Family (TV channel) 1081440 225229127 2008-07-12T16:06:46Z 209.212.21.160 /* Original programming */ {{dablink|For the American channel, see [[Television networks preceding ABC Family]] or its current form [[ABC Family]]. For the former British channel, see [[Challenge]].}} {{Infobox_TV_channel | name = Family | logofile = Family Channel Logo.svg | logoalt = | logosize = 128px | launch = [[September 1]], [[1988]] | closed date = | picture format = | share = | share as of = | share source = | network = | owner = The Family Channel Inc. <br> ([[Astral Media]]) | slogan = Never A Dull Moment | country = [[Canada]] | broadcast area = National | headquarters = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] | former names = Family Channel | replaced names = | sister names = | timeshift names = | web = [http://www.family.ca www.family.ca] | terr serv 1 = | terr chan 1 = | sat serv 1 = [[Bell ExpressVu]] | sat chan 1 = Channel 556 (East)<br>Channel 557 (West) | sat serv 2 = [[Star Choice]] | sat chan 2 = Channel 540 (East)<br>Channel 541 (West) | cable serv 1 = Available on most Canadian cable systems | cable chan 1 = Check local listings, channels may vary. }} '''Family''', sometimes referred to as '''Family Channel''', is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[premium television]] service marketed to children. It is owned by [[Astral Media]]. ==History== Family was licensed as a [[premium television|pay TV]] service by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) in 1987 as a joint venture between [[Western International Communications|Allarcom Pay Television]] and [[Astral Media|First Choice]], with both companies owning a 50% stake in the service. It launched as ''Family Channel'' on [[September 1]], [[1988]]. In 2000, ''[[Corus Entertainment]]'' acquired WIC's stake in the service and subsequently sold it to Astral in 2001. In most respects it now acts as a speciality service as are similar services such as [[YTV (TV channel)|YTV]]. However, in line with CRTC regulations for premium channels, no [[commercials]] are shown on this channel, aside from promos for other programs aired between shows. ''[[Dance Fever (2003 TV series)|Dance Fever]]'', which aired on Family in 2003, is the only program to have ever taken breaks during the show. Family was the only English-language children's network in Canada to have off-air hours, since [[Treehouse TV]] expanded their schedule to be run 24/7. However, it now appears that, as of July 1, 2007, Family has switched to a 24/7 broadcast schedule. In February 2007, Family began airing short shows and commercial-style breaks from [[Disney Channel]] such as [[Disney's Really Short Report]], Meet the Family, and the returning feature [[Movie Surfers]]. It also became closer to a Disney Channel identity when they air music videos. Every two weeks, there are a group of music videos that can be aired at three different lengths. As an extra, they started to air a program called "Win It", which gives out prizes to every winner who competed in their contest. Some of the contests include sponsors such as LaSenza Girl, movies, and prize packs from TV shows usually broadcasted on the channel. Aside from some common programming, Family has never been affiliated with the U.S. channel previously known as ''[[ABC Family|The Family Channel]]'', however, American cable providers have used '''Family Channel's''' "Paint and Sun" logo, for its logo on the channel guide. ==Logos== <gallery> Image:Family Channel.JPG|Family logo used until 1999 Image:Family Channel Logo.svg|Family logo used since 1999 to the present </gallery> ==Programming== Family airs its own original programming, as well as many series and original movies from [[United States|U.S.]] service ''[[Disney Channel]]'', along with some series from ''[[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]'' and [[ABC Family]]. It also airs theatrical films. The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East ([[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]]) and West ([[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time]]). Family runs episodes of their programming by production code order, instead of the order of their original broadcast run on American and other foreign channels. Many times this does place episodes out of order storyline wise, as many shows film episodes out of order. ===Original programming=== Family gets its shows from [[Disney Channel]] and [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] mostly, but it also airs its own original programming. The original programs are: *''[[Mentors (TV Series)|Mentors]]'' (1998-2002) *''[[Radio Free Roscoe]]'' (2003-2005) *''[[King (TV series)|King]]'' (2003-present) *''[[Darcy's Wild Life]]'' (2004-2006) *''[[Naturally, Sadie]]'' (2005-2007) *''[[Life with Derek]]'' (2005-present) *''[[The Latest Buzz]]'' (2008-present) ===Featured movies=== Family airs movies on Fridays and weekends. It airs three movies on Friday nights, with the first one sometimes being a featured movie, such as ''[[Kim Possible: So the Drama]]'' or ''[[High School Musical]]'', ''[[Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years]]'' and ''[[Walt Disney: One Man's Dream]]''. The second movie a PG, PG-13, or 14A rated movie. An example of this would be ''[[Double Teamed]]''. The third movie of the Friday night would be in the rating ranges of General to Restricted. An example of the third movie would be ''[[RocketMan]]''. Family