imported>GRocasFan2024 at 16:55, 19 November 2025

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{{Short description|Canadian children's television channel}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Treehouse TV
| logo = Treehouse TV logo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_caption = Logo used since April 8, 2013
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1997|11|1}}
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|HDTV]]<br />{{small|(downscaled to [[Letterboxing (filming)|letterboxed]] [[480i]] for the [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]] feed)}}
| owner = [[Corus Entertainment]]
| parent = [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV Canada, Inc.]]
| country = Canada
| language = English<br>Audio described
| area = Nationwide
| headquarters = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
| sister_channels = [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]]
| website = {{URL|treehousetv.com}}
}}

'''Treehouse TV''' (commonly known as '''Treehouse''') is a Canadian English-language [[Discretionary service|discretionary]] [[specialty channel]] that launched on November 1, 1997, as the first full-day preschool-oriented channel in [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/ownership/eng/cht032b.pdf |title=Ownership Chart 32b |access-date=March 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006001743/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/ownership/eng/cht032b.pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is owned by [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV Canada, Inc.]], a subsidiary of [[Corus Entertainment]], and was named after sister network [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]]'s former programming block, "[[#Treehouse block on YTV (1994–1998)|The Treehouse]]".

When Treehouse TV first launched, it aired daily from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m.,<ref name=launchdate>{{cite web | url=https://kidscreen.com/1999/07/01/25989-19990701/ | title=Canadian prodcos' tot TV talent perks up kids market | access-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-date=February 24, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224080245/http://kidscreen.com/1999/07/01/25989-19990701/ | url-status=live }}</ref> before switching to a 24-hour schedule sometime before 2003. In addition to producing its own original series, the channel carries third-party preschool programs from various international markets. Much like YTV, the majority of Treehouse's acquired content came from [[Nickelodeon]] (through its [[Nick Jr.]] preschool brand) until 2025, when its rights to broadcast Nickelodeon programming expired. It also airs shows from [[Sesame Workshop]] and [[PBS Kids]].

As of 2011, Treehouse TV was available to over 7.5 million homes across Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kidscreen.com/content/pdf/51491.pdf#page=124|title=Treehouse: Canada's top kids net stays the course|work=[[Kidscreen]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015161848/https://kidscreen.com/content/pdf/51491.pdf|archive-date=October 15, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
===Treehouse block on YTV (1994–1998)===
{{see|YTV Jr.}}
[[File:The Treehouse block logo.png|thumb|right|"The Treehouse" originated as a programming block on YTV from 1994 to 1997.]]
In 1994, [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]] introduced a daily programming block for preschool children called "The Treehouse".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/legacy/324494512 | title=Nanaimo Daily News from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada on August 5, 1994 · 35 }}</ref> In lieu of commercials, breaks between programs on the block featured segments hosted by three program jockeys ("PJs")<ref>{{cite web | url=https://torontoist.com/2015/12/the-oral-history-of-1990s-ytv/ | title=The Oral History of 1990s YTV | date=December 22, 2015 | access-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-date=October 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002010313/https://torontoist.com/2015/12/the-oral-history-of-1990s-ytv/ | url-status=live }}</ref> named PJ Katie, PJ Krista, and PJ Todd, who made crafts, played games, and held contests from a [[tree house]]-themed set.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/legacy/503172975/ | title=The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on October 2, 1995 · 47 | access-date=September 4, 2022 | archive-date=September 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904232239/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/legacy/503172975/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://kidscreen.com/1998/03/01/21187-19980301/ | title=Special Report: Canada's YTV turns 10: Treehouse TV is focus for international growth | access-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902211555/https://kidscreen.com/1998/03/01/21187-19980301/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

The PJs' co-hosts were a group of stuffed animal puppets called [[the Fuzzpaws]]. On Fridays, PJ Katie would perform stories with clay animals. These segments were eventually spun off into the series ''[[PJ Katie's Farm]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blogto.com/city/2014/09/that_time_when_90s_kids_were_hooked_on_treehouse/ | title=That time when '90s kids were hooked on Treehouse | access-date=September 4, 2022 | archive-date=September 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904010800/https://www.blogto.com/city/2014/09/that_time_when_90s_kids_were_hooked_on_treehouse/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===As a channel (1997–present)===
[[File:Treehousetv.svg|thumb|right|Previous logo, used until 2013.]]
In early 1996, it was announced that YTV was looking to move its preschool-oriented programming intro a separate network.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/464968736/ | title=The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on February 10, 1996 · 116 | date=February 10, 1996 }}</ref> It was announced in the first half of April 1996, that YTV was developing a spin-off network targeted towards preschoolers named '''Treehouse TV''', and solicited letters supporting the network for the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission|CRTC]] and Treehouse on-air.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treehouse Sunday April 14th 1996 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hrCZtygaAA |date=February 12, 2020 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> The network's president, Patricia Macdonald, said she had "done a lot of research that led us to the conclusion that the kids market is underserved."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/503264269/ | title=The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on April 7, 1996 · 70 | date=April 7, 1996 }}</ref> On September 4, the CRTC approved YTV's request to launch Treehouse TV.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1996/db96-603.htm | title=ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 96-603 | year=1996 | access-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902211552/https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1996/db96-603.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

