Korie Heartz, an 18-year-old from Oshawa, Ontario, has fond memories of the Family Channel, a television station that her mother also enjoyed during her childhood. Korie hoped her children would become the third generation to embrace the series, dramas, and programs that aired on the Family Channel, which has been a staple for Canadian teens and children since its inception in 1988.
However, her dream is now in jeopardy, as WildBrain, a Toronto-based media and entertainment company, announced the closure of four of its channels, including the Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, and Télémagino, aimed at French-speaking children. This decision was made after Rogers Communications informed WildBrain that the channels would be removed from its distribution service in the coming months. Bell Canada had previously made a similar decision earlier this year.
Korie expressed her disappointment, stating, "I feel like it’s a bit devastating," during a visit to Oshawa Town Centre with her mother. WildBrain explained that both Rogers and Bell's removal of the channels indicated they were no longer commercially viable, prompting the company to cease broadcasting after the withdrawal from Rogers. As a result, WildBrain plans to surrender the channel licenses to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
The Family Channel has been influential in the lives of many Canadian children, introducing them to a mix of domestic and imported comedy and educational content. Heartz fondly recalls her favorite show, “Dog With A Blog,” a sitcom featuring a dog that posts about the daily dynamics of a blended family. She recognized that fewer children are watching cable television nowadays, but lamented the loss for those who do. "There’s like a whole lot of shows on there that I really, really liked," she said.
According to Rogers, there has been a drastic decline in WildBrain's viewership, with data from Numeris indicating an 85% drop in the audience between 2018 and 2024. A spokesperson for Rogers stated, "We’re committed to meeting our customers’ changing viewing habits and providing Canadians with the content they want on their platform of choice." Bell was unreachable for comment regarding the situation.
Erin Gilbert, another former viewer, expressed her disappointment over the closure, recalling how she spent a decade of her childhood watching shows like "Life with Derek," "Hannah Montana," and "Shake it Up." Despite her love for the channel, she stated that as school and work took precedence, her viewing habits changed, making her sad that her own children wouldn't experience the same. "A lot of the shows that I loved growing up were broadcasted on that channel," she said.
Some viewers, like 27-year-old Jonniemay Goody, continue to watch their favorite series, including “Cory in the House,” “That’s So Raven,” and “Zack and Cody.” She expressed her sadness about the network's impending closure and how it reflects a generational shift in media consumption. "I’m getting to the age now where I’m going to have my own kids and they’re not going to get to kind of have that same experience with all the different shows that I did," she shared. While she sometimes watched the channel with her mother, she expressed uncertainty about whether her mother would miss the shows as much as she would.
WildBrain's president and CEO, Josh Scherba, acknowledged the significance of the Family Channel as a "trusted destination for Canadian kids and families" over the last four decades. He expressed pride in the legacy built through loyal viewership and collaboration with talented Canadian producers. Despite the closure, Scherba assured stakeholders that it would have minimal impact on WildBrain’s overall business and strategy. He affirmed the company’s commitment to align with changing consumer habits and its strategic withdrawal from the declining broadcast sector in Canada, positioning WildBrain to remain a "global leader" in children's entertainment.
This situation highlights a significant moment in Canadian children's television history as audiences grapple with the loss of a cherished cultural staple.
