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{{Short description|American children's/family television channel}}
{{For|the Disney Channel in other countries|Disney Channel (international)}}
{{other uses}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox TV channel
{{Infobox television channel
| type = ]
| name = Disney Channel | name = Disney Channel
| logo = ]
| logosize = 200px
| logo_size = 240px
| logofile = DisneyChannel2010.png
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1983|04|18}}
| launch = April 18, 1983
| closed date = | closed_date =
| owner = ]
| picture format = ] (])<br>] (])
| owner = ]<br>(]) | parent = ]
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
| country = ]
* ] ]<br>(downscaled to ]ed ] for the ] feed)
| language = ]
}}
| broadcast area = Nationwide<br><small>(see ] for information on international versions of Disney Channel)</small>
| country = United States
| headquarters = ]
| language = {{plainlist|
| sister names = ]<br> ]<br> ]<br> ]<br>]
* English
| web = {{URL|1=http://www.disneychannel.com}}
* Spanish {{small|(via ] audio track)}}
| availability note =
}}
| sat serv 1 = ]
| area = Nationwide
| sat chan 1 = Channel 290 (East, SD/HD)<br>Channel 291 (West)<br>1290 (])
| slogan =
| sat serv 2 = ]
| headquarters = ], U.S.
| sat chan 2 = Channel 172 (East)<br>Channel 173 (West)
| sister_channels = {{collapsible list|
| cable serv 1 = Available on most cable systems
* ]
| cable chan 1 = Check your local listings
* ]
| adsl serv 2 = ]
* ]
| adsl chan 2 = Channel 250 (SD)<br>Channel 780 (HD)
* ]
| adsl serv 3 = ]
* ]
| adsl chan 3 = Channel 302 (East)<br>Channel 303 (West)<br>Channel 1302 (HD)
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| former_names = The Disney Channel (1983-1997)
| webcast =
| website = {{official website|https://disneynow.com/all-shows/disney-channel}}
| online_serv_1 = Affiliated streaming service
| online_chan_1 = ]
| online_serv_2 = Service(s)
| online_chan_2 = ], ], ], ], ], ]
}} }}


'''Disney Channel''' is an American ] ] that serves as the ] of ], a unit of the ] business segment of ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Low|first=Elaine|date=10 November 2020|title=Disney Reorganizes TV and Streaming Content Units Under Peter Rice|work=]|publisher=]|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/disney-general-entertainment-content-reorganization-1234827326/|access-date=10 November 2020|archive-date=10 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110211557/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/disney-general-entertainment-content-reorganization-1234827326/|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Disney Channel''' is an American ] and ] network, owned by the ] division of ], and headquartered in ]. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President ]. Disney Channel International Networks, currently run by President Carolina Lightcap, is a group of more than 90 entertainment channels and/or channel feeds for children and families available in over 160 countries and 30 languages. The platform brands are Disney Channel, ], ], ], ] and ].


Launched on April 18, 1983, under the name '''The Disney Channel''' as a ] on top of ] ]s, it originally showcased programming towards families due to availability of home television sets locally at the time. It dropped the "The" word from the name in 1997, thus getting rebranded as just '''Disney Channel''', with its programming since till date shifting focus to target mainly children and ]s ages 6–14.<ref name="Disney Channels Worldwide Fact Sheet January 2019">{{cite web |title=Disney Channels Worldwide Fact Sheet January 2019 |url=https://www.dgepress.com/storage/uploads/6C/D1/6CD1F20D-309F-A786-C52E-C515FC8B65A7/press-release-9-165053.pdf |website=dgepress.com |publisher=Disney ABC Television Group |access-date=22 June 2024}}</ref> The channel showcases original first-run ], ] and original ]s and other selected third-party programming.
The channel specializes in ]ming for children through original ] and movies, as well as third-party programming. It is marketed mostly toward young children, with the exception of their weekend primetime block that is aimed at pre-teens and teenagers ages 9–14, and the ] programming block aimed towards children ages 2–5. In recent years, the diversity of viewers has increased with an older audience, typically teenagers, young adults and young families.