The Treehouse channel launched on November 1, 1997, at 8:00 a.m. EST. For a few months, The Treehouse block on YTV continued to air alongside the channel. In 1998, the Treehouse block was replaced by [[YTV Jr.]], an unhosted block.

Like the Treehouse block, the Treehouse channel was commercial-free, opting instead to show [[Interstitial television show|interstitial shorts]] in between shows. These shorts featured a new set of characters who lived in Treetown. However, the PJs (program jockeys) from the original Treehouse block did not return for the Treehouse channel, although ''PJ Katie's Farm'' reran on Treehouse throughout 1999.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/485959665/ | title=Calgary Herald from Calgary, Alberta, Canada on August 13, 1999 · 139 | date=August 13, 1999 | access-date=September 4, 2022 | archive-date=September 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904010340/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/485959665/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2005, Corus Entertainment began offering a [[video on demand]] service called ''Treehouse On Demand'' to cable providers such as [[Rogers Cable]] and [[Cogeco]], delivering content from Treehouse TV.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.corusent.com/news/treehouse-gives-canadian-kids-programming-power/|title=Treehouse Gives Canadian Kids Programming Power|location=[[Toronto]]|work=[[Corus Entertainment]]|date=March 4, 2005|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113173507/https://www.corusent.com/news/treehouse-gives-canadian-kids-programming-power/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is offered as a free service to customers who subscribe to each providers digital cable service. Some providers such as [[SaskTel]] offer it as a standalone premium subscription service. Between June 2015 and May 2019, Corus operated ''TreehouseGO'', a [[TV Everywhere]] service available on [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2015/06/29/corus-launches-treehousego/|title=Corus launches TreehouseGO|first=Katie|last=Bailey|date=June 29, 2015|access-date=January 13, 2020|work=[[Playback (magazine)|Playback]]|publisher=[[Brunico Communications]]|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113173422/https://playbackonline.ca/2015/06/29/corus-launches-treehousego/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.shaw.ca/t5/service-updates-outages/may-1-corus-apps-decommission/ta-p/6111|title=Service Update: May 1 - Corus Apps Decommission|access-date=January 13, 2020|work=[[Shaw Communications]]|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113170236/https://support.shaw.ca/t5/service-updates-outages/may-1-corus-apps-decommission/ta-p/6111|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2011, Corus launched a standalone [[subscription video on demand]] service for iOS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/right-click/treehouse-video-app-10-bucks-month-too-much-132234889.html|title=Treehouse video app: Is 10 bucks a month too much?|author=Amber MacArthur|author-link=Amber MacArthur|work=Right Click|publisher=[[Yahoo! News]]|date=August 15, 2011|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> It was later rebranded to ''Treehouse Classic'' until 2016, when a rebrand occurred and the "Classic" branding was removed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/09/08/corus-launches-refreshed-treehouse-app/|title=Corus debuts refreshed Treehouse App|first=Wendy|last=Getzler|date=September 8, 2016|access-date=January 13, 2020|work=[[Kidscreen]]|publisher=[[Brunico Communications]]}}</ref>

On February 5, 2013, [[Nelvana]], [[Corus Entertainment]]'s animation division, launched the Treehouse Direct channel on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/c/TreehouseDirect/about|title = Treehouse Direct|website = [[YouTube]]|access-date = June 22, 2021|archive-date = June 24, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210624212456/https://www.youtube.com/c/TreehouseDirect/about|url-status = live}}</ref> On March 2, 2015, Treehouse TV launched its own YouTube channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/c/treehousetv/about|title = TreehouseTV|website = [[YouTube]]|access-date = August 29, 2021|archive-date = August 29, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210829131630/https://www.youtube.com/c/treehousetv/about|url-status = live}}</ref>

