VRAK.TV
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| VRAK.TV | |
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| Type | Cable television specialty channel |
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| Country |  Canada |
| Availability | National |
| Slogan | "Méchant Canal" (Wicked Channel) |
| Owner | Astral Media |
| Launch date | January 2, 2001 |
| Past names | Canal Famille (1988-2001), TVJQ (Prior to 1988) |
| Website | www.vrak.tv |
VRAK.TV is a Canadian French language cable television specialty channel aimed at youth audiences. VRAK.TV is currently owned by Astral Media.
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[edit] History
The roots of VRAK.TV go as far back as the early 1980s, with the creation of cable channel TVJQ (Télévision des Jeunes du Québec, or "Quebec Youth Television"). Le Canal Famille was created in 1988 and replaced TVJQ. Its name meant "The Family Channel", which, coincidentally, was the name of another Canadian youth channel that also started airing in 1988 and is, today, the channel's Astral-owned counterpart.[1] Le Canal Famille became VRAK.TV on January 2, 2001.
[edit] Programming
Since its creation as Le Canal Famille, the channel airs animated series and teenage sitcoms as well as light dramas. Many of them are French translations of existing programs such as 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, and many others. However, the channel also features local Quebec-French-language productions, such as Il était une fois dans le trouble and Mauvais 1/4 d'heure. Other series that the channel popularized were Dans une galaxie près de chez vous and Radio Enfer. VRAK.TV rarely airs feature movies, except on holidays.
Initially, as required by the CRTC, the channel carried no commercials[2], except for promotional messages, interstitial programs (such as help segments known as R-Force), as well as public service announcements. However, since the renewal of its license in 2006, the channel is able to air product advertisements.[3] VRAK.TV does frequently join forces with various companies (mainly grocery products) to present special promotions related to its programming.
Unlike most other specialty channels, VRAK.TV is only on the air daily from 6 AM to Midnight. When the station was Le Canal Famille, the station would close down at 7 PM (8 PM on week-ends), sharing time with a scrambled Super Écran channel (also owned by Astral). In 2001, when the channel was revamped as VRAK.TV, its hours were increased to 10 PM (Super Écran followed on most systems). VRAK.TV's current closedown time, at Midnight, went into effect in mid-2005.
[edit] VRAK.TV HD
On October 30, 2006 Astral Media launched an HD simulcast of VRAK.TV.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/history/1980s.shtml
- ^ http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/1987/DB87-896.HTM
- ^ http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/db2006-382.htm
[edit] External link
- Official Site (French)
| Astral Media Inc. |
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Corporate Directors: Normand Beauchamp | Austin Beutel | Paul Bronfman | André Bureau | Jack Cockwell | George Cohon | Paul Godfrey | Edith Greenberg | Ian Greenberg | Sidney Greenberg | Sidney Horn | Timothy Price |
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Television Assets: Canal D | Canal Indigo | Canal Vie | cinépop | Family | Historia | The Movie Network | Mpix | MusiquePlus | MusiMax | Séries+ | Super Écran | TATV | TELETOON (English) | TÉLÉTOON (French) | Viewers Choice | VRAK.TV | Ztélé |
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