Toronto-based WildBrain Ltd. announced it will shutter its Canadian broadcast business — including Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, and Télémagino — after failing to secure renewed carriage agreements with major distributors.
The decision follows a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruling that rejected WildBrain’s claim of undue disadvantage from Rogers Communications, one of Canada’s largest telecom and media companies. With both Rogers and Bell — another dominant Canadian telecom and broadcaster — set to drop the channels, the company determined the networks are no longer commercially viable.
Family Channel (aimed at families), Family Jr. (preschoolers), WildBrainTV (kids six to 15), and Télémagino (French-language kids) will close after Rogers removes them in the coming months, a WildBrain spokesperson told Kidscreen. No precise shutdown date has been announced.
The closures also mark the collapse of a previously announced deal to sell a majority stake in the broadcast business to Canadian studio IoM Media Ventures for roughly US$28 million (CAD$40 million). With the value of the channels diminished by the loss of carriage contracts, WildBrain confirmed the sale would no longer proceed.
WildBrain will surrender its channel licenses to the CRTC and, freed from Canadian ownership restrictions under the Broadcasting Act, will simplify its shareholder structure. Eliminating its variable voting system will give foreign and domestic investors equal weight, creating a more globalized unit.
WildBrain president and CEO Josh Scherba said in a release:
For nearly four decades, Family Channel has been a trusted destination for Canadian kids and families. We’re incredibly proud of the legacy we’ve built—thanks to our loyal viewers, dedicated television employees, and the many talented Canadian producers we’ve partnered with.
Family Channel was not only a cultural fixture but also an active commissioner of new Canadian programming. The network recently co-commissioned the Canada-New Zealand-Ireland animated co-production Badjelly and acquired other animated series, including Lana Longbeard, Open Season: Call of Nature, and Summer Memories.
While the broadcast exit closes a significant chapter, Scherba emphasized that the impact on the company’s broader business is “minimal.” WildBrain’s other pillars — content creation, audience engagement, and global licensing — remain strong. In its most recent Q3 2025 report, the company reported revenue of US$128.4 million, representing a 42% year-over-year increase.
The closure marks the end of one of Canada’s most influential kids’ TV networks, but underscores WildBrain’s pivot toward a digital-first, IP-driven future powered by properties like Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake.