History Creator / YTV

YTV is a Canadian channel launched in 1988 as one of the first youth-oriented [[UsefulNotes/CanadianMultichannelNetworks specialty networks]] to launch in the country. Despite this, and what its name suggests, YTV's initials do not stand for "'''Y'''outh '''T'''ele'''v'''ision". YTV's current parent company is Creator/CorusEntertainment, and the network serves as the flagship brand for the Corus' Kids division.

Another notable aspect of YTV was that they were the primary source of {{anime}} for Canadians, in addition to the previously mentioned ''Sailor Moon'' (for which Stephanie Beard provided the voice of Rini (Chibi-Usa) in later seasons) and ''Pokemon''. Like Nickelodeon, anime for younger children like ''Anime/{{Mapletown}}'', ''Anime/MayaTheBee'' and ''Anime/TheLittlBits'' were a staple of the network in the days before most viewers knew what anime was. [[note]]While YTV tended to stick to fare aimed at kids, rival Teletoon aired movies and [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]], and there were other cable outlets airing more mature, adult anime fare. Previously, anime had been available in spurts on English-language broadcast TV, particularly with shows such as ''Anime/BelleAndSebastian'' or ''Anime/AliceInWonderlandJP'' on non-commercial educational broadcasters such as [=TVOntario=] or British Columbia's Knowledge Network. French viewers had more to choose from, with networks like [[Creator/{{CBC}] Radio-Canada]], Creator/{{TVA}}, Ontario's La Chaine Francaise/TFO and Quebec's Radio-Quebec/Tele-Quebec featuring a steady diet of French-dubbed anime from the '70s through the early '90s.[[/note]] In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'', ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', and ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade''[='=]s English versions were all produced in association with sibling studio Creator/{{Nelvana}}.

Another notable aspect of YTV was that they were the primary source of {{anime}} for Canadians, in addition to the previously mentioned ''Sailor Moon'' (for which Stephanie Beard provided the voice of Rini (Chibi-Usa) in later seasons) and ''Pokemon''. Like Nickelodeon, anime for younger children like ''Anime/{{Mapletown}}'', ''Anime/MayaTheBee'' and ''Anime/TheLittlBits'' were a staple of the network in the days before most viewers knew what anime was. [[note]]Other outlets included Teletoon, which aired movies and [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]]; French-language broadcast networks [[Creator/{{CBC}} Radio-Canada]], Creator/{{TVA}}, and Ontario's non-commercial La Chaine Francaise (now TFO), all of which aired a fairly large quotient of French-dubbed anime during the 1970s, '80s and early '90s; and public/educational broadcasters like [=TVOntario=] or British Columbia's Knowledge Network, which showed literary-based anime such as ''Anime/BelleAndSebastian'' or ''Anime/AliceInWonderlandJP''). In addition, anime such as ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' and the 1980s remake of ''Manga/AstroBoy'' had been shown in syndication on Canadian broadcast TV. There were also other cable networks that aired aired mature-themed anime, but YTV was more accessible.[[/note]] In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'', ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', and ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade''[='=]s English versions were all produced in association with sibling studio Creator/{{Nelvana}}.

Another notable aspect of YTV was that they were the primary source of {{anime}} for Canadians, in addition to the previously mentioned ''Sailor Moon'' (for which Stephanie Beard provided the voice of Rini (Chibi-Usa) in later seasons) and ''Pokemon''. Like Nickelodeon, anime for younger children like ''Anime/{{Mapletown}}'', ''Anime/MayaTheBee'' and ''Anime/TheLittlBits'' were a staple of the network in the days before most viewers knew what anime was. [[note]]Other outlets included Teletoon, which aired movies and [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]]; French-language broadcast networks [[Creator/{{CBC}} Radio-Canada]], Creator/{{TVA}}, and Ontario's non-commercial La Chaine Francaise (now TFO), all of which aired a fairly large quotient of French-dubbed anime during the 1970s, '80s and early '90s; and public/educational broadcasters like [=TVOntario=] or British Columbia's Knowledge Network, which showed literary-based anime such as ''Anime/BelleAndSebastian'' or ''Anime/AliceInWonderlandJP''). In addition, anime such as ''Anime/{[Robotech}}'' and the 1980s remake of ''Manga/AstroBoy'' had been shown in syndication on Canadian broadcast TV. There were also other cable networks that aired aired mature-themed anime, but YTV was more accessible.[[/note]] In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'', ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', and ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade''[='=]s English versions were all produced in association with sibling studio Creator/{{Nelvana}}.

