In April 2025, WildBrain stated that it would be renegotiating aspects of the agreement, citing factors such as a decision by [[Bell Canada]] to not renew its carriage agreements for WildBrain’s channels.<ref name=”:5″>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=WildBrain and IoM are adjusting their deal terms |url=https://kidscreen.com/2025/04/15/wildbrain-is-back-at-the-negotiating-table-with-iom-over-tv-channels-sale/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Kidscreen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WildBrain’s $28m deal to offload TV assets hit by channel carriage dispute with Bell |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/wildbrains-28m-deal-to-offload-tv-assets-hit-by-channel-carriage-dispute-with-bell/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=C21media |language=en-us}}</ref>
In April 2025, WildBrain stated that it would be renegotiating aspects of the agreement, citing factors such as a decision by [[Bell Canada]] to not renew its carriage agreements for WildBrain’s channels.<ref name=”:5″>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=WildBrain and IoM are adjusting their deal terms |url=https://kidscreen.com/2025/04/15/wildbrain-is-back-at-the-negotiating-table-with-iom-over-tv-channels-sale/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Kidscreen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WildBrain’s $28m deal to offload TV assets hit by channel carriage dispute with Bell |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/wildbrains-28m-deal-to-offload-tv-assets-hit-by-channel-carriage-dispute-with-bell/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=C21media |language=en-us}}</ref>
On 24 August 2025/August 25 2025, WildBrain announced that it was unable to renew its carriage agreements with [[Rogers Cable]]. It therefore announced plans to close all of its specialty channels in the near future, as the loss of these carriage agreements meant the channels had lost most of their value and were “no longer commercially viable”, replaced by [[Nickelodeon Junior|Nickélodeon Junior]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuchow |first=Ryan |title=WildBrain to shutter its channels business |url=https://kidscreen.com/2025/08/25/wildbrain-to-shutter-its-channels-business/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Kidscreen}}</ref>
On August 25 2025, WildBrain announced that it was unable to renew its carriage agreements with [[Rogers Cable]]. It therefore announced plans to close all of its specialty channels in the near future, as the loss of these carriage agreements meant the channels had lost most of their value and were “no longer commercially viable”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuchow |first=Ryan |title=WildBrain to shutter its channels business |url=https://kidscreen.com/2025/08/25/wildbrain-to-shutter-its-channels-business/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Kidscreen}}</ref>
==Programming==
==Programming==
Canadian French-language TV channel
Television channel
Télémagino is a Canadian French-language specialty channel owned by WildBrain. Launched on 5 July 2010, as a sister to an equivalent English-language service, it airs children’s programming targeting viewers ages 2–11.
The channel previously operated under Disney–ABC Television Group‘s preschool television brands Playhouse Disney, then Disney Junior. After Bell Media acquired Astral in 2013, the channel (along with its sister channel) were sold to DHX Media in 2014. The channel was rebranded on 18 September 2015, following the acquisition of Canadian rights to Disney’s children’s brands and programming by Corus Entertainment.
Along with its English-language sister channel Family Jr., it is available in over four million Canadian households as of 2013.[1]
As Playhouse Disney Télé and Disney Junior
[edit]
The channel was licensed in 2006 as Vrak Junior, a sister channel to Astral’s Vrak TV, though, aimed at younger viewers than Vrak.[2] It was launched on 5 July 2010, as Playhouse Disney Télé.[3] Three years prior, an English language version (then known as Playhouse Disney) was launched on 30 November 2007, as a multiplex channel of Family. The network took on the new Disney Junior brand in 2011.[citation needed]
On 4 March 2013, following the Competition Bureau‘s approval of Bell Media‘s takeover of Astral, it was announced that Family Channel and its sister networks (including the Disney Junior services, Disney XD, and MusiquePlus) would be divested in an attempt to relieve CRTC concerns regarding the takeover.[4] On 28 November 2013, DHX Media announced it would acquire the four channels for $170 million pending CRTC approval.[5][6] On 24 July 2014, the CRTC approved DHX’s purchase of the networks,[7][8] and the deal was closed on 31 July 2014.[9]
On 16 April 2015, it was announced that Corus Entertainment had acquired Canadian rights to Disney Channel‘s program library and would launch a Canadian version of Disney Channel that September, and that its sibling brands of Disney Junior and XD would be re-launched at a later date. In anticipation for this transition, DHX concurrently announced that its Disney-branded networks would be re-branded as spin-offs of Family Channel. The re-branding of Disney Junior’s French feed was tentatively announced as Famille Junior, but was later changed to Télémagino. The new name was officially introduced on 18 September 2015, alongside the re-branding of its English-language counterpart as Family Jr.[10][11][12]
Averted sale, planned closure
[edit]
On 18 December 18 2024, WildBrain announced that it would sell a two-thirds majority stake of its television operations—including Télémagino—to IoM Media Ventures, a Halifax-based company founded by former WildBrain CEO Dana Landry.[13]
In April 2025, WildBrain stated that it would be renegotiating aspects of the agreement, citing factors such as a decision by Bell Canada to not renew its carriage agreements for WildBrain’s channels.[14][15]
On 25 August 25 2025, WildBrain announced that it was unable to renew its carriage agreements with Rogers Cable. It therefore announced plans to close all of its specialty channels in the near future, as the loss of these carriage agreements meant the channels had lost most of their value and were “no longer commercially viable”.[16]
Current programming
[edit]
Acquired programming
[edit]
-
2010-2011
-
2011-2015
-
2015-present
International distribution
[edit]
- ^ “Family Channel | Family Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD Available on Free Preview in March”. Newswire.ca. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006–98, CRTC, 2006-03-27
- ^ Astral launches French-language Playhouse Disney Channel with Bell TV, CNW, 31 May 2010
- ^ BCE takeover of Astral OK’d by Competition Bureau Archived 2013-04-11 at archive.today, The Montreal Gazette (via The Canadian Press), 4 March 2013.
- ^ “DHX Media to buy Family, other children’s channels”. Toronto Star. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ “DHX to acquire Family Channel, three others from Bell Media”. The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ “DHX Media receives CRTC approval on $170M acquisition of Family Channel and three other children’s channels”. DHX Media. 24 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- ^ Vessing, Etan (24 July 2014). “DHX Media approved for Family Channel takeover”. Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- ^ “DHX Media closes Family Channel acquisition and announces management changes”. Canada Newswire. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ “DHX-Disney Divorce Almost Done”. Cartt.ca. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Friend, David (16 April 2015). “Corus gains Canadian rights to Disney Channel content”. The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ “DHX TELEVISION’S REBRANDED FAMILY JR. AND TÉLÉMAGINO NETWORKS REVEALED TODAY” (Press release). DHX Media. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (18 December 2024). “WildBrain selling majority stake in TV channels”. Broadcast Dialogue. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ “WildBrain and IoM are adjusting their deal terms”. Kidscreen. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ “WildBrain’s $28m deal to offload TV assets hit by channel carriage dispute with Bell”. C21media. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ Tuchow, Ryan. “WildBrain to shutter its channels business”. Kidscreen. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Whyte, Alexandra (25 August 2017). “Telemagino adds trio of preschool series”. Kidscreen. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ “Les Câlinours : Libérez la magie”. Télémagino. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ “Félibert, le chaventurier – Télémagino.ca”. www.telemagino.ca. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016.
- ^ “Mes bestioles chéries – Télémagino.ca”. www.telemagino.ca. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016.
