YTV is a Canadian English-language Category A specialty channel aimed at children, available nationwide through cable and satellite television; the channel is currently owned by Corus Entertainment. The "YTV" name is thought by some viewers to be an abbreviation for "Youth Television", however the channel's website denies this. The channel specializes in programming aimed at children through original live-action and animated series, as well as movies and third-party programming from U.S. cable channel Nickelodeon and other distributors. The station currently airs a mixture of mostly Nickelodeon-based programs with select acquired programs.
Originally launched in 1988, the channel was mainly known as the Canadian version of Nickelodeon for many years; airing many of it's programs, although Nick "launched" (more or so rebranded a former cable network into,) it's own Nickelodeon Canada channel in 2009. During some time in the 1990s, it even used a similar style of Nickelodeon's then branding. Nickelodeon programs continue air on the channel due to the fact that the Canadian Nickelodeon channel is only available in a digital cable format; the Canadian government requires that children's programs be available to those both with analog and digital cable systems.