{{As of|2023|11}}, Disney Channel is available to approximately 70 million pay television households in the United States — down from its peak of 100 million households in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=May 15, 2024}}</ref> The channel's ], once encompassing 46 channels available in 33 languages,<ref name="dgedischan">{{cite web|title=Disney Channels Worldwide|url=https://www.dgepress.com/disneygeneralentertainmentcontent/about-us/disney-channels/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504182054/https://www.dgepress.com/disneygeneralentertainmentcontent/about-us/disney-channels/|archive-date=4 May 2022|website=]|access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref> has also diminished in parts of ] and most of the ] due to the launch of ] and competition from other ] and ] platforms.
Since November 19, 2010, the channel is offered with an alternate Spanish-language audio feed, either via a separate channel as part of a Spanish-language network package sold by cable and satellite providers or via a separate audio track with the ] option, depending on the system.


==History== ==History==
{{Main|History of Disney Channel}}
===Conception and launch (1977–1983)===
Disney Channel launched nationally as a premium channel at 7:00&nbsp;a.m. ] on April 18, 1983, under the name '''The Disney Channel'''.<ref name="vernon">{{cite news|title=Disney invades cable TV|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P2YeAAAAIBAJ&pg=1920,4087795&dq=disney-channel&hl=en|author=Vernon Scott|agency=]|newspaper=]|page=8|date=April 19, 1983|access-date=October 31, 2010|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517050808/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P2YeAAAAIBAJ&pg=1920,4087795&dq=disney-channel&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mickey to star on Disney Channel|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jsxRAAAAIBAJ&pg=7193,677930&dq=good+morning+mickey&hl=en|author=Win Fanning|newspaper=]|publisher=]|page=31|date=April 5, 1983|access-date=October 31, 2010|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518060259/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jsxRAAAAIBAJ&pg=7193,677930&dq=good+morning+mickey&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The channel's development with help from its founding president ], and formally announced the launch of its family-oriented cable channel in early 1983. The channel – which initially maintained a 16-hour-per-day programming schedule from 7:00&nbsp;a.m. to 11:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern and ] – would become available on cable providers in all 50 U.S. states by September 1983, and accrue a base of more than 611,000 subscribers by December of that year.<ref name="vernon" />{{sfn|Grover|1991|p=148}}<ref name="ks" /> In October 1983, the channel debuted its first made-for-cable movie, '']'', which earned the channel a ].<ref name="ks">{{cite news|author=Kidscreen Staff|title=A Salute to Disney Channel: Disney Channel time line|url=http://kidscreen.com/1998/04/01/21442-19980401/|newspaper=KidScreen.com|date=April 1, 1998|access-date=April 12, 2014|archive-date=30 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630112321/http://kidscreen.com/1998/04/01/21442-19980401/|url-status=live}}</ref> The channel had reached profitability by January 1985, with its programming reaching 1.75&nbsp;million subscribers by that point.
In early 1977, ] of ] brought forth the idea of a cable television network with material from the studio.{{sfn|Flower|1991|p=87}} Since the company was focusing on the ] Center, Disney chairman ]{{sfn|Grover|1991|p=15}} turned down the proposal.{{sfn|Grover|1991|p=147}} Disney tried again in 1982, planning a partnership with the satellite unit of ], though the deal never came to fruition.{{sfn|Grover|1991|p=147}} In late 1982, the Disney Channel was formed under the leadership of its first president, ].<ref name=wagner>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/arts/22wagner.html?_r=1|last=Hevesi|first=Dennis|title=Alan Wagner, 76, First President of the Disney Channel, Is Dead|date=December 22, 2007|accessdate=October 26, 2009|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Disney later invested US$11&nbsp;million on two transponders of ], a ] satellite, and spent US$20&nbsp;million on programming.{{sfn|Grover|1991|p=147}}


