Vrak facts for kids
2016-present Vrak logo
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| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Quebec |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | French |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bell Media |
| Sister channels | Noovo Z Canal D Canal Vie Cinépop MTV Much |
| History | |
| Launched | September 1, 1988 |
| Replaced | TVJQ |
| Former names | Le Canal Famille (1988–1996) Canal Famille (1996–2001) Vrak.TV (2001–2014) |
| Availability | |
| Cable | |
| Available on many Canadian cable systems | Check local listings |
| Satellite | |
| Bell Satellite TV | Channel 140 (SD) Channel 1870 (HD) |
| Shaw Direct | Channel 770 (SD) Channel 397 / 231 (HD) |
| IPTV | |
| Bell Aliant Fibe TV | Channel 845 (SD) Channel 945 (HD) |
| Bell Fibe TV | Channel 150 (SD) Channel 1150 (HD) |
| Bell MTS | Channel 411 (SD) |
| Optik TV | Channel 8031 (SD) Channel 2031 (HD) |
| SaskTel | Channel 265 (SD) |
| Telus Quebec | Channel 29 (SD) Channel 529 (HD) |
| VMedia | Channel 115 (SD) (QC) |
| TotalTV | Channel 210 (HD) |
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.
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. 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
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon (French overseas collectivity) - distributed on the SPM Telecom system.
