While licensed as a digital channel in 2000, Teletoon Retro remained an element in the parent Teletoon Channel until 2007, when it was launched on October 1st as a separate entity. The channel offered classic cartoons at least ten years old, including such favourites as Fat Albert, Superfriends, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Bugs Bunny, the Flintstones, Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry.
Like Teletoon, Teletoon Retro was owned 50% by Astral Media and 50% by Corus Entertainment.
On June 27, 2013, after a previous such application had been denied in 2012, the CRTC approved an application by Astral Media Inc. to sell its pay and specialty television channels, conventional television stations and radio stations to BCE Inc., including Teletoon Retro.
It was a condition of the approval that BCE was required to divest itself of ownership of several television and radio programming undertakings, including Teletoon Retro. Pending eventual sale, the Commission directed BCE Inc. to transfer the interim management and control of Teletoon Retro to a trustee pursuant to the terms of the voting trust agreement addressed in a letter of approval issued 27 June 2013, by no later than 29 July 2013.
Written by Pip Wedge – October, 2007
Ownership: Corus
Start Year: 2007