In September 1990, ]'s ], ], system became the first cable provider to carry the channel as a basic cable service.<ref name="ks" /> Between 1991 and 1996, a steadily increasing number of cable providers began shifting The Disney Channel from a premium add-on offering to their basic tiers, either experimentally or on a full-time basis; however, Walt Disney Company executives denied any plans to convert the channel into an ad-supported basic service, stating that the premium-to-basic shifts on some providers was part of a five-year "hybrid" strategy that allowed providers to offer the channel in either manner.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jones to offer Disney on basic tier in Fla.|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-10493789.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034122/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-10493789.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2011|periodical=]|publisher=]|date=February 25, 1991}}</ref><ref name="highbeam1991">{{cite news|title=More systems trying Disney on expanded basic|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11343830.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034253/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11343830.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2011|periodical=Multichannel News|publisher=Cahners Business Information|date=September 30, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Marcus moves Disney; Marcus Cable makes The Disney Channel part of its basic service; analysts wonder if Disney is planning major changes|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18333380.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034330/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18333380.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2011|periodical=]|publisher=Cahners Business Information|date=May 27, 1996}}</ref> On April 6, 1997, the channel officially rebranded as '''Disney Channel''', although occasionally marketed as "'''Disney'''" from 1997 to 2002.
In 1983, Walt Disney Productions announced its launch of the family-oriented cable channel. The Disney Channel launched nationally on April 18, 1983 at 7 a.m. ]<ref name=vernon>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P2YeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5sgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1920,4087795&dq=disney-channel&hl=en|last=Scott|first=Vernon|agency=] (UPI)|title=Disney invades cable TV|date=April 19, 1983|accessdate=October 31, 2010|work=]|volume=114|number=109|page=8}}</ref> with the Disney Channel-produced series '']''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jsxRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7193,677930&dq=good+morning+mickey&hl=en|last=Fanning|first=Win|title=Mickey to star on Disney Channel|date=April 5, 1983|accessdate=October 31, 2010|work=]|volume=56|number=212|page=31}}</ref> The channel's programming during its run as a premium channel, carrying through to its transition to a basic cable channel, targeted children and teenagers during the daytime, families during primetime and adults at night. At the time of its launch, Disney Channel was a ] that aired for 16 hours a day,<ref name=wagner/> from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. ET/PT.<ref name=vernon/> During its first full year, the channel was available to more than 532,000 subscribers in the U.S.{{sfn|Grover|1991|p=148}} In April 1984, the channel extended its programming day to 18 hours a day by adding two hours to its late night schedule, with the channel now broadcasting daily from 7 a.m.-1 a.m. ET/PT.<ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'' April 1984</ref>


==Programming==
===Early years (1983–1997)===
{{Main|List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel}}
In the channel's first years, shows that aired during its broadcast day included '']'' and '']'' along with several foreign animated series and movies including '']'', '']'', '']'', and the Australian ] '']''; the original late night schedule featured reruns of '']''. As filler material, the channel also featured '']'', a series of ]-style music videos which showed popular music interwoven with classic Disney animation. Outside of daytime programs for children, the network also aired movies and original specials (largely concert specials), primarily during the nighttime hours.


===Movie library===
Subscribers initially received a monthly program guide/magazine, though it was phased out by the time the channel began targeting itself as a commercial-free basic channel.<ref name=vernon/> Disney Channel received a special citation from ] ] in 1984.{{citation needed|date=October 2010}} As a premium channel, The Disney Channel would air week-long ]s four times a year, as well as two free preview weekends periodically (with ads targeted to non-subscribers), in the same manner as other premium channels such as ], ] and ]. On December 1, 1986, Disney Channel began broadcasting 24 hours a day.<ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'' December 1986</ref>
{{Main|List of Disney Channel original films}}


