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<\/p>\nKorie Heartz grew up with the Family Channel just like her mother, who also watched the iconic station\u2019s shows during her own childhood.<\/p>\n
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She said she hoped her own children would be the third generation in the family to enjoy the series, dramas, and programs that the television<\/a> channel aired for Canadian teens and children for nearly four decades.<\/p>\n But that wish might not come true as WildBrain, a\u00a0Toronto-based media and entertainment company, announced last week it is closing four of its channels, including the Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV and T\u00e9l\u00e9magino for French-language kids.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it\u2019s a bit devastating,\u201d said Heartz, 18, while visiting Oshawa Town Centre with her mother over the weekend.<\/p>\n WildBrain says Rogers Communications informed the company that it would remove the channels from its distribution service in the coming months.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Bell also made a similar decision earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cIn light of these events in combination with the previously announced decision by Bell to also remove the Channels, WildBrain has assessed that the Channels are no longer commercially viable and intends to cease broadcast after their removal from Rogers,\u201d the company said in a statement released last week.<\/p>\n It said WildBrain will surrender the Channel licenses to the Canada Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission.<\/p>\n The Family Channel started broadcasting in 1988, T\u00e9l\u00e9magino was launched in 2010, WildbrainTV and Family Jr. began their programs in 2011 and 2015 respectively.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore on Toronto The channels played a significant role in many Canadian children\u2019s lives and became a formative part of their families, bringing a mix of \u00a0domestic and imported comedy and educational content into their homes.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tGet breaking National news<\/p>\n For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.<\/p>\n Heartz said she was particularly in love with \u201cDog With A Blog,\u201d a sitcom about a dog blogging about the daily happenings in a newly blended family.<\/p>\n She is aware that not too many kids watch cable nowadays, but it is sad news for those who still do.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s like a whole lot of shows on there that I really, really liked,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Rogers says Wildbrain\u2019s viewership has declined significantly in the past few years, sharing data collected by Numeris, a media research company based in\u00a0Toronto, showing the number of people watching the company\u2019s channels dropped by 85 per cent between 2018 and 2024.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re committed to meeting our customers\u2019 changing viewing habits and providing Canadians with the content they want on their platform of choice,\u201d a spokesman for the company said.<\/p>\n Bell couldn\u2019t be reached for comment.<\/p>\n Among those who religiously watched the shows was Erin Gilbert, who said she was disappointed knowing the channels will stop airing.<\/p>\n She said she spent around ten years of her childhood with Family Channel watching many sictoms including \u201cLife with Derek,\u201d \u201cHannah Montana\u201d and \u201cShake it Up.\u201d She said she kept watching until the end of high school, when studying and work took up too much of her time.<\/p>\n \n\t\tTrending Now\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tAs Canadians travel more at home, here\u2019s where many are visiting\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tMargaret Atwood takes aim at Alberta\u2019s school library books ban with satirical story\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA lot of the shows that I loved growing up was broadcasted on that channel, so to know that my child\u2019s not going to grow up with that station is a little sad,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n But some have never stopped watching.<\/p>\n Jonniemay Goody, 27, said she still watches her favourite series such as \u201cCory in the House,\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s so Raven,\u201d and \u201cZack and Cody\u201d whenever she has time.<\/p>\n Like others, she said she also felt sad about the television networks closure.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting to the age now where I\u2019m going to have my own kids and they\u2019re not going to get to kind of have that same experience with all the different shows that I did,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Goody said her mother also sometimes joined her watching the channel.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I don\u2019t know if she\u2019d miss any of the shows,\u201d she said in an interview at Kendalwood Park Plaza in Whitby, Ont. \u201cBut I will.\u201d<\/p>\n Wildbrain\u2019s president and CEO Josh Scherba said in the company\u2019s statement that Family Channel \u201chas been a trusted destination for Canadian kids and families\u201d for nearly four decades.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re incredibly proud of the legacy we\u2019ve built \u2014 thanks to our loyal viewers, dedicated television employees and the many talented Canadian producers we\u2019ve partnered with.<\/p>\n He said the channels\u2019 closure have minimal impact on WildBrain\u2019s business and strategy, vowing that the company will remain a \u201cglobal leader\u201d in children\u2019s entertainment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have deliberately positioned our business to align with changing consumer habits, including a strategic exit from the declining broadcast space in Canada,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \n\t\tCurator Recommendations\n\t<\/p>\n
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