ABC Spark

Last updated

ABC Spark
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner Corus Entertainment
(branding licensed from Walt Disney Television)
Sister channels
History
LaunchedMarch 23, 2012;12 years ago (2012-03-23)
Replaced Dusk
Links
Website ABC Spark

ABC Spark is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel was launched on March 23, 2012, replacing the declining channel Dusk. [1] [2]

Contents

ABC Spark is based on the U.S. subscription channel Freeform (previously known as ABC Family) and primarily consists of programming aimed at teenagers, young adults, and preteens, as well as some sitcoms. The channel's name and various programs are licensed from the ABC Family Worldwide subsidiary of Walt Disney Television, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. [3]

History

Announcement and launch (2011–2012)

The announcement of the formation of ABC Spark occurred on October 26, 2011, as part of a program licensing agreement between Corus Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company. [4] The network was branded as ABC Spark to avoid any confusion with Astral's Family Channel, which then held the rights to programming from ABC's sister network, Disney Channel. [5] The channel's broadcast licence, tentatively known then as Harmony, was approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in February 2012. [6]

Selected ABC Family programs that were set to air on ABC Spark began airing in preview blocks in advance of the network's launch on January 26, 2012 through sister channels YTV, W Network, and CMT. [7] The channel was owned by Corus (51%) and Shaw Media (49%) at launch on March 23. [8]

Transfer of ABC Spark licence; Corus' acquisition of Shaw Media's ownership interest (2013)

Shortly after the channel's launch, the CRTC published notice of a pending application to transfer the ABC Spark licence to the numbered company which previously owned Dusk, which is 51% owned by Corus and 49% owned by Shaw Media. [9] [10] However, on March 4, 2013, Corus Entertainment announced that it would acquire Shaw Media's 49% ownership interest in ABC Spark, in a larger transaction that would see Corus also acquire Shaw's 50% interest in Historia and SériesPlus, while Corus would sell their 22.58% stake in Food Network. In total, Shaw would receive net proceeds of approximately $95 million in cash. [11] The sale of the portion of ABC Spark closed in April 2013. [2]

Expanded relationship with Disney; first original series (2015–2016)

In April 2015, Corus Entertainment announced that it would expand its relationship with Disney, and Corus acquired the rights to Disney Channel's programming and related brands, which resulted in the launch of a Canadian version of Disney Channel, and re-launched versions of Disney Junior and Disney XD after DHX Media decided against renewing their agreement to broadcast the programs in Disney's programming catalogue. [12] [13]

In October 2015, ABC Family announced plans to change its name to "Freeform" in January 2016. [14] ABC Spark did not adopt the Freeform name, but it did adopt the on-air imaging used by the U.S. network.

By the end of October 2015, ABC Spark had its first original series entitled Cheer Squad , a docu-reality series which first premiered on July 5, 2016. [15]

Programming

ABC Spark carries most of the original programs produced for Freeform in the U.S. ( Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists premieres on W Network), [16] including its own versions of the 31 Nights of Halloween and 25 Days of Christmas events, which broadcast special programming during the lead-up to their respective holidays. The channel's daily programming mainly consists of acquired sitcoms and dramas, as well as syndicated programs from other Corus-owned channels.

Related Research Articles

Lifetime is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel based on the eponymous American basic cable channel owned by Showcase Television Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. It broadcasts films, television shows and reality series aimed at women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astral Media</span> Canadian media company

Astral Media Inc. was a Canadian media conglomerate. It was Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 84 radio stations in eight provinces. Astral was also a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, with 23 specialty channels and two conventional stations. In addition, Astral had a presence in out-of-home advertising.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Network (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian TV channel

Cartoon Network is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily broadcasts animated series aimed at children and teenagers. It was launched on October 17, 1997, by Teletoon Canada, Inc., a consortium of Western International Communications and Astral Media, Shaw Communications, and the animation studios Cinar and Nelvana. With subsequent acquisitions and divestments, Corus became the sole owner of the channel in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corus Entertainment</span> Canadian media/broadcasting company

Corus Entertainment, Inc. is a Canadian mass media and television production company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio, Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. Corus is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Channel (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian cable channel

Family Channel is a Canadian English-language specialty channel owned by WildBrain Television Inc., a subsidiary of WildBrain. The network primarily airs children's television series, teen dramas, as well as other programming targeting a family audience. Despite having its own headquarters in the Brookfield Place office in Financial District, the channel is transmitted from Corus Quay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food Network (Canada)</span> Canadian TV channel

Food Network, formerly called Food Network Canada, is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel based on the U.S. cable network of the same name. It airs programming related to food, cooking, cuisine, and the food industry. The Canadian version of Food Network is a joint venture between Food Network Canada Inc. a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment and the U.S. network's parent company Television Food Network, G.P..