Another notable aspect of YTV was that they were the primary source of {{anime}} for Canadians, in addition to the previously mentioned ''Sailor Moon'' (for which Stephanie Beard provided the voice of Rini (Chibi-Usa) in later seasons) and ''Pokemon''. Like Nickelodeon, anime for younger children like ''Anime/{{Mapletown}}'', ''Anime/MayaTheBee'' and ''Anime/TheLittlBits'' were a staple of the network in the days before most viewers knew what anime was. [[note]]Other outlets included Teletoon, which aired movies and [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]]; French-language broadcast networks [[Creator/{{CBC}} Radio-Canada]], Creator/{{TVA}}, and Ontario's non-commercial La Chaine Francaise (now TFO), all of which aired a fairly large quotient of French-dubbed anime during the 1970s, '80s and early '90s; and public/educational broadcasters like [=TVOntario=] or British Columbia's Knowledge Network, which showed literary-based anime such as ''Anime/BelleAndSebastian'' or ''Anime/AliceInWonderlandJP''). There were also other cable networks that aired aired mature-themed anime, but YTV was more accessible.[[/note]] In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'', ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', and ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade''[='=]s English versions were all produced in association with sibling studio Creator/{{Nelvana}}.

Another notable aspect of YTV was that they were the primary source of {{anime}} for Canadians, in addition to the previously mentioned ''Sailor Moon'' (for which Stephanie Beard provided the voice of Rini (Chibi-Usa) in later seasons) and ''Pokemon''. Like Nickelodeon, anime for younger children like ''Anime/{{Mapletown}}'', ''Anime/MayaTheBee'' and ''Anime/TheLittlBits'' were a staple of the network in the days before most viewers knew what anime was. [[note]]Other outlets included Teletoon, which aired movies and [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]]; French-language broadcast networks [[Creator/{{CBC}} Radio-Canada]], TVA, and Ontario's La Chaine Francaise (now TFO), all of which aired a fairly large quotient of French-dubbed anime during the 1970s, '80s and early '90s; and public/educational broadcasters like [=TVOntario=] or British Columbia's Knowledge Network, which showed literary-based anime such as ''Anime/BelleAndSebastian'' or ''Anime/AliceInWonderlandJP''). There were also other cable networks that aired aired mature-themed anime, but YTV was more accessible.[[/note]] In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'', ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', and ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade''[='=]s English versions were all produced in association with sibling studio Creator/{{Nelvana}}.

Another notable aspect of YTV was that they were the primary source of {{anime}} for Canadians, in addition to the previously mentioned ''Sailor Moon'' and ''Pokemon''. Like Nickelodeon, anime for younger children like ''Anime/{{Mapletown}}'', ''Anime/MayaTheBee'' and ''Anime/TheLittlBits'' were a staple of the network in the days before most viewers knew what anime was. [[note]]Other outlets included Teletoon, which aired movies and [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]]; French-language broadcast networks [[Creator/{{CBC}} Radio-Canada]], TVA, and Ontario's La Chaine Francaise (now TFO), all of which aired a fairly large quotient of French-dubbed anime during the 1970s, '80s and early '90s; and public/educational broadcasters like [=TVOntario=] or British Columbia's Knowledge Network, which showed literary-based anime such as ''Anime/BelleAndSebastian'' or ''Anime/AliceInWonderlandJP''). There were also other cable networks that aired aired mature-themed anime, but YTV was more accessible.[[/note]] In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'', ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', and ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade''[='=]s English versions were all produced in association with sibling studio Creator/{{Nelvana}}.