]s have also been produced for broadcast on Disney Channel since its launch under the banner of ''Disney Channel Premiere Films'', with the first film released being '']'' in 1983, until October 1997, which is when they stopped using the "Premiere Films" label and renamed it the "]" (DCOM) thereafter. The first movie to be released under the Disney Channel Original Movie category was '']'', a Halloween themed movie that aired for the first time on Disney Channel on October 25, 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Salute to Disney Channel: Disney Channel time line |url=https://kidscreen.com/1998/04/01/21442-19980401/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815213719/https://kidscreen.com/1998/04/01/21442-19980401/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is The Best Disney Channel Original Movie Of All Time? Vote Now |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/xyxyva/best-dcom-of-all-time-ranking-dcom |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=MTV |language=en |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201151928/https://www.mtv.com/news/xyxyva/best-dcom-of-all-time-ranking-dcom |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Channel Premiere Films |url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/disney-channel-premiere-films/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=D23 |language=en-US |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201150424/https://d23.com/a-to-z/disney-channel-premiere-films/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Under Wraps (television) |url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/under-wraps-television/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=D23 |language=en-US |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201150427/https://d23.com/a-to-z/under-wraps-television/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
]
Early in 1986, the musical sitcom '']'', about a pre-teen (and later teen-to-young adult) gang of friends who formed a pop group, mixing their everyday situations with variety-show and music video style performances. It became a hit for the channel, spawning many future stars in both music and acting during its nine-year run, including ] (who went by her real name of Marta Marrero in the show's first season), eventual '']'' co-stars ] and ] (billed as Love Hewitt), and ] (later known as "Fergie" of ]).


The most successful original film under the banner in terms of popularity and accolades is '']'', which debuted on August 17, 2007, to 17.2 million viewers and set a current longstanding record for the highest-rated television premiere in the history of the channel.<ref name="variety">{{cite news |author=Rick Kissell |author2=Michael Schneider |date=August 18, 2007 |title='High School Musical 2' huge hit |periodical=Variety |publisher=Reed Business Information |url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/high-school-musical-2-aces-test-1117970479/ |access-date=August 18, 2007 |archive-date=23 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823105546/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970479.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following ''High School Musical 2'', the movie that had the second highest-rated Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) premiere was '']'', followed by '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highest-Rated Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) Premieres |url=https://www.listchallenges.com/highest-rated-disney-channel-original-movie |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=List Challenges |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201150427/https://www.listchallenges.com/highest-rated-disney-channel-original-movie |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crupi |first=Anthony |date=August 31, 2009 |title=Disney's 'Wizards' Conjures Up 11.4 Million Viewers |url=https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/disneys-wizards-conjures-114-million-viewers-113240/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=www.adweek.com |language=en-US |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201150427/https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/disneys-wizards-conjures-114-million-viewers-113240/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It also set a basic cable record for the single most-watched television program until December 3, 2007, when corporate sister channel, ], surpassed it with the telecast of an ] ] between the ] and ] on its '']'' programme by 0.3 million viewers more (17.5 million viewers). '']'' media franchise was also notably successful in terms of merchandise and sales for its concert tours and soundtrack albums. Its debut film from 2003, being the first Disney Channel original musical television film, premiered to over 84 million global viewers and ] premiered to 8.1 million American viewers and in the process became the most successful of the film series. An 86-date concert tour featuring ] was ranked as one of the top 10 concert tours of 2006, smashing the record at the ] previously set by ] in 1973, selling out with 73,500 tickets in three minutes at one point.
In 1988, '']'', a starring vehicle for ] of '']'' and '']'' fame, made its debut; the series was cancelled after 13 episodes due to low ratings. ] picked up the series in 1989, retooled as '']'', with ''Miss Bliss'' actors ], ], ] and ] carried over to the new show; ''Saved by the Bell'' achieved major success on NBC's ] (producing two spinoffs in the process) and in worldwide syndication.


In addition to its original television films, Disney Channel has rights to theatrically released feature films, with some film rights shared with sister network, ]. Alongside films released by ] (mainly consisting of releases from ], ] and ]), the channel also maintains rights to films from other studios. Some films released by ] (such as '']'' and '']'') have also aired on Disney Channel, although most of them are not currently owned by any of the Walt Disney Company's divisions.
In early 1989, the channel revived one of the company's early TV staples with '']'', which was an immediate hit that proved Disney's basic variety show formula could still work, unlike in the short-lived 1970s revival. The latest version contained many of the classic elements from "theme days" to updated mouseketeer jackets, but the scripted and musical segments were more contemporary. ''MMC'' had a stellar young cast, launching the careers of future stars ], ], ], ], ], ] and others.