shows four movies for Saturdays and Sundays each, with two during the afternoon and two at night, with one of the Sunday afternoon airings sometimes a repeat of Friday's featured movie. Prior to September 2005 Family also aired a movie on Mondays-Thursdays nights. ===Programming blocks=== ====Jetix==== {{main|Jetix (Canada)}} Family began their own Jetix block on [[September 10]], [[2006]], replaced the "Power Box" block. The original Canadian Jetix block includes ''[[Get Ed]]'', ''[[Oban Star Racers]]'', ''[[Yin Yang Yo]]'', ''[[Pucca]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Mystic Force]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Jungle Fury]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive]]''. Jetix airs from 6:03AM ET through 7:45AM ET on weekend mornings. =====Power Box===== Until 2003, Family showed a Jetix-type early morning programming block of Japanese-themed fighting shows including ''[[W.I.T.C.H.]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Dino Thunder]]'', ''[[Power Rangers: Dino Thunder]]'', ''[[Oban Star Racers]]'', ''[[Spider-Man]]'' and ''[[Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!|S.R.M.T.H.F.G.]]''. In 2003, Power Box programming was dropped and replaced with Jetix. ====Playhouse==== It airs shows especially for preschoolers every weekday mornings from 4:30AM - 6:30AM ET with a break for Mad Dash shows until 8:45AM, and it ends for the day at 11:25AM ET. Notable shows currently airing are: ''[[Little Einsteins]]'', ''[[Franny's Feet]]'', ''[[Mickey Mouse Clubhouse]]'', ''[[Higglytown Heroes]]'', ''[[Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!]]'', ''[[Handy Manny]]'' , ''[[My Friends Tigger and Pooh]]'' and a few more. ====Mad Dash==== It airs mainly Disney animated shows for pre-teens and teens every weekday afternoons from 11:49AM ET until 5:03PM ET. Notable shows currently airing are: ''[[Kim Possible]]'', ''[[The Proud Family]]'', ''[[American Dragon: Jake Long]]'', ''[[Filmore!]]'', ''[[The Emperor's New School]]'', ''[[Disney's Recess]]'', ''[[The Replacements (Disney Channel series)|The Replacements]]'' and ''[[The Weekenders]]''. ====Non Stop==== Its airs mostly live-action sitcoms every weekday evenings & all weekend long. Notable shows currently airing are: ''[[That's So Raven]]'', ''[[The Suite Life of Zack & Cody]]'', ''[[Hannah Montana (TV series)|Hannah Montana]]'', ''[[Cory in the House]]'', ''[[Zoey 101]]'', ''[[Phil of the Future]]'', ''[[Lizzie McGuire]]'', ''[[Flight 29 Down]]'', ''[[Naturally, Sadie]]'', ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'', ''[[Life with Derek]]'', and ''[[The Latest Buzz]]''. ====Non Stop Weekends==== Every Saturday and Sunday, Family runs a series of '''"Non Stop" programming''' in a different schedule until 9:00 p.m. ==Family OnDemand== [[Image:Family_OnDemand.jpg|left]] Like what many channels are doing now, Family has created "Family OnDemand". An [[on demand]] [[television]] channel allowing viewers to play, fast-forward, rewind and pause the program. It contains programming from the program blocks shown above. It is updated every Tuesday and is currently only available [[Cogeco]] Digital Cable customers (Channel 351), Source Cable (Channel 125) and to those who subscribe to Family. The service launched March 4, 2008 from Astral Media. ==Playhouse Disney Canada== [[Image:PlayhouseDisneyCanada.jpg|120px|right]] A Canadian version of [[Playhouse Disney]] launched as a [[multiplex]] channel of Family on November 30, 2007. As with its Disney-owned counterparts in the rest of the world, it is a commercial-free channel carrying programs aimed at [[preschool]]-aged children, 24 hours a day. Unlike the flagship feed, Family, that has both an East and West coast feed, Playhouse Disney has only one national feed operating from the [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time Zone]]. Because Family is licensed as a premium service, no additional licence is required to launch the channel. Existing subscribers of Family will automatically be eligible to receive Playhouse Disney free of charge, subject to carriage by their cable or satellite provider; however, it is not available on a standalone basis. The use of a premium service licence also means that the channel can compete directly with Canada's existing preschooler-aimed speciality channel, ''[[Treehouse TV]]'', despite the format protection guidelines for speciality channels. ==International distribution== * [[Jamaica]] - distributed on '''Flow Cable''' systems. <ref>[http://www.flowjamaica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=133 Flow Cable channel lineup]</ref> * [[Bahamas]] - distributed on '''Cable Bahamas''' systems. <ref>[http://www.cablebahamas.com/television/digital/valuepackages/index.lasso?package=5df943797f5b9841&groupDisplay=0&chanDisplay=214#99 Cable Bahamas channel lineup]</ref> ==See also== * [[List of programs broadcast by Family (TV channel)]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.family.ca/ Official Family website] *[http://family.ca/whatson/schedulegrid.php Schedule grid] *[http://www.playhousedisneycanada.ca/ Playhouse Disney Canada] {{Astral Media}} [[Category:Children's television networks in Canada]] [[Category:Astral Media]] [[Category:Commercial-free television networks]] [[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1988]] [[Category:Canadian analog cable television networks]] [[fr:Family (chaîne de télévision)]] [[pt:Family Channel]]