WildBrainTV

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This article is about a Canadian television channel formerly known as Disney XD that is operated by WildBrain and launched on June 1, 2011. For the defunct Canadian television channel that used the Disney XD name, see Disney XD (Canada).
WildBrainTV
Final logo used from March 1, 2022 to October 23, 2025.
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerAstral Media (2011–2013)
Bell Media (2013–2014)[a]
WildBrain (2014–2025)
Sister channels
History
LaunchedJune 1, 2011; 14 years ago (2011-06-01)
ClosedOctober 23, 2025; 48 days ago (2025-10-23)
Former namesDisney XD (2011–2015)
Family CHRGD (2015–2022)

WildBrainTV was a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by WildBrain. WildBrainTV broadcast live-action and animated children's programming aimed towards audiences ages 6–15.[1] Its name came from its owner, WildBrain.

The channel first launched on June 1, 2011, under the ownership of Astral Media. It initially operated as a localized version of Disney XD, under license from Disney Channels Worldwide, as a sister network to Family Channel. Following the acquisition of Astral Media by Bell Media, Disney XD was divested to DHX Media (now WildBrain) in 2014.

In 2015, Corus Entertainment acquired the rights to programming from Disney Channel and its siblings (later launching a new Canadian Disney XD channel), resulting in DHX's existing Disney XD channel being rebranded as Family CHRGD (a brand extension of Family Channel with a similar positioning) in October 2015. The channel adopted its final branding on March 1, 2022, and it shut down on October 23, 2025.

History

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As Disney XD (2011–2015)

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Disney XD logo used from June 1, 2011 to October 9, 2015

In April 2009, Astral Media, through its subsidiary The Family Channel Inc., was granted CRTC approval for a new category 2 service under the working name "Family Extreme". The new service would feature "programming from around the world devoted to entertainment, humour, travel, games, science and technology and targeted toward children aged 6 to 17 years and their families".[2] Astral later announced that it would launch a Canadian version of Disney XD on June 1, 2011. Operating under the Family Extreme license, the service expanded upon Family's relationship as a licensee of Disney Channel programming.[3]

In 2012, the channel premiered its first original series, Slugterra. After the Competition Bureau approved Bell Media's acquisition of Astral, Bell announced on March 4, 2013, that Disney XD, as well as its sister networks and Astral's French-language MusiquePlus and MusiMax would be divested.[4] On October 27, 2013, the channel premiered its first original movie, Bunks, produced by Fresh TV.[5]

On November 28, 2013, DHX Media announced that it would acquire Disney XD and its sister networks for $170 million.[6][7] The acquisition was approved by the CRTC on July 24, 2014,[8][9] and closed on July 31, 2014.[10]

In that same year, Disney XD premiered the pilot for Fangbone!, in May, and a new original series, Gaming Show (In My Parents' Garage), in November.[11][12]

As Family CHRGD/WildBrainTV (2015–2025)

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Family CHRGD logo, which was used from October 9, 2015, to March 1, 2022

On April 16, 2015, it was announced that Corus Entertainment had acquired Canadian rights to Disney Channel's program library; alongside the launch of a Canadian version of Disney Channel, Corus stated that it would launch other Disney branded channels in the future, which eventually included a new Disney XD. In anticipation for this transition, DHX concurrently announced that its Disney-branded networks would be rebranded as spin-offs of Family Channel by November 2015, with Disney XD tentatively being rebranded as Family XTRM.[13][14]

On August 20, 2015, DHX announced the fall lineups for its networks, revealing the official rebranding for Disney XD as Family CHRGD.[15] Its lineup was to feature new seasons of the network's existing original series, in addition to new shows produced by DHX subsidiaries and other studios (such as the aforementioned Fangbone!), as well as new program supply agreements with Mattel,[15] and later in the year, DreamWorks Animation.[16] The rebranding occurred on October 9, 2015.[1][13]

On March 1, 2022, Family CHRGD rebranded as WildBrainTV, with no change in programming.[17]

Closure (2025)

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On December 18, 2024, WildBrain announced that it would sell a two-thirds majority stake of its television operations (including Family Channel) to IoM Media Ventures, a Halifax-based company founded by former WildBrain CEO Dana Landry.[18]