Disney Branded Television is an American television production company and a unit of Disney General Entertainment Content which oversees development, production and acquisition of content geared towards children, teenagers and families for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney Jr. and Disney XD. The unit also oversees Disney-branded unscripted series, documentaries and specials for Disney+ and the Disney channels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teletoon Retro</span> Former Canadian specialty channel

Teletoon Retro was a Canadian specialty channel that was owned by Corus Entertainment that was based on the Teletoon programming block. The service was dedicated to broadcasting classic animated television programs such as The Raccoons as well as some live-action series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Télétoon Rétro</span> Former Canadian French television channel

Télétoon Rétro was a Canadian French language Category B specialty television channel that was owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel was based on the former Télétoon programming block Télétoon Retro and was dedicated to broadcasting French-dubbed animated series that had premiered on television at least 10 years prior to their airing on Télétoon Retro. Along with its English language sister station, Teletoon Retro, combined, both were available in over 9 million Canadian households as of 2013, having the most subscribers among the digital Canadian specialty channels.

Dusk was a Canadian English language specialty channel. Dusk broadcast programming consisting of films, television dramas, and reality TV, and documentary-style television series from the thriller, suspense and supernatural genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WildBrainTV</span> TV channel in Canada (formerly Disney XD and Family CHRGD)

WildBrainTV is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by WildBrain. WildBrainTV broadcasts live-action and animated children's programming aimed towards audiences ages 6–15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Jr.</span> Television channel

Family Jr. is a Canadian specialty channel owned by WildBrain. A sister channel to Family Channel, it broadcasts children's programming aimed at viewers aged 2 to 7. Legally, the channel operates as a multiplex service of Family Channel, stemming from its former licensing status as a premium television service; therefore, it is 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.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Channel (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian youth-targeted television channel

Disney Channel is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment under license from The Walt Disney Company, which began broadcasting on September 1, 2015. It is a localized version of the U.S. basic cable network of the same name. broadcasting live-action and animated programming aimed at children and teenagers between the ages of 9 and 18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Chaîne Disney</span> Canadian French television channel

La Chaîne Disney is a Canadian French-language specialty channel owned by Teletoon Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment under license from The Walt Disney Company, and launched on September 1, 2015, replacing Télétoon Rétro. It is a localized version of the U.S. subscription network Disney Channel, broadcasting live-action and animated programming aimed at children in French in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney XD (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian childrens television channel owned by Corus Entertainment

Disney XD is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment which launched on December 1, 2015. It is a localized version of the U.S. network of the same name operated under license from Disney Branded Television, a division of The Walt Disney Company which broadcasts live-action and animated programming aimed at kids between the ages of 6 and 15.

Freeform is an American basic cable channel owned and operated by Disney Entertainment business segment and division of the Walt Disney Company. Freeform primarily broadcasts programming geared towards young adults – with some skewing toward young women – in the 18-34 age range, a target demographic designated by the channel as "becomers". Its programming includes contemporary off-network syndicated reruns and original series, feature films, and made-for-TV original movies. Also a household can watch movies during seasonal programming blocks, like 31 Nights of Halloween, 30 Days of Disney, & 25 Days of Christmas.

In June 2024, Rogers Communications announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), under which it will hold the rights to the channel brands and programming of WBD's factual and lifestyle television networks. The agreement will trigger a major re-alignment of Canadian specialty television, ending the long-term associations between the brands of WBD predecessors Discovery Communications and Scripps Networks Interactive with Bell Media and Corus Entertainment respectively.

References

  1. ↑ Punter, Jennie (October 26, 2011). "ABC Spark launches in Canada". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Press Release – Corus Entertainment Receives CRTC Approval on TELETOON Canada Inc., Historia and Séries+ Acquisitions". Corus Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ ABC partners with Corus to launch youth network in Canada. Los Angeles Times. October 26. 2011.
  4. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (October 26, 2011). "ABC Spark To Launch in Canada in Spring 2012". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  5. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (June 1, 2012). "Canada lights up for ABC Spark". c21media. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-93 CRTC February 14, 2012
  7. ↑ "Corus' ABC Spark to launch March 26th". Broadcaster Magazine. January 5, 2012. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ Wedge, Pip. "ABC Spark". broadcasting-history.ca. Canadian Communications Foundation. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (April 10, 2012). "Broadcasting notice of consultation CRTC 2012-212" . Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  10. ↑ Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (May 20, 2010). "Financial summaries: Dusk (formerly Scream), 3924181 Canada Inc". Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Shaw, Corus and Bell ink specialty channel sales agreements". Mediacaster Magazine. Business Information Group. March 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Corus Entertainment snaps up Disney content from DHX Media, plans to launch Disney channel in Canada". Financial Post . Postmedia Network. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ Dickson, Jeremy (August 21, 2015). "DHX TV reveals fall skeds for rebranded channels". Kid Screen. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  14. ↑ Lesley Goldberg (October 6, 2015). "ABC Family Changing Its Name to Freeform". The Hollywood Reporter . Prometheus Global Media.
  15. ↑ Alessi, Sara (October 30, 2015). "Production Begins on ABC Spark's First Original Series". World Screen. WSN INC. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists - W Network". www.wnetwork.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.