===Programming blocks===
By 1989, The Disney Channel had a total of about five million pay subscribers nationwide. In 1991, eight cable providers volunteered to move The Disney Channel to their expanded basic cable packages, instead of offering it as a premium channel; ] was the first provider to carry the channel as a basic network, initially carried on the Basic Plus tier on its ] and ] systems as a test run.<ref>, '']'' (via ]), February 25, 1991.</ref><ref name="highbeam1991">, ''Multichannel News'' (via HighBeam Research), September 30, 1991.</ref> Soon after, other cable systems began to transition the channel to their basic tiers, either as an experiment or full-time.<ref name="highbeam1991"/> Even as larger multiple system operators such as ] and ] began to offer The Disney Channel on their basic tiers, Walt Disney Company executives continued to deny any plans to convert the channel to an ad-supported basic service, referring to the switches to basic on some systems as part of a five-year "hybrid" strategy; allowing providers to offer it as either a pay service or a basic service.<ref>, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), May 27, 1996.</ref>


====Current====
Also in 1991, The Disney Channel tested a two-channel multiplex service on two cable systems.<ref>, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), June 10, 1991.</ref> By 1992, Nielsen Media Research estimated that a third of The Disney Channel's subscriber base were adults without children in the home;<ref>, ''Multichannel News'' (via HighBeam Research), April 27, 1992.</ref> and by 1995, its subscriber base expanded to 15 million cable homes,<ref>, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), November 13, 1995.</ref> eight million of which received the channel through a premium subscription.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bryant|first=J. Alison|title=The Children's Television Community|page=149|isbn=0-8058-4996-3|publisher=Lawrence Erlbaum|date={{start date|2006|11|07}}}}</ref> In 1996, ] was appointed to oversee The Disney Channel, and the channel began offering a nightly primetime film.<ref>, ''Multichannel News'' (via HighBeam Research), July 22, 1996.</ref>
* '''Disney Jr./Mickey Mornings''' – A weekday morning block of preschool programming from ] It first debuted on February 14, 2011, following the closure of ]; the current name and ]-hosted ] segments were both launched in June 2020, replacing the previous "Disney Junior on Disney Channel" branding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.d23.com/how-mickey-mouse-is-making-mornings-more-magical-for-families/|title=How Mickey Mouse is Making Mornings More Magical for Families|last=Deitchman|first=Beth|website=D23 press release|date=June 2020|access-date=26 October 2020|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030190016/https://d23.com/how-mickey-mouse-is-making-mornings-more-magical-for-families/|url-status=live}}</ref>


