Disney fare such as Zoey 101 and Hannah Montana are staples on Family Channel, but Canada’s premium, commercial-free specialty service has also spent some $162 million on indigenous productions since its launch 20 years ago.

‘We have strategically invested in our Cancon series to create shows that will be comfortable scheduled next to a high-quality Disney program in primetime,’ explains Kevin Wright, SVP of programming for Astral Television Networks (Family’s parent company). ‘Our Canadian shows have to carry their weight, and our track record proves that they do.’

Current top-rated shows on Family include Shaftesbury Films’ Life with Derek, now in its fourth season, following the trials and tribulations of five siblings in a blended family; and a new series from Decode Entertainment, The Latest Buzz, an ensemble comedy about a group of teens who are invited to work at a struggling youth magazine.

In 2008, Family commissioned 97 episodes of original Canadian programming. Licence fees are typically $350,000 and up per half-hour, and the preferred model is to have series largely financed in Canada, with the last pieces of funding picked up through international presales or a distribution advance (Family does not retain international sales rights).

‘We have had a lot of success with live-action comedies that are girl-driven but boy-friendly, although we continue to strive to create a balanced schedule of male- and female-driven shows,’ says Wright, noting that the network’s key demo is eight- to 14-year-olds. ‘We also want our shows to be inclusive to older siblings and families.’

Family rarely does acquisitions or second windows.

‘We take the long view, and want to help design shows from the ground up and stay with them and build up enough inventory to strip them or play them weekdays,’ says Wright.

Family nurtures its Canadian series and is a hands-on partner, says Beth Stevenson, EVP, development and production at Decode Entertainment, which over the years has produced numerous shows for Family, including the Gemini Award-winning Radio Free Roscoe (2003-05) and Naturally, Sadie (2005-07).

‘The Canadian series aren’t just an afterthought to jam in between their American shows,’ she says. ‘Family is very committed to the shows they take on for series. They are involved with everything from scripts to wardrobe approvals. They put the show together hand-in-hand with us.’

Further proof of the high quality of Family-commissioned series is the fact that the shows have been picked up by leading broadcasters around the world.

The Latest Buzz has sold to Disney Channel France, Cartoon Network Latin America and Germany, Australia’s ABC, Ireland’s RTE and Nickelodeon Spain, among many other territories. Life with Derek is broadcast on Nickelodeon Australia, Boomerang U.K., and Disney Channel U.S., to name just a few.

‘Family is very open to working with other networks, and have great relationships with kids channels such as Disney and Nickelodeon,’ says Shaftesbury chair and CEO Christina Jennings.

Family shoots pilots for all its series and then does focus-testing among its target demo. Producers say this is one of the key reasons for the success of the channel’s domestic series.

Typically the not-for-broadcast mini-pilots are eight to 13 minutes in length and financed by Family and the producer, with the ratio from each partner varying by project.

Shaftesbury recently shot season one of the new Family series Overruled!, a teen comedy series following a group of students who run their high school’s court, settling cases ranging from science fair sabotage to relationship breakups. The new show will debut in 2009 on Family.

‘We used the 12-minute pilot for Overruled! to presell the show internationally,’ says Jennings. ‘It was a great tool to market the show to foreign broadcasters.’

Shaftesbury has also shot a new pilot for Family titled Baxter, which the company’s sales division took to MIPCOM. The live-action half-hour comedy series centers on students at a high school for the performing arts who are all vying for a shot at fame.

‘The mini-pilots [are a] great way to hone your development and profile the characters and their world, and make sure that you have the right tone and cast before you get to series,’ says Stevenson.

The focus-testing – which is included in the costs of development – also makes for a better show, she says.

‘We are all obviously way older than our viewers,’ notes Stevenson, ‘so we get feedback like ‘No one talks like that anymore.’ It also allows us to see if we hit a balance of boys and girls, because we don’t want to exclude either group. Family tests a bit older and then [tests] younger age groups, as well as boys and girls, so we get the feedback from various perspectives.’

Family’s Canadian series are strategically programmed to garner wide attention among its youth audience. New series are typically premiered at key vacation times, such as March break.

‘Kids have come to expect that we will be doing all sorts of activities around new shows at this time of the year, such as contests, programming stunts and online components,’ says Wright. ‘We focus our energy on kid-centered holidays.’

Canadian series are also programmed in advantageous timeslots. For example, The Latest Buzz debuted in a Friday 6:30 p.m. slot, between Family’s two top Disney series – Zoey 101 and Wizards of Waverley Place.

Promotion and outreach are also key.

‘Family does these amazing launches where they go to high schools and malls across Canada with actors from their shows,’ says Stevenson. ‘Family pays for this, but we help negotiate with the performers and send staff from Decode along to help out. So it is a very organic and reciprocal relationship.’

The Family.ca website is also a key driver to promote Canadian series. It offers samplings of shows, behind-the-scenes moments, music videos, and other value-added content. The site receives close to one million unique visitors per month.