Disney Jr. (Canada)

Last updated

Disney Jr.
Final logo used from 2024 to 2025
Country Canada
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 Disney Branded Television)
Sister channels
History
LaunchedDecember 1, 2015;9 years ago (2015-12-01)
ClosedSeptember 1, 2025;1 day ago (2025-09-01)
Replaced by Disney Channel (programming)
Former namesDisney Junior (2015–24)
Links
Website Disney 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 U.S. 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.

Contents

History

From May 6, 2011 to September 18, 2015, DHX Media (now WildBrain) operated Disney Junior-branded television services in Canada in the English and French languages as spin-offs of Family Channel. In April 2015, Corus acquired Canadian rights to Disney Channel's programming and associated brands. Upon the announcement of the rights deal, Corus stated that it would launch "select Disney branded kids linear television offerings" in the future, after the launch of a Canadian version of Disney Channel. [1] [2] [3] [4]

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 re-branded as Family Jr. and Télémagino on September 18. [7]

Corus's 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 network programming in the French language, until the network’s 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.

Closure

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 on September 1 due to existing financial pressure 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 was the Bluey minisode "Tattoo Shop". [12]

Programming

Final programming

Original programming

TitlePremiere dateFinale dateNote(s)
Ariel June 29, 2024August 31, 2025
Firebuds September 24, 2022
Kindergarten: The Musical September 7, 2024
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ July 26, 2025
Mickey Mouse Funhouse August 22, 2021
Puppy Dog Pals April 23, 2017
Pupstruction June 17, 2023
RoboGobo January 18, 2025
Sofia the First December 1, 2015
September 1, 2023		August 31, 2019
August 31, 2025
Spidey and His Amazing Friends August 7, 2021August 31, 2025
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures May 4, 2023
SuperKitties January 12, 2023

Acquired programming

TitlePremiere dateFinale dateNote(s)
Bluey October 4, 2020August 31, 2025
Morphle and the Magic Pets June 7, 2024August 29, 2025
Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe August 28, 2023August 31, 2025
The Berenstain Bears September 3, 2016
May 29, 2023		August 30, 2018
August 31, 2025
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast March 10, 2023August 31, 2025
Mike the Knight January 1, 2018
May 29, 2023		March 9, 2023
August 31, 2025
TrucktownSeptember 1, 2018August 31, 2025
The ZhuZhus November 20, 2017

Former

Original programming

TitlePremiere dateFinale dateNote(s)
Doc McStuffins December 1, 2015
November 6, 2020		September 1, 2020
September 1, 2021		 [8] [a]
Elena of Avalor July 23, 2016September 1, 2020
Goldie & Bear December 1, 2015September 1, 2019
Handy Manny December 1, 2015August 31, 2016
Henry Hugglemonster December 1, 2015August 26, 2017
Jake and the Never Land Pirates December 1, 2015August 28, 2017 [13]
The Lion Guard January 17, 2016September 1, 2020
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse December 1, 2015September 1, 2019
Miles from Tomorrowland December 1, 2015September 1, 2019
The Rocketeer November 10, 2019August 30, 2020
Sheriff Callie's Wild West December 1, 2015August 28, 2017 [13]
Special Agent Oso December 1, 2015August 31, 2016
Little Einsteins December 1, 2015August 26, 2017
Imagination Movers December 1, 2015August 31, 2016
Vampirina October 7, 2017August 28, 2021
Fancy Nancy July 14, 2018August 29, 2022
Muppet Babies March 23, 2018August 29, 2022
The Chicken Squad May 16, 2021August 19, 2022
Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures January 21, 2017August 29, 2022
Eureka! June 25, 2022June 11, 2023
Mira, Royal Detective March 22, 2020September 1, 2023
Alice's Wonderland Bakery February 12, 2022August 30, 2024
T.O.T.S. June 22, 2019
September 1, 2023		August 29, 2022
August 31, 2024

Acquired programming

TitlePremiere dateFinale dateNote(s)
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! August 15, 2020May 26, 2023
Chuggington January 23, 2017
July 5, 2021		January 1, 2021
May 26, 2023
DinopawsAugust 28, 2017December 30, 2018
Gigantosaurus January 19, 2019September 1, 2023
Guess with Jess December 1, 2015
December 5, 2016		September 2, 2016
December 30, 2016
Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs January 6, 2020August 15, 2020
Jane and the Dragon December 1, 2015September 2, 2016
Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes March 25, 2023September 1, 2024
Little Charmers December 31, 2018August 31, 2024
My Big Big Friend September 1, 2018February 25, 2019
My Friend Rabbit December 1, 2015August 30, 2018
Pikwik Pack January 14, 2022August 28, 2023
The Remarkable Mr. KingSeptember 11, 2021August 27, 2023
PJ Masks February 7, 2016September 1, 2024 [b]
Rolie Polie Olie December 1, 2015August 30, 2018
Timothy Goes to School September 3, 2016August 27, 2017
Willa's Wild Life December 1, 2015August 30, 2018
Zigby January 2, 2017May 28, 2017

Logos

Notes

  1. ↑ Season 4 only
  2. ↑ Season 6 “PJ Masks: Power Heroes” only

References

  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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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.
  13. 1 2 "Disney Junior". disneychannel.ca Buzz Blog. Corus Entertainment. November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
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