The mornings featured an array of programming for younger viewers with tons of interaction from the [=PJs=] and many puppet characters who visited or lived in their lavish, treehouse-themed sets. YTV later split off another channel to cater to toddlers and preschoolers: Creator/TreehouseTV. Come afternoon, YTV was the go-to source for everything from ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' ([[MarketBasedTitle known on the channel as]] ''Beasties'') to ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'', ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Series/TheSecretWorldOfAlexMack'' and ''[[Series/TheAddamsFamily The New Addams Family]]''--all of which was hosted by a duo of wiseass male [=PJs=] and their gum-covered alien television creature Snit, whose screen was a giant mouth. Evenings shifted to a darker note with programming such as ''Series/{{Animorphs}}'', ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'', ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'', ''Series/DoctorWho''[='=]s classic 1963-1989 run[[note]]Notably, YTV was the first Canadian channel to air the racially controversial story "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E6TheTalonsOfWengChiang The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]" in 1990, after [=TVOntario=] [[BannedEpisode skipped over it]] in 1980's syndication due to pressure from the country's Chinese Canadians.[[/note]], and {{BritCom}}s such as ''Series/YesMinister'' and ''Series/AreYouBeingServed''. The early years also included reruns of Canadian and American oldies such as ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'' and ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', as well as the controversial cult classic ''Series/YouCantDoThatOnTelevision'', resulting in the latter ''finally'' becoming [[VindicatedByCable a ratings hit in Canada after a decade of production]].

The mornings featured an array of programming for younger viewers with tons of interaction from the [=PJs=] and many puppet characters who visited or lived in their lavish, treehouse-themed sets. YTV later split off another channel to cater to toddlers and preschoolers: Creator/TreehouseTV. Come afternoon, YTV was the go-to source for everything from ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' ([[MarketBasedTitle known on the channel as]] ''Beasties'') to ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'', ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Series/TheSecretWorldOfAlexMack'' and ''[[Series/TheAddamsFamily The New Addams Family]]''--all of which was hosted by a duo of wiseass male [=PJs=] and their gum-covered alien television creature Snit, whose screen was a giant mouth. Evenings shifted to a darker note with programming such as ''Series/{{Animorphs}}'', ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'', ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'', ''Series/DoctorWho''[='=]s classic 1963-1989 run[[note]]Notably, YTV was the first Canadian channel to air the racially controversial story "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E6TheTalonsOfWengChiang The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]" in 1990, after [=TVOntario=] [[BannedEpisode skipped over it]] in 1980's syndication due to pressure from the country's Chinese Canadians.[[/note]], and {{BritCom}}s such as ''Series/YesMinister'' and ''Series/AreYouBeingServed''. The early years also included reruns of Canadian and American oldies such as ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'' and ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', as well as the controversial cult classic ''Series/YouCantDoThatOnTelevision'', resulting in the latter ''finally'' becoming a ratings hit in Canada after a decade of production.

The mornings featured an array of programming for younger viewers with tons of interaction from the [=PJs=] and many puppet characters who visited or lived in their lavish, treehouse-themed sets. YTV later split off another channel to cater to toddlers and preschoolers: Creator/TreehouseTV. Come afternoon, YTV was the go-to source for everything from ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' ([[MarketBasedTitle known on the channel as]] ''Beasties'') to ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'', ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Series/TheSecretWorldOfAlexMack'' and ''[[Series/TheAddamsFamily The New Addams Family]]''--all of which was hosted by a duo of wiseass male [=PJs=] and their gum-covered alien television creature Snit, whose screen was a giant mouth. Evenings shifted to a darker note with programming such as ''Series/{{Animorphs}}'', ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'', ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'', ''Series/DoctorWho''[='=]s classic 1963-1989 run[[note]]Notably, YTV was the first Canadian channel to air the racially controversial story "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E6TheTalonsOfWengChiang The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]" in 1990, after [=TVOntario=] [[BannedEpisode skipped over it]] in 1980's syndication due to pressure from the country's Chinese Canadians.[[/note]], classic shows from south of the border like ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'', and ''[[Series/TheMuppetShow Muppet Show]]'' reruns along with {{BritCom}}s such as ''Series/YesMinister'' and ''Series/AreYouBeingServed''. The early years also included classic Canadian shows such as ''The Littlest Hobo'' and ''Series/YouCantDoThatOnTelevision'' (including first run airings of the latter's final two seasons in 1989-1990).

