WildBrainTV was a Canadian English language discretionaryspecialty channel owned by WildBrain.WildBrainTV broadcast live-action and animated children's programming aimed towards audiences ages 6–15. 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
Family Channel
Family Jr.
Télémagino
As Disney XD (2011–2015)
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".[1] 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.[2]
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.[3] On October 27, 2013, the channel premiered its first original movie, Bunks, produced by Fresh TV.[4]
On November 28, 2013, DHX Media announced that it would acquire Disney XD and its sister networks for $170 million.[5][6] The acquisition was approved by the CRTC on July 24, 2014,[7][8] and closed on July 31, 2014.[9]
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.[10][11]
As Family CHRGD/WildBrainTV (2015–2025)
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.[12][13]
On August 20, 2015, DHX announced the fall lineups for its networks, revealing the official rebranding for Disney XD as Family CHRGD.[14] 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,[14]
Closure (2025)
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
Programming
Final programming
Canadian productions
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Carmen Sandiego (November 5, 2022 – October 22, 2025)[24]
Denis and Me (November 16, 2021 – October 22, 2025)
