TORONTO – Playhouse Disney Canada, a multiplex channel for young children, will be launched Nov. 30th, Astral Media’s Family Channel announced Monday.
The channel will feature entertaining and development-based programming from Disney, together with original Canadian series such as Franny’s Feet, The Secret World of Benjamin Bear, and King.
Building on the well-known Disney brand and its legacy of characters such as Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, Playhouse Disney will give Family Channel a platform “to better serve its younger audiences by providing entertainment that kids want, coupled with the commitment to safe, development-based programming that parents demand,” the company said in a statement.
It will also provide Canadian independent producers with more opportunities in the licensing and commissioning of programming and generate broader exposure for
Canadian series, it said.
“Playhouse Disney Canada represents a broadening of the highly successful partnership that has existed between Family and Disney for the last 20 years,” said Joe Tedesco, Vice-President and General Manager of Family Channel.
“Playhouse Disney will offer programming that is unique to the Canadian market and geared towards furthering childhood development by making learning a playful, fun experience through engaging characters, storytelling and music,” said Rich Ross, President, Disney Channel Worldwide.
Family Channel is a commercial-free pay service. As a digital multiplex channel, Playhouse Disney will be available only to Family Channel subscribers. It will be on ExpressVu Digital TV from Bell, starting Nov. 30, with other Canadian distribution deals coming.
