 6, 2011, the networks were re-launched under Disney's new preschool television brand Disney Junior.

Following the sale of Astral Media to Bell Media, the two Disney Junior services and their sister networks were put up for sale to relieve concerns over Bell's market share following the merger. On November 28, 2013, DHX Media announced it would acquire the two Disney Junior services and their sister networks for $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 spin-offs of Family Channel; Disney Junior was re-branded as Family Jr. on September 18, 2015. On December 1, 2015, Corus launched a replacement Disney Junior-branded channel.

## Programming

### Current programming

#### Canadian productions

* *Bob the Builder* (December 5, 2015–present)
* *Caillou* (February 5, 2018–present)
* *Chip and Potato* (October 15, 2018–present)
* *Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood* (September 4, 2017–present)
* *Dinotrux* (September 16, 2017–present)
* *Elias: Rescue Team Adventures* (July 3, 2017–present)
* *Justin Time* (September 16, 2012–present)
* *Kate & Mim-Mim* (September 5, 2015–present)
* *Kody Kapow* (May 14, 2018–present)
* *Little People* (March 14, 2016–present)
* *Mack & Moxy* (June 9, 2018–present)
* *Mighty Mike* (April 1, 2019–present)
* *Pajanimals* (September 4, 2017–present)
* *Playdate* (October 3, 2015–present)
* *Polly Pocket* (July 8, 2018–present)
* *Rainbow Ruby* (April 23, 2016–present)
* *Rev & Roll* (September 2, 2019–present)
* *Space Ranger Roger* (January 9, 2017–present)
* *Super Why!* (November 7, 2016–present)
* *Yup Yups* (September 16, 2013–present)

#### Acquired programming

* *ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks* (June 18, 2017–present)
* *Care Bears: Unlock the Magic* (October 7, 2019 – present)
* *Curious George* (September 18, 2015–present)
* *Dog Loves Books* (2020-present)
* *Grizzy and the Lemmings* (March 24, 2018–present)
* *Hey Duggee* (November 2, 2020-present)
* *In the Night Garden...* (April 11, 2016–present)
* *Madagascar: A Little Wild* (January 9, 2021)
* *Messy Goes to Okido* (April 9, 2016–present)
* *Noddy, Toyland Detective* (May 15, 2017–present)
* *Norman Picklestripes* (September 19, 2020 – present)
* *Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures* (2010–present)
* *Sunny Bunnies* (July 2, 2018–present)
* *Teletubbies* (December 19, 2015–present)
* *Topsy and Tim* (September 5, 2015–present)
* *Twirlywoos* (September 5, 2015–present)

### Former programming

* *Bananas in Pyjamas* (February 19, 2013–February 2017)
* *Bear in the Big Blue House* (November 30, 2007 – September 30, 2013)
* *Bunnytown* (November 30, 2007 – 2012)
* *Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot* (November 30, 2007 – June 30, 2012)
* *Doc McStuffins* (April 8, 2012 – August 30, 2015)
* *DuckTales* (October 2011–September 30, 2013)
* *Franny's Feet* (November 30, 2007 – February 4, 2018)
* *Gerald McBoing-Boing* (November 30, 2007 – July 31, 2011)
* *Handy Manny* (November 30, 2007 – August 7, 2014)
* *Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs* (November 30, 2007 – August 28, 2014)
* *Henry Hugglemonster* (April 21, 2013 – January 1, 2016)
* *Henry's World* (November 30, 2007 – September 27, 2013)
* *Higglytown Heroes* (November 30, 2007 – September 30, 2013)
* *Imagination Movers* (2008–August 30, 2015)
* *Jake and the Never Land Pirates* (May 2, 2011 – December 1, 2015)
* *Johnny and the Sprites* (November 30, 2007 – September 2, 2012)
* *JoJo's Circus* (November 30, 2007 – September 1, 2013)
* *Julius Jr.* (May 2, 2015 – June 29, 2018)
* *Jungle Junction* (2009–August 30, 2015)
* *Katie and Orbie* (November 30, 2007 – December 31, 2012)
* *King* (November 30, 2007-2008)
* *Lalaloopsy* (September 27, 2014 – August 28, 2016)
* *Little Einsteins* (November 30, 2007 – January 1, 2016)
* *The Little Mermaid* (November 30, 2007 – August 31, 2014)
* *Mickey Mouse Clubhouse* (November 30, 2007 – September 17, 2015)
* *Miles from Tomorrowland* (February 21–August 30, 2015)
* *My Friends Tigger & Pooh* (November 30, 2007-2010)
* *Nature Cat* (July 1, 2016 – July 1, 2019)
* *Out of the Box* (November 30, 2007 – August 31, 2014)
* *Sarah & Duck* (July 7, 2014 – September 1, 2019)
* *The Save-Ums!* (May 24, 2015 – September 1, 2018)
* *The Secret World of Benjamin Bear* (November 30, 2007 – August 30, 2015)
* *Sheriff Callie's Wild West* (February 2, 2014 – December 1, 2015)
* *Sofia the First* (January 19, 2013 – August 31, 2015)
* *Special Agent Oso* (2009–January 1, 2016)
* *Stanley* (November 30, 2007 – September 27, 2013)
* *Stella and Sam* (January 9, 2011 – September 1, 2016)
* *Thomas & Friends* (May 24, 2015 – August 31, 2018)
* *Tickety Toc* (April 23, 2012 – July 30, 2018)
* *Waybuloo* (April 16, 2016 – September 1, 2018)
* *Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!* (2009-June 30, 2015)
* *YaYa and Zouk* (July 4, 2016 – September 1, 2019)
* *Yo Gabba Gabba!* (September 5, 2015 – September 1, 2019)

## Related services

### Family Jr. HD

On May 1, 2013, a high definition simulcast of Family Jr.'s (as Disney Junior) standard definition feed was launched. It is available on Eastlink, Rogers Cable, Shaw Direct, and Telus Optik TV.

### Family Jr. On Demand

Family Jr. On Demand is a video on demand service featuring programming from Family Jr, available to subscribers of Family and Family Jr. (as Disney Junior) launched its own On Demand channel on May 6, 2011.

### Family Jr. Go

Family Jr. Go is a service available on the App Store and Google Play Store. It is available to television customers of Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct. It shows new and old episodes of Family Jr. programming and is part of the Family app.