BURBANK, CA and TORONTO – Corus Entertainment is partnering with Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG) on a new channel called ABC Spark that will launch in Canada next spring.
Building on the foundation that DATG has created with ABC Family, the new channel will be a destination for Canada's young adult millennial viewer, telling stories that matter most to this audience while utilizing the technology that millennials rely on to connect to their world in a corresponding multi-platform offering.
Comprising more than 1.7 billion consumers worldwide, millennials are aged 15 to 34 and represent the largest demographic bubble in both U.S. and Canadian history. In Canada, there are nearly 10 million millennials, constituting more than 30% of the current population.
“We are thrilled to partner with Disney/ABC Television Group and to announce the launch of ABC Spark in Canada, a network with values and attributes that align with our own,” said Corus Television president Doug Murphy, in Wednesday’s announcement. “Bridging the gap between our kids and women’s networks, ABC Spark will be a national service with compelling programming directed at the fast-expanding millennial generation.”
The deal marks the first time that these companies have entered into this type of licensing agreement for a 24-hour channel.
“As the leader in millennial programming, we're thrilled to join Corus in bringing our successful series and resonant millennial brand to Canada”, said ABC Family president Michael Riley. “We're confident that Canadian viewers will respond passionately to shows like Switched at Birth, The Lying Game and Secret Life of the American Teenager in this new branded environment, just as viewers have in the U.S. and around the world."