On July 19, 2019, Corus Entertainment filed a [[copyright infringement]] lawsuit against an [[Oklahoma]]-based [[Medical cannabis|medical marijuana]] dispensary chain, known as "Treehouse Dispensary", alleging the chain "wilfully copied and is using a confusing similar imitation" of the Treehouse TV logo. An attorney for the dispensary contested the claims and said that the business "categorically denies that its logo infringes on any existing trademarks in the United States."<ref name="bnnbloomberg-nelvanasuit">{{cite news|title=Canadian animation studio Nelvana sues Oklahoma dispensary over logo|url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/canadian-animation-studio-nelvana-sues-oklahoma-dispensary-over-logo-1.1292615|agency=[[Associated Press]]|website=[[BNN Bloomberg]]|publisher=[[Bell Media]]|date=July 25, 2019|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725221100/https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/canadian-animation-studio-nelvana-sues-oklahoma-dispensary-over-logo-1.1292615|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tulsaworld-nelvanasuit">{{cite news|title=Child entertainment firm sues Oklahoma marijuana dispensary, alleges trademark infringement|url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/marijuana/child-entertainment-firm-sues-oklahoma-dispensary-known-for-cheap-marijuana/article_809255a5-abc5-58bd-aa76-6241fc7074e9.html|author=Samantha Vicent|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|publisher=[[Berkshire Hathaway|BH Media]]|date=July 23, 2019|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> Corus won the lawsuit through a [[default judgment]] the following December.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6353443/treehouse-logo-dispensary-nelvana-ruling/|title=Canadian studio wins 'Treehouse' logo copyright dispute against Oklahoma cannabis dispensary|first=David|last=Lao|work=[[Global News]]|publisher=[[Corus Entertainment]]|date=December 31, 2019|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113173353/https://globalnews.ca/news/6353443/treehouse-logo-dispensary-nelvana-ruling/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 4, 2022, the CRTC announced plans to renew the license of Treehouse TV, along with those of [[Boomerang (Canada)|Boomerang]], [[Adult Swim (Canada)|Adult Swim]], [[Nickelodeon (Canadian TV channel)|Nickelodeon]], [[Cartoon Network (Canada)|Cartoon Network]], [[Télétoon]], [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]], [[Disney Channel (Canada)|Disney Channel]], [[La Chaîne Disney]], [[Disney Jr. (Canada)|Disney Junior]], and [[Disney XD (Canada)|Disney XD]], for another two years (licenses not valid as of August 31, 2024).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2022/2022-180.htm|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-180|date=July 4, 2022|website=CRTC|language=en-CA|access-date=July 7, 2022|archive-date=July 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707124126/https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2022/2022-180.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 1, 2025, amid financial pressure at parent company Corus Entertainment, the company's broadcasting rights to Nickelodeon programming on YTV and Treehouse expired and all Nickelodeon programming were removed from both networks, [[Nickelodeon (Canadian TV channel)|YTV's dedicated Nickelodeon channel]] shut down on the same day. Nickelodeon programming remains available in Canada through YTV On Demand and the [[Paramount+]] streaming service.<ref>{{cite web |title= TV Schedule for YTV (Youth Television) - East |url= https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/ytv-youth-television-east/15/2025-08-31 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250901034729/https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/ytv-youth-television-east/15/2025-08-31|archive-date=2025-09-01|access-date=2025-09-01 |publisher=TV Passport }}</ref>

==Programming==
{{main|List of programs broadcast by Treehouse TV}}
Treehouse airs a mix of live-action and animated programming targeted at preschoolers and young children, primarily those aged six and under. Treehouse airs multiple series produced by sister subsidiary [[Nelvana]] alongside programming from third-parties such as [[Sesame Workshop]] and [[Hasbro Entertainment]].

==See also==
* [[Family Jr.]] — a former offshoot of [[Family Channel (Canada)|Family Channel]], that primarily aired programming aimed at preschool children.
* [[Telebimbi]] — an Italian-language offshoot of [[TLN (TV channel)|TLN]] that airs programming aimed at youth raging from preschoolers to pre-adolescents.
* [[Télémagino]] — a former French-language offshoot of Family Channel that also aired programming aimed at youth raging from preschoolers to adolescents.
* [[TeleNiños]] — a Spanish-language offshoot of TLN that also airs programming aimed at youth raging from preschoolers to adolescents.
* [[Yoopa]] — a defunct French-language children's television channel that primarily aired programming aimed at preschoolers.
* [[Nick Jr.]] — a preschool programming block that aired on [[Nickelodeon]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.treehousetv.com}}
{{Corus Entertainment}}
{{Children's television in Canada}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1997 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Children's television networks in Canada]]
[[Category:Commercial-free television networks]]
[[Category:Corus Entertainment networks]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in Canada]]
[[Category:Preschool education television networks]]
[[Category:Specialty television channels in Canada]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997]]

Treehouse TV - Revision history

imported>GRocasFan2024 at 16:55, 19 November 2025