WildBrain undue preference complaint against Rogers dismissed

Toronto-based DHX Television Ltd.’s WildBrain has not been disadvantaged by Rogers giving preference to its competitors, the CRTC has decided, thereby dismissing WildBrain’s complaint. WildBrain distributes children’s programming through Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrain TV and French-language service Télémagino. In a Part 1 application filed with the CRTC in September but made public in late January, WildBrain argued that Rogers has given particular “emphasis” to promotion of Walt Disney Co.’s Disney+ and Corus Entertainment Inc.’s YTV and Treehouse services to customers over WildBrain’s own services — claims which Rogers disputed. WildBrain argued Disney+ gets better treatment from Rogers than its own children’s programming does, because Disney+ is “marketed prominently” in Rogers’ bundled TV/internet offers, while WildBrain’s services are now offered in Rogers’ “theme packs” and do not benefit from that kind of prominence or marketing exposure. Rather, WildBrain stated, its services are now offered in Rogers’ theme packs that require subscribers to opt to get specific programming and are not included in “all in” larger bundled offers in which Disney+ is offered. WildBrain noted in its application that the YTV and Treehouse Corus services are the only children’s TV services shown as available through Rogers’ non-thematic channel packaging structure, other than Disney+. It also notes it otherwise competes against Corus’ Disney-branded channels, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and Nickelodeon services. While the CRTC does recognize that WildBrain, Disney+, Corus’ services are similar in regards to the genres of programming they offer and target audiences, it said in its decision released Thursday, July 31 that “with the increasing availability of content on online platforms, Canadians face a corresponding increase in choice with respect to their viewing habits.” As it opted to dismiss WildBrain’s complaint against Rogers, the CRTC encouraged both companies to continue trying to negotiate a solution for the dispute, “if possible.” Shaun Smith, senior director of global communications and public relations with WildBrain, told The Wire Report in an email that “as we review the decision, we are not able to provide any comments or updates.” In its response to WildBrain’s complaint, Rogers had claimed that a growing number of customers stopped watching its programming. It alleged that WildBrain had not shown that it had plans to stem the “severe viewership decline” it has seen since 2018. It also argued that none of the four WildBrain channels in questions were comparable to Disney+. In Rogers’ view, Disney+ is a “distinct type of broadcasting undertaking with a different pricing structure offering different viewing and navigation experiences, as well as catalogues that reflect vastly different programming investment levels,” the CRTC noted in its Thursday decision. Rogers is happy to see the WildBrain complaint dismissed. "We are pleased the commission has dismissed WildBrain’s meritless complaint, while also recognizing that the undue preference mechanism should not be used to insulate services from the impacts of greater consumer choice, provide an effective access right, or create leverage in negotiations," a spokesperson for the company wrote in an email to The Wire Report. hdaley@thewirereport.ca With files from The Wire Report’s archives.

WildBrain undue preference complaint against Rogers dismissed

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By Hannah Daley
| July 31, 2025

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WildBrain undue preference complaint against Rogers dismissed

Broadcast | By Hannah Daley | July 31, 2025

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