 Logo used since April 8, 2013 | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Toronto,Ontario |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English Audio described |
| Picture format | 1080iHDTV (downscaled toletterboxed480i for theSDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment |
| Parent | YTV Canada, Inc. |
| Sister channels | YTV |
| History | |
| Launched | November 1, 1997; 28 years ago (1997-11-01) |
| Links | |
| Website | treehousetv |
Treehouse TV (commonly known asTreehouse) is a Canadian English-languagediscretionaryspecialty channel that launched on November 1, 1997, as the first full-day preschool-oriented channel inCanada.[1] It is owned byYTV Canada, Inc., a subsidiary ofCorus Entertainment, and was named after sister networkYTV's former programming block, "The Treehouse".
When Treehouse TV first launched, it aired daily from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m.,[2] 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 fromNickelodeon (through itsNick Jr. preschool brand) until 2025, when its rights to broadcast Nickelodeon programming expired. It also airs shows fromSesame Workshop andPBS Kids.
As of 2011, Treehouse TV was available to over 7.5 million homes across Canada.[3]
In 1994,YTV introduced a daily programming block for preschool children called "The Treehouse".[4] In lieu of commercials, breaks between programs on the block featured segments hosted by three program jockeys ("PJs")[5] named PJ Katie, PJ Krista, and PJ Todd, who made crafts, played games, and held contests from atree house-themed set.[6][7]
The PJs' co-hosts were a group of stuffed animal puppets calledthe Fuzzpaws. On Fridays, PJ Katie would perform stories with clay animals. These segments were eventually spun off into the seriesPJ Katie's Farm.[8]
In early 1996, it was announced that YTV was looking to move its preschool-oriented programming intro a separate network.[9] It was announced in the first half of April 1996, that YTV was developing a spin-off network targeted towards preschoolers namedTreehouse TV, and solicited letters supporting the network for theCRTC and Treehouse on-air.[10] 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."[11] On September 4, the CRTC approved YTV's request to launch Treehouse TV.[12]
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 byYTV Jr., an unhosted block.
Like the Treehouse block, the Treehouse channel was commercial-free, opting instead to showinterstitial 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, althoughPJ Katie's Farm reran on Treehouse throughout 1999.[13]
In March 2005, Corus Entertainment began offering avideo on demand service calledTreehouse On Demand to cable providers such asRogers Cable andCogeco, delivering content from Treehouse TV.[14] It is offered as a free service to customers who subscribe to each providers digital cable service. Some providers such asSaskTel offer it as a standalone premium subscription service. Between June 2015 and May 2019, Corus operatedTreehouseGO, aTV Everywhere service available oniOS andAndroid devices.[15][16]
In 2011, Corus launched a standalonesubscription video on demand service for iOS.[17] It was later rebranded toTreehouse Classic until 2016, when a rebrand occurred and the "Classic" branding was removed.[18]
On February 5, 2013,Nelvana,Corus Entertainment's animation division, launched the Treehouse Direct channel onYouTube.[19] On March 2, 2015, Treehouse TV launched its own YouTube channel.[20]
On July 19, 2019, Corus Entertainment filed acopyright infringement lawsuit against anOklahoma-basedmedical 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."[21][22] Corus won the lawsuit through adefault judgment the following December.[23]
On July 4, 2022, the CRTC announced plans to renew the license of Treehouse TV, along with those ofBoomerang,Adult Swim,Nickelodeon,Cartoon Network,Télétoon,YTV,Disney Channel,La Chaîne Disney,Disney Junior, andDisney XD, for another two years (licenses not valid as of August 31, 2024).[24]
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,YTV's dedicated Nickelodeon channel shut down on the same day. Nickelodeon programming remains available in Canada through YTV On Demand and theParamount+ streaming service.[25]
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 subsidiaryNelvana alongside programming from third-parties such asSesame Workshop andHasbro Entertainment.
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