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Vrak
Vrak.svg
2016-present Vrak logo
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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vrak.TV para niños

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