YTV, Canada’s leading youth network, was launched on basic cable in 1988 and is now seen in over 8 million homes across Canada.

YTV’s programming schedule is aimed at audiences aged 2 -17 and their families. YTV Jr. broadcasts 40 hours of commercial-free programming per week for the pre-school set with favourites such as “Rupert,” “Big Comfy Couch” and “Groundling Marsh.” “The Zone,” Canada’s #1 after-school block, is filled with popular shows for older kids including the messy game show “UH OH!” and the hugely successful anime series’ “Pokémon,” “Digimon” and “Dragonball Z.” YTV recently launched Snit Station, a weekend morning animation-fest for the cereal crowd. Evenings are dedicated to tweens, teens and family viewing with live-action series such as “I Was a Sixth Grade Alien,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Back to Sherwood” and “Farscape.” YTV is the clear favourite with kids, with broadcast rights to 39 of the top 50 children’s shows in Canada and an audience share that is 60 per cent larger than its nearest competitor.

As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations in the fall of 1998, YTV repositioned the network with “Keep it Weird,” a playful, inviting and humorous television environment that constantly surprises kids and appeals to their innate sense of individuality and fun. YTV celebrates important kid dates such as Halloween (Halloweird) and March Break, and schedules marathon programming events, like Pokemania, which feature back-to-back episodes of kids’ favourite shows. YTV is also committed to the annual YTV Achievement Awards (YAA!), a nationally broadcast awards show celebrating young Canadians’ accomplishments.

YTV reaches kids beyond the television with highly interactive events and initiatives. A favourite destination among kids, YTV’s website (www.ytv.com) receives 10 million hits per week. This year, YTV released a compilation CD, YTV BigFunPartyMix, which achieved platinum status in eight short weeks. This summer, YTV hits the road with “PsykoBlast,” a national music concert tour featuring pop recording artists Christina Aguilera and mytown, as well as Canadian musicians The Moffatts, soulDecision and McMaster & James. The network also takes its grass roots Weird on Wheels travelling roadshow to cities across the country. In addition, YTV has developed an on-line store, Store Galore, and publishes YTV Whoa!, a weird and wacky entertainment magazine for kids. YTV stays connected and on the pulse of kid trends with on-going in-field research, a kid advisory panel (SWAT) and a widely-cited annual survey on kids and tweens (The YTV Kid &Tween; Report).

YTV supports initiatives that are important to Canadian kids and their parents. YTV is a founding member of Canadian Cable in the Classroom and encourages media literacy awareness in schools through its YTV In Class program. Among the network’s recent commitments, YTV has also partnered with Kids Help Phone, Canada’s bilingual 24 hour counselling support service for youth, as well as sponsored Canada’s Millennium Minutes, a youth-based initiative celebrating local heroes and landmarks in communities across the country.

YTV is committed to the Canadian television production industry with over 70 per cent of its prime time schedule dedicated to Canadian shows. Since its inception, YTV has been one of the most active commissioners of children’s and family-oriented programming in the world, working closely with a wide range of Canadian production companies and triggering over $600 million in Canadian programs. This dedication to quality Canadian programs has earned YTV more than 120 programming, on-air and marketing awards, including 20 this past year.

YTV, Canada’s #1 youth network, is seen in over eight million homes across Canada. As a major force in Canadian kids’ entertainment, YTV has triggered over $600 million in Canadian independent production; developed a website that receives 10 million hits per week; published a successful kids’ magazine, Whoa!; and conducts a highly respected annual survey, The YTV Kid & Tween Report. YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., one of Canada’s fastest growing media companies. Its principal assets consist of 31 radio stations including The Edge, CFOX and Country 105, specialty television stations including YTV and CMT, and interests in Teletoon, Telelatino and The Comedy Network. Corus has an additional investment in (WIC) Western International Communications Ltd. and is a prominent player in the digital music market (DMX) and local cable advertising services (Digital ADventure). Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B) and the New York Stock Exchange (CJR).