====Former====
===Transition to basic cable (1997–2002)===
* '''Disney Night Time''' – As '''The Disney Channel''' as a premium channel from its launch until April 6, 1997, this block featured programming aimed at older parental audiences during the evening and overnight hours under the banner title "Disney Nighttime". The content seen in these blocks was devoid of sexual and violent content. Programming seen during Disney Nighttime included older feature films (similar to those seen at the time on ], and eventually ], with both Disney film titles and movies from other ]s mixed in), alongside original concert specials (featuring artists ranging from ] to ] to ]), variety specials and ].{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
]
* ''']''' – used as a Sunday night umbrella for films and specials on The Disney Channel from September 23, 1990, to November 24, 1996, originally airing exclusively on Sunday evenings at 7:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific.<ref>'' The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 8, no. 4 (typo in the magazine: should be "no. 5"), September/October 1990: pp. 24, 51.</ref> From December 1, 1996, to 2001, ''The Magical World of Disney'' served as the overall branding for Disney Channel's nightly evening lineup of films starting at 7:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific.
In 1997, the channel continued its transition from a premium cable channel to a basic cable service, with some markets not carrying the channel on basic cable until as late as 2004.<ref>, ''Multichannel News'' (via HighBeam Research), February 17, 1997.</ref> It was at this time that the channel began increasing its viewership. Around this time, the channel began to shift its target audience more toward kids, but continued to cater to families at night.<ref>, '']'', July 27, 1997.</ref> Though Disney Channel was no longer considered a premium channel, the ] had long continued to register the channel among the U.S. premium channels in its subscription base rankings (however, the channel now appears in the NCTA's list of the top-ranked basic cable channels by number of subscribers).
* '''The American Legacy''' – ran on Tuesday evenings at 9:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific from January 7, 1992, to August 27, 1996. Originally launched in honor of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the United States,<ref>{{cite web|title=IN CELEBRATION OF THE 500th BIRTHDAY OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, THE DISNEY CHANNEL PRESENTS 'THE AMERICAN LEGACY'|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IN+CELEBRATION+OF+THE+500th+BIRTHDAY+OF+THE+DISCOVERY+OF+AMERICA,+THE...-a011716932|work=The Free Library|access-date=28 March 2014|archive-date=28 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328224735/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IN+CELEBRATION+OF+THE+500th+BIRTHDAY+OF+THE+DISCOVERY+OF+AMERICA,+THE...-a011716932|url-status=dead}}</ref> the block featured films, documentaries and specials about the contributions, history and scenic wonders of the nation.
* '''Toonin' Tuesday''' – Running from October 5, 1993, to August 27, 1996, "Toonin' Tuesday" was a weekly program block featuring various animated programs. Each Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific,<ref name="October/November 1993">''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 11, no. 6, October/November 1993: pp. 32–33, 40.</ref> "Toonin' Tuesday" featured primarily animated films and specials (though reruns of '']'' sometimes aired as part of the block).<ref name="October/November 1993"/> The block ended on August 27, 1996, due to changes to the channel's programming schedule.<ref name="June/July 1996">''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 3, June/July 1996: p. 27.</ref><ref name="August/September 1996">''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 4, August/September 1996: p. 29.</ref>
* '''Bonus! Thursday''' – From October 7, 1993, to August 29, 1996, The Disney Channel ran a weekly program block called "Bonus! Thursday" (or "Bonus!" for short), which ran each Thursday from 5:00 to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific.<ref name="October/November 1993 TWO">''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 11, no. 6, October/November 1993: pp. 33, 40.</ref><ref name="December 1993/January 1994">''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 12, no. 1, December 1993/January 1994: pp. 28, 43.</ref> The block featured programs aimed at teenagers, including series such as '']'', '']'', various ''Mickey Mouse Club'' serials (including '']'' and ''Match Point''), and '']'', followed by films and specials.<ref name="October/November 1993 TWO"/><ref name="December 1993/January 1994"/> The block ended on August 29, 1996, due to changes to the channel's programming schedule.<ref name="June/July 1996"/><ref name="August/September 1996"/>
* ''' Totally Kids Only''' ("TKO") – an afternoon lineup of live-action and animated series introduced in 1992,<ref>'' The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 3 (typo in the magazine: should be "no. 2"), April/May 1996: p. 26.</ref> which became the overall branding for the channel's daytime children's programs from 1995 to 1996.
* '''Triple Feature Friday''' – ran each Friday starting at 5:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific from October 8, 1993, to May 30, 1997, featured three separate films – sometimes regardless of each film's genre – that were tied to a specific subject<ref>'' The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 11, no. 6, October/November 1993: pp. 32–33, 58.</ref>
* '''Disney Drive-In''' – ran each Saturday starting at 1:30&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific from October 8, 1994, to August 31, 1996, featured Disney series such as '']'', '']'' and '']'', followed by Disney films and specials<ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 12, no. 6, October/November 1994: pp. 36, 42.</ref> The block ended on August 31, 1996, due to changes in the channel's schedule.<ref name="June/July 1996: p. 26">''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 3, June/July 1996: p. 26.</ref><ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 4, August/September 1996: pp. 28, 40, 48–49.</ref>
* '''Block Party''' – From October 2, 1995, to August 28, 1996, four animated series that previously aired in syndication on '']'' ('']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'') were rerun together on The Disney Channel as a two-hour programming block called "Block Party", which aired weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific.<ref>"Block Party: Four Disney Animated Series". ''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 13, no. 5, October/November 1995: p. 36.</ref> The "Block Party" branding was dropped on September 3, 1996, when ''Darkwing Duck'' was removed as the block's lead-in and '']'' was added to end the lineup.<ref name="June/July 1996: p. 26"/><ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 4, August/September 1996: pp. 25, 28, 34.</ref> This unnamed block continued to air into 1997.<ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 6, December 1996/January 1997: p. 28.</ref>
* '''Magical World of Animals'''{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} – an hour-long block of wildlife series aimed at children that ran from August 1997 to 1999. Promoted as an offshoot of the ''Magical World of Disney'' and airing Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time, the block consisted of two series: '']'' and '']''.<ref name=ks/>
* '''Vault Disney''' – premiered in September 1997,<ref name=ks/><ref name="highbeam1997">{{cite news |date=September 9, 1997 |title=Television News & Notes |newspaper=] |publisher=] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22405127.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034132/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22405127.html |archive-date=June 24, 2011 }}</ref> five months after Disney Channel's first major rebrand, replacing the Disney Nighttime lineup. Originally airing only on Sunday nights from 9:00&nbsp;p.m. to 6:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time,<ref name=ks/> Vault Disney expanded to seven nights a week in September 1998 (the Monday through Saturday editions of the block at this time aired from 11:00&nbsp;p.m. to 6:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern/Pacific; the start time of the block as a whole was moved consistently to midnight daily in September 1999). The vintage programming featured during the late-night schedule changed to feature only Disney-produced television series and specials (such as ''Zorro'', ''Spin and Marty'', '']'' and the ]),<ref name="highbeam1997"/> along with older Disney television specials. Older Disney feature films also were part of the lineup from 1997 to 2000 but aired in a reduced capacity. The block also featured '']'', an ] featuring Disney animated shorts, which became the only remaining program on the channel to feature these shorts by 1999, upon the removal of '']'' from the schedule. The channel discontinued the block in September 2002, in favor of running reruns of its original and acquired series during the late evening and overnight hours (which comparative to the adult-focused Vault Disney, are aimed at children and teenagers, an audience that is typically asleep during that time period).
* '''Zoog Disney''' – launched in August 1998, a program block that originally aired only on weekend afternoons from 4:00&nbsp;p.m. to 7:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern/Pacific. The hosts for the block were "Zoogs", animated anthropomorphic robot/alien creature-hybrid characters with human voices (some of whom acted like teenagers). The block unified television and the Internet, allowing viewer comments and scores from players of ZoogDisney.com's online games to be aired on the channel during regular programming in a ticker format (which the channel continued to use after the block was discontinued, however, the ticker has been all but completely dropped from on-air usage {{as of|May 2010|lc=y}}).<ref name="highbeam1998">{{cite news |date=December 26, 1998 |title=Digital L.A. : Truly It's All Happening at the Zoog |newspaper=] |publisher=] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83849759.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034114/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83849759.html |archive-date=June 24, 2011 }}</ref> From June 2000 to August 2002, the afternoon and primetime lineups on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays were branded under the umbrella title "Zoog Weekendz". The Zoogs were redesigned with ] and given mature voices in 2000, though the remade Zoog characters were discontinued after less than a year; the entire Zoog Disney block was phased out by September 2002.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9-FBDgAAQBAJ&q=programming+blocks+of+disney+channel&pg=PT29|title=Girlhood on Disney Channel: Branding, Celebrity, and Femininity|last=Blue|first=Morgan Genevieve|date=2017-03-16|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317365051|language=en}}</ref>
* '''Disney Replay''' – "Disney Replay" was a block that premiered on April 17, 2013, featuring episodes of defunct Disney Channel Original Series that premiered between 2000 and 2007 (such as '']'', ''], ]'' and '']'').<ref>{{cite magazine|title='So Weird', 'That's So Raven,' and other shows we want to see on Disney Replay|url=http://family-room.ew.com/2013/04/17/so-weird-thats-so-raven-disney-replay/|last=Caldwell|first=Sarah|magazine=]|date=April 17, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> Airing Wednesday nights/early Thursday mornings (as a nod to the popular ] trend "Throwback Thursday"), originally from 12:00 to 1:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time, the block expanded to six hours (running until 6:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern/Pacific) on August 14, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney Channel's expanded replay block here to stay|url=http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/disney-channels-expanded-replay-block-here-to-stay/|newspaper=]|last=Rack|first=Lori|date=August 20, 2014|access-date=August 22, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120422/http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/disney-channels-expanded-replay-block-here-to-stay/|archive-date=August 26, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Programs featured on Disney Replay were added to the WATCH Disney Channel service on August 16, 2014. The block was discontinued on April 28, 2016, and moved to ] with a new name: That's So Throwback.
* '''] on Disney Channel''' – "Disney XD on Disney Channel" is the former branding of two blocks airing on Friday and Saturday nights; an animated block airing Fridays from 9:00&nbsp;p.m. to 10:00&nbsp;p.m., showing series mainly exclusive to Disney XD such as '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', and a live-action block airing Saturdays from 10:00&nbsp;p.m. to 11:00&nbsp;p.m., airing series such as '']'' and '']''. It was discontinued as Disney XD's carriage became equivalent to that of Disney Channel.


