ABC Spark
| ABC Spark | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | March 23, 2012 |
| Owned by |
Corus Entertainment (branding licensed from The Walt Disney Company) |
| Picture format |
1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Slogan | The Life Just Got Brighter |
| Country | Canada |
| Language |
English French (via SAP) |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Replaced | Dusk |
| Sister channel(s) | |
| Website | ABC Spark |
|
Availability
|
|
| Satellite | |
| Bell TV | Channel 560 (SD) Channel 1650 (HD) |
| Shaw Direct | Channel 188 / 537 (SD) Channel 73 / 573 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| Available on many Canadian cable systems | Check local listings, channels may vary |
| IPTV | |
| Bell Aliant | Channel 261 (SD) Channel 508 (HD) |
| Bell Fibe TV | Channel 564 (SD) Channel 1564 (HD) |
| MTS | Channel 42 (SD) Channel 44 (HD) |
| Sasktel | Channel 139 (SD) |
| Optik TV | Channel 9327 (SD) Channel 327 (HD) |
| V Media | Channel 58 (HD) |
| Zazeen | Channel 135 (HD) |
ABC Spark is a Canadian English language Category B digital cable and satellite television specialty channel that is owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel is based on the U.S. cable network Freeform (previously known as ABC Family), and focuses on programming primarily aimed at teenagers and preteens with additional general interest family programming. Its name is licensed from the Disney–ABC Television Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
The announcement of the formation of ABC Spark occurred on October 26, 2011 as part of a program licensing agreement between Corus Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company. The use of the name "ABC Spark", as opposed to "ABC Family", is presumably to avoid any confusion with Family, which at the time aired programming from ABC Family's sibling, Disney Channel. The channel's broadcast licence, tentatively known then as Harmony, was approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in February 2012.
Prior to the announcement of the channel's launch, original programming from ABC Family had been airing in Canada on other specialty channels, including the Bell Media-owned MuchMusic. Selected ABC Family programs that were set to air on ABC Spark began airing in special sneak preview blocks in advance of the network's launch starting on January 16, 2012 on Corus-owned sister channels YTV, W Network, and CMT. The channel was owned by Corus (51%) and Shaw Media (49%) at launch on Monday, March 26, 2012.
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