The mornings featured an array of programming for younger viewers with tons of interaction from the [=PJs=] and many puppet characters who visited or lived in their lavish, treehouse-themed sets. YTV later split off another channel to cater to toddlers and preschoolers: Creator/TreehouseTV. Come afternoon, YTV was the go-to source for everything from ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' ([[MarketBasedTitle known on the channel as]] ''Beasties'') to ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Series/TheSecretWorldOfAlexMack'' and ''[[Series/TheAddamsFamily The New Addams Family]]''--all of which was hosted by a duo of wiseass male [=PJs=] and their gum-covered alien television creature Snit, whose screen was a giant mouth. Evenings shifted to a darker note with programming such as ''Series/{{Animorphs}}'', ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'', ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'', ''Series/DoctorWho''[='=]s classic 1963-1989 run[[note]]Notably, YTV was the first Canadian channel to air the racially controversial story "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E6TheTalonsOfWengChiang The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]" in 1990, after [=TVOntario=] [[BannedEpisode skipped over it]] in 1980's syndication due to pressure from the country's Chinese Canadians.[[/note]] and {{BritCom}}s such as ''Series/YesMinister'' and ''Series/AreYouBeingServed''.

Another notable aspect of YTV was that they were the primary source of {{anime}} for Canadians.[[note]]Other outlets included Teletoon, which aired movies and [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]]; the French-language broadcast networks [[Creator/{{CBC}} Radio-Canada]] and TVA, both of which aired a fairly large quotient of French-dubbed anime during the 1970s and '80s. In addition to YTV and Teletoon, there were also other networks that aired aired mature-themed anime, but YTV was more accessible.[[/note]] In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'', ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'', and ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade''[='=]s English versions were all produced in association with sibling studio Creator/{{Nelvana}}.

YTV's anime programming would reach its peak with ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'' and the ''Bionix'' block. ''Bionix'' brought several other new anime series to viewers, most of which were dubbed by Creator/TheOceanGroup for [=CanCon=] (Canadian content) reasons, hitting two birds with one stone for both the meeting obligations and satisfying anime fans. They also threw in Canadian-produced CGI favorites by Creator/MainframeEntertainment (''[[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Beasties]]'', ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' and ''WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders'') and even WesternAnimation fare (''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' and ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'').

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTwins'' (2000; produced by Cinar)

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Xcalibur}}'' (2001; produced by Wang Film Productions)

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Redakai}}'' (2011; produced by Marathon Media)

* ''Treasure: The Trials of a Teenage Terror'' (2000; produced by Cinar)

* ''WesternAnimation/ElliotMoose'' (1998; produced by Nelvana)

YTV's anime programming would reach its peak with ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'' and the ''Bionix'' block. ''Bionix'' brought several other new anime series to viewers, most of which dubbed by Creator/TheOceanGroup for [=CanCon=] (Canadian content) reasons, hitting two birds with one stone for both the meeting obligations and satisfying anime fans. They also threw in Canadian-produced CGI favorites by Creator/MainframeEntertainment (''[[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Beasties]]'', ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' and ''WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders'') and even WesternAnimation fare (''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' and ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'').

* ''WesternAnimation/VivaPinata'' (2006; produced by Creator/FourKidsEntertainment and Creator/BardelEntertainment)

** Involved in producing the ''VideoGame/VivaPinata'' adaptation with {{Creator/Rare}} in the UK, Canada's Bardel Entertainment, and the American-based Creator/FourKidsEntertainment.