===Bumpers===
On April 6, 1997, The Disney Channel shortened its name to simply "Disney Channel" (however, promos that ran until September 2002 often referred to the channel only as "Disney" and the logo often omitted the "Channel" in the network's name) took on a revamped look including the introduction of a new logo, which featured a 1930s-era Mickey Mouse on a black Mickey ear-shaped TV.<ref>, '']', January 19, 1997.</ref> The channel also began to carry break interruptions within shows, featuring promos for its programming (and eventually promotions for Disney feature film and home video releases); the reasons for the channel's decision not to include traditional commercial advertising include the possible confusion to younger viewers as to the difference between regular programming and advertisements, and the prevention of license fee increases for acquired feature films (however while Disney Channel does not air commercial advertisements, it does utilize underwriter sponsorships by companies such as ] and ]).<ref>, '']'', June 6, 2003 (via HighBeam Research; Retrieved February 14, 2011).</ref>
In between regularly scheduled programming and advertisement breaks, Disney Channel features ]. These bumpers have varied in content substantially throughout the history of the channel, created using a broad array of artistic methods such as ], ], ], ], and ]ing. They have been praised for their high quality composition and ingenuity.<ref name="defunctland">{{cite web |last1=Perjurer |first1=Kevin |date=November 20, 2022 |title=Disney Channel's Theme: A History Mystery |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_rjBWmc1iQ |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=] |publisher=YouTube |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122210826/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_rjBWmc1iQ |url-status=live }}</ref>


