Disney Channel
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Disney Channel is a cable TV/broadcast TV network run by The Walt Disney Company and CBS Corporation. Disney Channel features family-oriented programming, much of it aimed at pre-teens and young adolescents.
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Overview
Image:Disney channel logo.gif Launched on April 18, 1983 as a commercial-free premium channel (with occasional free previews) , The Disney Channel began with basic family programming of shows and movies. (It was then co-owned by The Walt Disney Company and Westinghouse through Group W.)
Most of Disney Channel's programming today, surprisingly, does not heavily feature the "classic" Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy. The characters appear on occasion, especially during the holidays on movies such as Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, and are also featured on the show House of Mouse, which airs every weekday at 2:00 PM E/P on the channel.
Image:Channel.jpgIn 1997, Disney Channel took on a revamped look and they drop the "The" in the networks name, and splitting the network into three programming blocks—Playhouse Disney, a block of shows aimed at preschoolers; Vault Disney, an overnight block that featured classic Disney shows and movies such as Zorro, Mickey Mouse Club, and The Love Bug; and the most distinct block, running from afternoon to late evening, called Zoog Disney, which was a programming block aimed at tweens (children approaching their teenage years)—Smart Guy, Bug Juice, The Famous Jett Jackson, So Weird, etc. Zoog Disney also connected Disney Channel viewers and the computer, by allowing kids to interact with games and see their screen names on television. The programming block also featured anthropomorphic characters called Zoogs. They begin to carry break interuptions (not advertising commercials, but promos from the network).
In January of 2000, Disney Channel moved from premium cable to basic cable, and some design elements also changed. The Zoogs got new redesigned looks, and the channel's logo (which featured a 1930s-era Mickey Mouse on a black Mickey ear-shaped TV), introduced in 1997, was changed to reflect the Zoog Disney image.
From 2001 through 2002, ratings grew higher with such shows as Even Stevens, Kim Possible and others. Lizzie McGuire became the network's banner show, and was the highest-rating program on the network. Reruns of Lizzie continue to outrate competing shows, including those from Disney Channel itself. This led to the termination of Vault Disney and all other classic Disney programming in September 2002.
The only actual spin-off of Disney Channel is Toon Disney, which features (mostly) cartoons either created or distributed by Disney. The ABC Family Channel (originally CBN and later The Family Channel and later Fox Family, founded in 1976 by Pat Robertson), is now owned by Disney and also features some programming similar to the Disney Channel.
Today's Disney Channel runs original programming such as That's So Raven which has made history as the network's highest rated show, beating Lizzie McGuire.That's So Raven made history as the first Disney channel series to beat the 65 episode mark and get 100 episodes. Other shows on Disney are Phil of the Future, and Kim Possible (which have been shown on ABC after debuting on the Disney Channel), along with former ABC sitcoms such as Boy Meets World. Other shows aired by Disney Channel include The Proud Family, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, American Dragon: Jake Long, Lilo & Stitch: The Series and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Additionally, a movie is broadcast almost every night, but not necessarily a theatrically released feature film. The Disney Channel airs new made-for-TV movies about 12 times a year, and those are frequently broadcast during that timeslot. Occasionally, Disney will secure the rights to air a picture released by a non-Disney studio, such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Preschool programming is still a part of the Disney Channel's morning schedule and includes Rolie Polie Olie, PB&J Otter, and The Book of Pooh and JoJo's Circus.
The channel received a special citation from U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel
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Disney Channel around the world
United Kingdom (also available in Ireland)
A British version of the Disney Channel was originally scheduled to launch in 1989 as part of the Sky Television package, but due to an apparent dispute the launch was cancelled, and it was not until 1 October 1995 that it finally went on air (Sky TV was renamed BSkyB in 1990).
In the UK, Disney Channel runs a live program between shows, which viewers have the chance to call in, or play games. The programmer usually has guests, who are usually popular music artists in the UK. It runs Monday through Friday, from 15:45 to 19:00 GMT. As of July 4, 2005, there has been no airing of this program.
The UK Disney Channel also has a +1 hour variant, a Toon Disney channel and a Playhouse Disney channel.
Sky and Disney are locked in ongoing negotiations over a new contract for carriage on the former's digital service.
The previous, ten-year deal - inked as Sky floated on the stock exchange in 1994 - has been temporarily extended while both sides attempt to reach a resolution. Sky is understood to be seeking a substantially reduced payment towards the kids broadcaster, which offers a portfolio of four channels either on a standalone basis or as a free bonus for subscribers to Sky's premium movie channels.
If talks are ended without resolution, Disney could be forced off Sky; however, a spokesperson insisted today that they were "confident" of striking a deal.
Such an eventuality would not be unprecedented: last year, fellow kids broadcaster Nickelodeon was dropped by cable firm Telewest for two months after failing to agree new terms.
Africa and Asia
During the same decade the Disney Channel expanded its operations to Africa and by 2000 to much of Asia.
Australia
The Disney Channel has been broadcast in Australia by Optus Television, Foxtel and Austar since the late 1990s. In December 2005, Disney Channel will launch Playhouse Disney on the Foxtel and Optus Television Digital services.
Scandinavia
In 2003 the Disney Channel started broadcasting in Scandinavia via Viasat. The Scandinavian edition broadcasts three different soundtracks with Swedish, Danish and Norwegian dubbing. At first the Disney Channel was exclusively provided by Viasat, but after some months other companies started distributing the channel. In Sweden, the Disney Channel can be watched through cable via com hem, through satellite via Viasat and in the terrestrial network via Boxer. Since 1 August 2005 Disney Channel has also been transmitted by Canal Digital through the Thor Satellite.
Latin America
The Disney Channel has been broadcast in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It became a basic channel in 2004.
Other versions
The Disney Channel is also available in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Lebanon, India, Japan, Taiwan and the Middle East.
See also
- Walt Disney anthology series
- List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel
- Disney Channel Original Movies
External links
de:Disney Channeles:Disney Channel fr:Disney Channel id:Disney Channel nl:Disney Channel ja:ディズニー・チャンネル nn:Disney Channel sv:Disney Channel
