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Degrassi: The Next Generation was a teen TV series about a group of Toronto kids attending the titular school. Despite being based in Canada, it gained significant traction in other countries, including the U.S. Some of its stars, like Drake, went on to achieve worldwide fame. So, where did fans watch the iconic series?

‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’ is a Canadian TV show

Degrassi network
Cast of ‘Degrassi: Next Generation’ celebrate their 100th Episode | George Pimentel/WireImage

Degrassi: The Next Generation is part of the Degrassi franchise. Beginning in the 1980s, the shows became Canadian staples, reaching audiences across the country and beyond. 

Degrassi: The Next Generation is also responsible for launching meaningful careers for some of its stars. Drake starred in the first several seasons before leaving to start his music career. Nina Dobrev joined Degrassi in season 6 before leaving to star in The Vampire Diaries.

The franchise includes: The Kids of Degrassi Street (1979-1986), Degrassi Junior High (1987-1989), Degrassi High (1989-1991), Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-2015, later just called Degrassi), and Degrassi: Next Class (2016-2017)

‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’ aired on the network The N in the U.S.

Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in Canada on the network CTV in 2001. However, the show moved around a lot, both in Canada and abroad. It aired on MuchMusic for a like, MTV Canada, and, in the U.S., on a now-defunct network called The N, a subset of Nickelodeon.

Season 10 of the show brought a major change. TeenNick changed its production style and aired Degrassi in telenovela style during summer, meaning new episodes every weekday. In the same period, MuchMusic aired Season 10 and increased the Canadian viewership by a considerable margin. Although TeenNick returned to the standard fall-spring airing schedule, it ended Degrassi in 2015. MTV Canada picked up the show halfway through Season 13, where it aired weekly until the last episode on August 2, 2015.

Back when Millennials consumed the series Degrassi: The Next Generation aired on The N. And it shaped a generation. As TV writer Carina Adly Mackenzie wrote on Twitter of her and her college roommates, “the ONLY time we all got along was when we watched Degrassi on The N and made chicken nuggets every single weeknight.” 

Later, other continents picked up the show, and it aired in over 140 territories worldwide. The United Kingdom also embraced the show and aired it on BBC 2. Netflix streamed Degrassi: Next Class between 2016 and 2017.

‘Degrassi: TNG’ is coming to HBO Max

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In 2022, HBO announced all 14 seasons (385 episodes) of Degrassi: The Next Generation arriving on the HBO Max platform beginning March 25. However, Degrassi: Next Class remains on Netflix.

But that’s not all — there’s also another reboot headed to the streaming service. As reported by Deadline, this version will be “a truly serialized one-hour drama,” a stark change from the half-hour format of the original.

The Degrassi revival begins filming in Summer 2022. HBO has ordered 10 episodes, set to debut in 2023. With any luck, this new series will become to Gen Z what Degrassi: The Next Generation was to Millennials. 

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