Vrak.TV

VRAK.TV
VRAK.TV logo
Launched	September 1, 1988
Owned by	Astral Media
Slogan	"Complètement VRAK"
Country	Canada
Broadcast area	National
Headquarters	Montreal, Quebec
Formerly called	Canal Famille (1988–2001)
Website	VRAK.TV
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV	Channel 140 (SD) Channel 855 (HD)
Shaw Direct	Channel 770 (SD)
Cable
Videotron	Channel 38 (SD) Channel 638 (HD)
Available on many Canadian cable systems	Check local listings

VRAK.TV is a Canadian French language cable television specialty channel aimed at youth audiences. VRAK.TV is currently owned by Astral Media.

History

Licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1987, Le Canal Famille launched on September 1, 1988 as a replacement to the youth channel TVJQ (Télévision des Jeunes du Québec) otherwise known simply as Télé des Jeunes. Le Canal Famille, name translated as The Family Channel, which was the name of another Canadian youth channel that also began airing in 1988 and is, today, the channel's Astral-owned English language counterpart.^[1] Le Canal Famille rebranded as VRAK.TV on January 2, 2001.

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 coming soon 90210 and Gossip Girl, and many others. However, the channel also features local Quebec French language productions, such as Il était une fois dans le trouble and Une grenade avec ça?. 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 Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the channel carried no commercials^[2], except for promotional messages, interstitial programs (such as help segments known as R-Force (pronounced like "Air Force")), as well as public service announcements. However, since the renewal of its licence 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 a.m. to midnight. When the station was Le Canal Famille, the station would close down at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. on weekends), 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 p.m. (Super Écran followed on most systems). VRAK.TV's current close down time, at midnight, went into effect in mid-2005.

VRAK.TV HD

On October 30, 2006 Astral Media launched an HD simulcast of VRAK.TV called VRAK.TV HD.

Logos

The original logo used under the name Canal Famille (1988-1997)	The second logo used by Canal Famille (1997-2001)	The original logo used by VRAK.TV (2001 to 2007). This logo was also used for VRAK.TV HD, however with specific markings to identify it as the HD logo.	Current logo. There are other colour variations used.
This is a variation of the current logo. There are other colour variations.

International distribution

• Saint Pierre and Miquelon - distributed on SPM Telecom systems.

References

External links

• VRAK.TV (French)