Disney rolling out ABC Family type channel in Canada

Disney is launching a new channel, ABC Spark, in Canada. A licensing deal has been agreed between Canada’s Corus entertainment and Disney/ABC Television Group and the Hollywood studio said the channel will build on the success of its US cable channel ABC Family.

ABC Spark will launch in spring 2012 as a round-the-clock cable channel. Disney said that, like ABC Family, it will target “young adult millenials”.

The new cable net is expected to transmit new ABC Family titles including Switched at Birth as well as longer standing shows The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Make It or Break It, Melissa & Joey and Jane by Design.

“We are very pleased to work with Corus in bringing ABC Family’s well-known, popular programming into the Canadian marketplace,” said Janice Marinelli, president, Disney-ABC Domestic Television.

“We are thrilled to partner with Disney/ABC Television Group and to announce the launch of ABC Spark in Canada, a network with values and attributes that align with our own,” said Doug Murphy, president, Corus Television. “Bridging the gap between our kids and women’s networks, ABC Spark will be a national service with compelling programming directed at the fast-expanding millennial generation.”