* ''Incredible Story Studios'' (1997; produced by Mind's Eye Entertainment)

* ''Series/BreakerHigh'' (1997; produced by Shavick Entertainment and Saban Entertainment)[[/index]]

* ''Series/{{The Hardy Boys|2020}}'' (2021; produced by Creator/{{Nelvana}} and Lambur Productions)

* ''Series/MaxAndShred'' (2014; produced by Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} Studios)

* ''Series/MrYoung'' (2011; produced by Thunderbird Films)

* ''Screech Owls'' (2000; produced by Oasis Pictures and Shaftesbury Films)

* ''Series/TheStanleyDynamic'' (2015; produced by Nelvana and 9 Story Media Group)

* ''WesternAnimation/ClangInvasion'' (2007; produced by Decode Entertainment)

* ''WesternAnimation/ErkyPerky'' (2006; produced by Ambience Entertainment and CCI Entertainment)

* ''WesternAnimation/GirlstuffBoystuff'' (2002; produced by Agogo Media and Decode Entertainment)

* ''WesternAnimation/JaneAndTheDragon'' (2005; produced by Nelvana and Creator/{{Weta}})

* ''WesternAnimation/MonaTheVampire'' (1999; produced by Cinar and Gaumont Animation)

* ''Monster By Mistake'' (1996; produced by Catapult Productions)

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Pearlie}}'' (2009; produced by Nelvana and Sticky Pictures Ltd.)

* ''Treasure: The Trials of a Teenage Terror'' (2000; produced by BBC Bristol and Cinar)

* ''WesternAnimation/VivaPinata'' (2006; produced by Creator/FourKidsEntertainment)

* ''WesternAnimation/WillAndDewitt'' (2007; produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment)

A staple of any TV-watching Canadian kid in TheNineties, YTV is known for its programming blocks hosted by [=PJs=], or '''P'''rogram '''J'''ockeys, who would come in [[CreditsPushback during the credits]] and do various things such as answering e-mails while introducing the next show. Their flagship block is ''The Zone'', originally shown during the after-school hours before eventually taking-over Saturday mornings as well. Notable on-air personalities throughout the years have included Phil Guerrero, known on-air as "PJ Phresh Phill", Creator/StephanieBeard, known on-air as "Sugar", and Carlos Bustamante, who is the longest-running host at ''16 years''.

* ''WesternAnimation/BabarAndTheAdventuresOfBadou'' (2010; produced by Nelvana)

* ''Splatalot!'' (2011; produced by Marblemedia)

* ''WesternAnimation/OhNoItsAnAlienInvasion'' (2013; produced by Nelvana)

!The following series were made in association with YTV (listed alphabetically):

* ''WesternAnimation/CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs'' (2017; the TV series; produced by Creator/SonyPicturesAnimation and DHX Media)

If YTV had to be compared to an American equivalent, it would be Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}, from which the station has imported a large amount of programming. A Canadian version, which primarily serves as a vault channel for Nickelodeon's programming, was eventually launched in 2009. YTV has also served as the early inspiration for [[Creator/{{Freeform}} what was then known as Fox Family]], after its purchase by Creator/{{Fox}}. Fox Family even had their own equivalent to ''The Zone'' known as ''The Basement'' but, in a sense of {{irony}}, much of the channel's early programming was imported from YTV's then-rival Creator/{{Teletoon}}.

Like Nickelodeon, YTV still attracts a PeripheryDemographic that remembers the channel fondly for [[NostalgiaFilter its image and output from the 1990s to early 2000s]]. Playing lipservice to this particular audience, Creator/{{Nelvana}} launched [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChUxVeU8kKEjmXOJZJGZE4g YTV Direct]] in 2015, a Website/{{YouTube}} channel hosting both retro and contemporary content from YTV and Teletoon. YTV and Nelvana have also uploaded episodes of [=Nicktoons=] such as ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', as Nelvana owns the international rights to early seasons. There was also a "retro" section on YTV's website, featuring full episodes, as well as blogs and quizzes based on older YTV programming.