What’s Happening at WildBrain?
WildBrain, the Canadian media and entertainment company behind Family Channel and kids’ programming, has announced that it will exit the Canadian broadcast business. This move means the closure of its suite of channels — Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, and Télémagino — after determining that they are no longer commercially viable.
Why the Shutdown Is Happening
The closures stem from a combination of business and regulatory challenges:
- Carriage Agreements Failed – WildBrain was unable to reach new deals with Rogers and Bell, leaving its channels without distribution.
- Collapsed Sale – A planned deal with IoM Media Ventures for a majority stake in the channels fell apart once Bell confirmed it would drop them.
- Regulatory Setback – In July 2025, the CRTC dismissed WildBrain’s complaint against Rogers over its Disney+ promotions. With no regulatory remedy in place, the company lost one of its final avenues to keep the channels viable.
What It Means for WildBrain
While the closures mark the end of an era for Canadian broadcast TV, WildBrain has emphasized that this will not derail its broader business strategy:
- No More Broadcasting Act Obligations – The company will no longer be bound by Canadian broadcasting rules.
- Corporate Structure Changes – WildBrain intends to remove its variable voting structure for non-Canadian shareholders, giving it greater strategic flexibility.
- Shift in Focus – According to CEO Josh Scherba, the...
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