The Canada kids linear TV collapse has finally reached a tipping point with WildBrain and Family Channel disappearing from Telus Optik. They were already gone from Rogers and Bell, and I’m glad I never signed up there. I’ve always enjoyed tuning in for shows like The Loud House, Pokemon, or a random LEGO story, and I’m sad they’ll soon be gone.
The only channel still standing is YTV, which lets animation fans see what’s popular. But this isn’t just a little schedule change — it’s a sign of a bigger problem. For anyone who grew up flipping through children’s TV channels, or for parents who liked simple, pre-set schedules, there are fewer options every year. The “cartoon package” is almost gone. Could something like MeTV Cartoons come to Canada? Maybe, but it’s tricky because of licensing rules.
And the problem isn’t just limited to one country. Kids’ channels around the world are shrinking. In the U.S., Disney Channel and Nickelodeon aren’t what they used to be. The BBC in the U.K. is moving kids’ shows online. Even in Australia and Europe, old channels are being shut down. The way kids’ shows used to reach homes is disappearing fast.
Why is this happening?
It’s mostly streaming. Kids today are used to watching Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, or whatever they can load on a phone or tablet. Scheduled shows don’t fit in their world. Advertising is another reason. In Canada, strict rules make it hard for kids’ channels to show ads. That’s why you don’t see the toy and cereal commercials that helped pay for cartoons in the 90s.
Costs are also high. Making cart00ns isn’t cheap, and traditional channels can’t compete with global streaming services that share costs around the world. More people are cutting cable, and children’s TV channels with fewer viewers are the first to go.
Companies are changing too. Disney, Warner Bros., and others keep their shows off regular channels so only their streaming services have them. Teletoon changing into Cartoon Network Canada was just the start. The only survivors in this shift are this network, Disney Channel and YTV.
What this means for fans
For animation fans, it’s a loss of culture. Shows don’t just disappear; they vanish unless you can find DVDs or hope they show up online. I collect home video releases from the 70s to the 90s because I know they won’t come back. As for newer products, even the titles put on TV dated 2010 or earlier are fading memories. Once upon a time, YTV was great for DreamWorks titles, but ever since Canada Kids Linear TV Collapse, they are all fading memories. For example, shows like The Croods: A New Family or Penguins of Madagascar are replaced with Captain Underpants or newer.
Canadian shows face extra trouble. Homegrown cartoons could get buried online somewhere on CBC’s archives instead of being on TV. A Family Channel premiere used to be a big deal; now it might get lost in an endless list on a streaming service.
And yes, piracy will probably go up. If kids can’t watch the latest Scooby-Doo easily, they’ll look elsewhere. Collectors like me help keep shows alive, but the average viewer shouldn’t have to buy DVDs or dig through the dark web to satisfy that nostalgia itch.
The Global Picture
Other countries are trying new things. The BBC still has some free online kids’ shows even though CBBC is gone. In the U.S., Pluto TV and Tubi have “live” channels that feel like old TV. Canada has done little like this.
Some companies like Samsung buy old shows for specialty streaming. You can find classics like Dungeons & Dragons: The Cartoon Series or LEGO shows. Tubi and Plex help too, but not all TVs can use them. These are kids TV streaming alternatives, but they don’t replace flipping through channels. Youths around the world face similar changes, showing this is a global problem.
Looking ahead
The big question is: how will kids today find the stories that shape them? I used to flip channels until something clicked. Shows taught lessons, gave laughs, and offered adventures. Now, it’s harder to find that experience. CBC used to be full of gold, with shows like The Raccoons giving action and heart.
Channels still matter. Parents can tell kids, “Go watch TV,” and it’s still fun. Also, physical activity is always encouraged, but a little cartoon break can brighten a day before heading to the park.
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