In April 2025, WildBrain stated that it would be renegotiating aspects of the agreement, citing factors such as a decision by Bell Canada not to renew its carriage agreements for WildBrain's channels.[19][20]

On August 25, 2025, WildBrain announced that it was unable to renew its carriage agreements with Rogers Cable. It therefore announced plans to close all of its specialty channels in the near future, as the decline in these carriage agreements meant the channels had lost most of their value and were "no longer commercially viable".[21] All four networks shut down at 5:59 a.m. Eastern on October 23, though some providers stopped their carriage of the channels at midnight several hours earlier.[22]

Programming

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Final programming

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Canadian productions

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Acquired programming

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Former programming

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As Disney XD (2011–2015)

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Programs in bold indicate that programming were moved to the new incarnation of Disney XD.

As Family CHRGD (2015–2022)

[edit]

As WildBrainTV (2022–2025)

[edit]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Bell's ownership was short-lived, as with its sister channels.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "DHX Television's Family CHRGD to Go to Air". October 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "Family Extreme - Category 2 specialty service". CRTC. 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  3. ^ Wedge, Pip. "Disney XD". programming. Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  4. ^ Biblic, Mirko (27 June 2013). "Re: Voting Trust Agreement between BCE Inc. and Pierre Boivin, the trustee Application No. 2013-0243-9–Approved". CRTC. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  5. ^ "Disney XD and Disney Junior Commission Original Canadian Series". Daily News. Broadcaster Magazine. June 12, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "DHX Media to buy Family, other children's channels". Toronto Star. November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "DHX to acquire Family Channel, three others from Bell Media". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  8. ^ "DHX Media receives CRTC approval on $170M acquisition of Family Channel and three other children's channels". DHX Media. July 24, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  9. ^ Vessing, Etan (July 24, 2014). "DHX Media approved for Family Channel takeover". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. ^ "DHX Media closes Family Channel acquisition and announces management changes". Canada Newswire. July 31, 2014. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  11. ^ "DHX Television Commissions Radical Sheep's Animated Comedy Action Series Fangbone!". Newswire. March 5, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  12. ^ "Disney XD gets its game on with the premiere of Gaming Show (In My Parents' Garage) November 16". Newswire. November 5, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Corus gains Canadian rights to Disney Channel content". The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  14. ^ "DHX-Disney Divorce Almost Done". Cartt.ca. 16 April 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Dickson, Jeremy (August 21, 2015). "DHX TV reveals fall skeds for rebranded channels". Kid Screen. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  16. ^ "DreamWorks Animation Inks Strategic Content Pact With DHX Media". Deadline Hollywood. 8 December 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  17. ^ "Breaking News…CHRGD is CHNGNG to WildBrainTV!". WildBrain Television. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  18. ^ Thiessen, Connie (2024-12-18). "WildBrain selling majority stake in TV channels". Broadcast Dialogue. Archived from the original on December 18, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  19. ^ "WildBrain and IoM are adjusting their deal terms". Kidscreen. 2025-04-15. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  20. ^ "WildBrain's $28m deal to offload TV assets hit by channel carriage dispute with Bell". C21media. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  21. ^ Tuchow, Ryan. "WildBrain to shutter its channels business". Kidscreen. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  22. ^ "Channel lineup changes October 22". SaskTel. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
  23. ^ "Carmen Sandiego | WildBrainTV". YouTube. 24 October 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d "WildBrainTV - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  25. ^ "Wildbrain Television Celebrates Canadian Creativity With New Greenlights Across Animation and Live-Action, Offering Programming for the Entire Family to Enjoy". WildBrain. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  26. ^ "Watch".
  27. ^ "Escape to the Wilderness With New Action-Packed Reality Series Survivalists on Family Channel". WildBrain. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  28. ^ a b c "Watch".
  29. ^ "Watch".
  30. ^ a b "Family CHRGD East TV Listings, TV Shows and Schedule–Zap2it". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
  31. ^ "Just Like Mom & Dad - CHRGD.ca". www.chrgd.ca. Archived from the original on 2020-06-04.
  32. ^ "My Side of the Sky". DHX Media. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  33. ^ "9 Story licenses Nature Cat to DHX TV".
  34. ^ "Troll Hunters: Tales of Arcadia". DHX Media. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  35. ^ "Dawn of the Croods". DHX Media. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  36. ^ "Watch".