TMC
08-30-2025, 03:26 PM
https://www.insauga.com/off-the-air-family-channel-and-other-childrens-tv-stations-shutting-down-in-canada/
By Ryan Rumbolt
Published August 28, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Family Channel, Family Jr. and two other TV stations carrying children’s programming will be coming off the air in Canada.
WildBrain Ltd., which owns the family channels, WildBrainTV and Télémagino, said on Monday that the company was “unable to negotiate a new carriage agreement with Rogers for the Channels.”
The company says in a release that Rogers plans to drop the four children’s channels “in the coming months,” but no date has been set for when they will go off the air.
Bell has also announced plans to scrap the channels from its airwaves, leading WildBrain to say those channels “are no longer commercially viable.”
The company plans “to cease broadcast” after they are pulled from Rogers and “surrender” their licenses to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
WildBrain says its previously announced decision to sell a majority stake in the channels to IoM Media Ventures has also been scrapped.
President and CEO Josh Scherba said that while the channels’ shutdown “is unfortunate,” but said WildBrain will focus on their “iconic” intellectual properties like the Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies across streaming platforms, YouTube, consumer products and immersive fan experiences.
By Ryan Rumbolt
Published August 28, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Family Channel, Family Jr. and two other TV stations carrying children’s programming will be coming off the air in Canada.
WildBrain Ltd., which owns the family channels, WildBrainTV and Télémagino, said on Monday that the company was “unable to negotiate a new carriage agreement with Rogers for the Channels.”
The company says in a release that Rogers plans to drop the four children’s channels “in the coming months,” but no date has been set for when they will go off the air.
Bell has also announced plans to scrap the channels from its airwaves, leading WildBrain to say those channels “are no longer commercially viable.”
The company plans “to cease broadcast” after they are pulled from Rogers and “surrender” their licenses to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
WildBrain says its previously announced decision to sell a majority stake in the channels to IoM Media Ventures has also been scrapped.
President and CEO Josh Scherba said that while the channels’ shutdown “is unfortunate,” but said WildBrain will focus on their “iconic” intellectual properties like the Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies across streaming platforms, YouTube, consumer products and immersive fan experiences.