Yoopa
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersMontreal, Quebec
Programming
Language(s)French
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerGroupe TVA
History
LaunchedApril 1, 2010
ClosedJanuary 11, 2024
Former namesTVA Junior (pre-launch)
Links
Websiteyoopa.ca

Yoopa (stylized YOOPA) is an outgoing Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Groupe TVA, a division of Quebecor Media. Initially aimed at preschoolers, Yoopa now broadcasts programming targeted toward children, aged 2–11.

A magazine for parents using the Yoopa name was launched on April 1, 2010, in conjunction with the launch of the television channel. The magazine replaced EspaceParents.ca, owned by TVA Publications, a division of Groupe TVA.

On November 13, 2023, Groupe TVA announced that the channel would be shut down on January 11, 2024. The channel will be replaced with a TV version of Groupe TVA's QUB Radio channel, with all of Yoopa's programs moving to Club Illico.

History

In February 2010, TVA Group was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a television channel called TVA Junior, described as "a national French-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking aimed exclusively at children from two to six years old."[1]

previous Yoopa logo (2010–2013), was used as an alternate logo until January 2014

The channel was launched on April 1, 2010, as Yoopa.[2]

Dispute with Vrak.TV Junior

Before Yoopa's launch and its approval by the CRTC, fellow broadcaster Astral Media had been approved for a similar channel in March 2006 called Vrak.TV Junior.[3] Prior to its launch, Astral Media claimed that it had secured carriage on a number of other television providers, except Vidéotron – who has a hold of 51% of the Quebec market, the largest French market in Canada – owned by Quebecor Media, the parent of TVA Group. Astral claimed Vidéotron's refusal to carry the channel was to avoid competition for its upcoming channel, Yoopa.[4] Astral attributed the delay in the launch of Vrak Junior to Vidéotron's refusal to carry the channel. Vidéotron categorically denied the accusation.[4]

Vrak.TV Junior was launched on July 5, 2010, as Playhouse Disney Télé (now Télémagino) on Bell Satellite TV. Vidéotron launched the channel on March 1, 2011.[5]

Closure

On August 17, 2023, in response to Videotron removing Bell Media's Vrak and Z TV channels from their TV services, Bell removed Yoopa from all of their TV platforms citing declining subscribers, shrinking audiences and lower market value.[6] Vrak eventually shut down at the stroke of midnight on September 30 that same year.

Nearly three months later, on November 13, 2023, Groupe TVA announced that the channel would be shut down on January 11, 2024, with the reason being "due to increased competition from foreign platforms in children's content", and in order for the company to concentrate on its other specialty services. Following the shutdown, TVA will begin distributing a video simulcast of Qub Radio, a streaming talk radio channel launched in 2018, with all of the children's programming broadcast on Yoopa at the time of closure being moved to the SVOD service Club Illico as of that date.[7][8] The final program to air on the channel before the changeover is yet to be announced.

Current programming

Future programming

Former programming

International distribution

References

  1. ↑ Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (2010-02-22). "ARCHIVED - TVA Junior - Category 2 specialty". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  2. ↑ "Yoopa: la petite enfance chez Groupe TVA - actualites". 2010-02-28. Archived from the original on 2010-02-28. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  3. ↑ Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (2006-03-27). "ARCHIVED - Vrak Junior - Category 2 specialty service". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  4. 1 2 Dumas, Hugo (2010-02-27). "Un youpi pour le Yoopa de TVA?". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  5. ↑ "PLAYHOUSE DISNEY TELE | PLAYHOUSE DISNEY TÉLÉ LAUNCHES ON VIDÉOTRON". 2011-03-24. Archived from the original on 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  6. ↑ https://mediaincanada.com/2023/08/17/videotron-drops-vrak-and-z-while-bell-removes-yoopa/
  7. ↑ https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2026311/groupe-tva-chaine-jeunesse-yoopa-qub-radio
  8. ↑ https://blog.fagstein.com/2023/11/14/yoopa-to-close/
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sports et plein air : Respirez la nature | Salut Bonjour".
  10. ↑ "Yoopa - Héros - Peppa". 2015-01-06. Archived from the original on 2015-01-06. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
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