Vrak

Vrak (stylized as VRΔK) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts live-action programming aimed at youth audiences.

For the Swedish museum, see Vrak – Museum of Wrecks.
Vrak
2016-present Vrak logo
LaunchedSeptember 1, 1988
Owned byBell Media
Picture format480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersMontreal, Quebec
Formerly calledLe Canal Famille (1988–1996)
Canal Famille (1996–2001)
Vrak.TV (2001–2014)
ReplacedTVJQ
Sister channel(s)Z
Canal D
Canal Vie
Cinépop
MTV
Much
WebsiteVRAK (in French)
Availability
Satellite
Bell Satellite TVChannel 140 (SD)
Channel 1870 (HD)
Shaw DirectChannel 770 (SD) Channel 397 / 231 (HD)
Cable
Available on many Canadian cable systemsCheck local listings
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TVChannel 845 (SD)
Channel 945 (HD)
Bell Fibe TVChannel 150 (SD)
Channel 1150 (HD)
Bell MTSChannel 411 (SD)
Optik TVChannel 8031 (SD)
Channel 2031 (HD)
SaskTelChannel 265 (SD)
Telus QuebecChannel 29 (SD)
Channel 529 (HD)
VMediaChannel 115 (SD) (QC)
ZazeenChannel 210 (HD)

History

Background

The youth channel TVJQ (Télévision des jeunes du Québec) went on the air in 1982 and was distributed by a subsidiary of Vidéotron.[1] It was originally available only in the Montreal and Quebec City areas.[2]

In 1986, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted a license to Vidéotron for its TVJQ channel to be carried over by other cable companies elsewhere.[2] This made Vidéotron the first cable company in Canadian history to simultaneously be a producer of television content.[2] However, TVJQ was intended to be temporary until a permanent channel for children would succeed it.[2]

Le Canal Famille
The 1988–1996 logo of the channel as Le Canal Famille, prior to the rename to VRAK.TV. A blue–green variant was used from 1996 until 2001.
The 2001–2007 Vrak.TV logo, featuring the channel's mascot, Bibite.[3] The mascot was dropped in 2007, but a simplified variant of this logo was used until 2014.
The 2014 Vrak logo was used until 2016.

Licensed by the CRTC in 1987, Le Canal Famille was launched on September 1, 1988 as a replacement to TVJQ. Le Canal Famille was created by Premier Choix TVEC which itself was already partially owned at the time by Astral Media (the predecessor of Bell Media).[4]

Le Canal Famille, name translated as The Family Channel, which was the name of another Canadian youth channel that also began airing in 1988, as well as YTV (owned by Corus Entertainment).[5]

VRAK

Le Canal Famille was renamed VRAK.TV on January 2, 2001.[6] The channel switched to an ad-supported format in 2006 to coincide with the renewal of license and launch of HD feed.

Vrak.TV was separated from its sister channels in 2013 due to the acquisition of Astral Media by Bell Media; Bell sold off Family Channel, the French version of Disney Junior, the English version of Disney Junior and Disney XD to DHX Media in 2014.

Vrak.TV was simply renamed to just Vrak on August 25, 2014.[7]

On September 12, 2016, Vrak changed its audience focus to the ages 13–35 group due to the success of its Vrak2 block.[8] Some series targeting its former audience focus moved to other stations.

Programming

Since its creation as Le Canal Famille, the channel airs animated series, teen sitcoms and light-hearted dramas. Many of them are French dubs of English-language programs such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, What I Like About You, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, The O.C., Life with Derek, Smallville, SpongeBob SquarePants, That '70s Show, 90210, Gossip Girl, and many others. It also aired programs from Disney Channel; due to the launch of La chaîne Disney by Corus Entertainment, the last remaining Disney Channel show on the channel, Good Luck Charlie (Bonne chance Charlie in French), was removed from the schedule in September 2016. The channel also features local Quebec French language productions, such as Il était une fois dans le trouble and Une grenade avec ça?. Other series that the channel popularized were Dans une galaxie près de chez vous and Radio Enfer. As of 2010, the channel has aired films weekly.

Initially, as required by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the channel carried no commercials until 2006.[9] However, it aired promotional messages, interstitial programs (such as help segments known as R-Force (pronounced like "Air Force")), and public service announcements instead. The channel airs commercials as of 2006 with the launch of its HD feed and license renewal.

Unlike the other specialty channels, Vrak is the only channel on the air daily from 6am to midnight. When the station was Le Canal Famille, the station would close down at 7pm (8pm on weekends), sharing time with the flagship Super Écran channel (then also owned by Astral and now sharing Bell Media ownership with Vrak). In 2001, when the channel was revamped as VRAK.TV, its hours were increased to 10 p.m. (Super Écran followed on most systems). Vrak's current closedown time at midnight went into effect in mid-2005.

On September 12, 2016, due to the channel's changes in audience focus, its animation programming completely disappeared from the channel, eventually, they reappeared on the channel in January 2017, starting with SpongeBob SquarePants (Bob l'éponge in French).

Since May 2019, all remaining children programming on the channel has completely disappeared.

Vrak HD

On October 30, 2006, Astral Media launched an HD simulcast of Vrak.TV called Vrak.TV HD.

It is available on Bell Satellite TV, Bell Fibe TV, Cogeco, Optik TV, Rogers Cable, Shaw Direct and Vidéotron.

International distribution
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See also

References
  1. "Une chaîne pour l 'enfance sans aucune publicité". Le Nouvelliste. Trois-Rivières. 22 July 1988. p. D11.
  2. "TVJQ, en attendant un "vrai" canal jeunesse". La Presse. Montreal. April 24, 1984. p. C1.
  3. https://opencorporates.com/companies/ca_qc/1160269370
  4. CRTC Decision 84-32
  5. "CBC/Radio-Canada - History - 1980s". Archived from the original on 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  6. http://www.infopresse.com/archive/index/2180
  7. "VRAK - Details". bellmediapr.ca.
  8. "Changement d'orientation : la direction de VRAK explique ses choix (In French)". Huffington Post Quebec.
  9. Decision: Premier Choix: TVEC Inc. "Canal Famille" — 871204400, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 1 December 1987
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