Treehouse TV

History

Treehouse block on YTV (1994–1998)

In 1994, YTV introduced a daily programming block for preschool children called "The Treehouse". In lieu of commercials, breaks between programs on the block featured segments hosted by three program jockeys ("PJs") named PJ Katie, PJ Krista, and PJ Todd, who made crafts, played games, and held contests from a tree house-themed set.

The PJs' co-hosts were a group of stuffed animal puppets called the Fuzzpaws. On Fridays, PJ Katie would perform stories with clay animals. These segments were eventually spun off into the series PJ Katie's Farm.

As a channel (1997–present)

In early 1996, it was announced that YTV was looking to move its preschool-oriented programming intro a separate network. It was announced in the first half of April 1996, that YTV was developing a spin-off network targeted towards preschoolers named Treehouse TV, and solicited letters supporting the network for the CRTC and Treehouse on-air. The network's president, Patricia Macdonald, said she had "done a lot of research that led us to the conclusion that the kids market is underserved." On September 4, the CRTC approved YTV's request to launch Treehouse TV.

The Treehouse channel launched on November 1, 1997, at 8:00 a.m. EST. For a few months, The Treehouse block on YTV continued to air alongside the channel. In 1998, the Treehouse block was replaced by YTV Jr., an unhosted block.

Like the Treehouse block, the Treehouse channel was commercial-free, opting instead to show interstitial shorts in between shows. These shorts featured a new set of characters who lived in Treetown. However, the PJs (program jockeys) from the original Treehouse block did not return for the Treehouse channel, although PJ Katie's Farm reran on Treehouse throughout 1999.

In March 2005, Corus Entertainment began offering a video on demand service called Treehouse On Demand to cable providers such as Rogers Cable and Cogeco, delivering content from Treehouse TV. It is offered as a free service to customers who subscribe to each providers digital cable service. Some providers such as SaskTel offer it as a standalone premium subscription service. Between June 2015 and May 2019, Corus operated TreehouseGO, a TV Everywhere service available on iOS and Android devices.

In 2011, Corus launched a standalone subscription video on demand service for iOS. It was later rebranded to Treehouse Classic until 2016, when a rebrand occurred and the "Classic" branding was removed.

On February 5, 2013, Nelvana, Corus Entertainment's animation division, launched the Treehouse Direct channel on YouTube. On March 2, 2015, Treehouse TV launched its own YouTube channel.

On July 19, 2019, Corus Entertainment filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against an Oklahoma-based medical marijuana dispensary chain, known as "Treehouse Dispensary", alleging the chain "wilfully copied and is using a confusing similar imitation" of the Treehouse TV logo. An attorney for the dispensary contested the claims and said that the business "categorically denies that its logo infringes on any existing trademarks in the United States." Corus won the lawsuit through a default judgment the following December.

On July 4, 2022, the CRTC announced plans to renew the license of Treehouse TV, along with those of Boomerang, Adult Swim, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Télétoon, YTV, Disney Channel, La Chaîne Disney, Disney Junior, and Disney XD, for another two years (licenses not valid as of August 31, 2024).

On September 1, 2025, amid financial pressure at parent company Corus Entertainment, the company's broadcasting rights to Nickelodeon programming on YTV and Treehouse expired and all Nickelodeon programming were removed from both networks, along with YTV's dedicated Nickelodeon channel shutting down the same day. Nickelodeon programming remains available in Canada through YTV On Demand and the Paramount+ streaming service.

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Treehouse TV

Treehouse airs a mix of live-action and animated programming targeted at preschoolers and young children, primarily those aged six and under. Treehouse airs multiple series produced by sister subsidiary Nelvana alongside programming from third-parties such as Sesame Workshop and Hasbro Entertainment.

References

References

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