However, they became especially iconic in September 2002, when Disney Channel underwent a major rebranding, including in its bumpers and logo. These bumpers highlighted the iconic 'mouse ears' logo throughout them, featuring various videos that culminated in both the appearance of the logo, alongside a newly introduced theme song, which is regarded as its most recognizable and is still used to this day. This theme song consists of a four-note mnemonic jingle composed by the late Alex Lasarenko, former executive of Tonal Sounds and creative director at ].<ref name=defunctland/><ref name=musicuniverse>{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Matt |title=Defunctland uncovers secret behind Disney Channel's iconic musical theme|url=https://themusicuniverse.com/defunctland-uncovers-secret-behind-disney-channels-iconic-musical-theme/ |website=The Music Universe |date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121045228/https://themusicuniverse.com/defunctland-uncovers-secret-behind-disney-channels-iconic-musical-theme/ |access-date=24 November 2022|archive-date=21 November 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
By this point, the network was split into three programming blocks: ], comprising shows aimed at preschoolers; Vault Disney, featuring classic Disney material such as '']'',<ref name="highbeam1997">, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), September 9, 1997.</ref> ''The Mickey Mouse Club'', the ], older television specials and features such as '']''; and the most distinct one, running from afternoon to late evening for teenagers, called ''Zoog Disney'' (which was introduced in August 1998,<ref name="highbeam1998">, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), December 26, 1998.</ref> shortly after the ] cable channel was launched), that used anthropomorphic robot-like characters with human voices called "Zoogs" as its hosts.


In addition to its logo and jingle, Disney Channel's most recognizable bumper format consists of a celebrity or figure from one of its programs holding a wand and drawing the then-current form of the Disney Channel logo on the screen. This celebrity will introduce their name, the program they are featured on, and finish with the line "And you're watching Disney Channel." Dubbed a 'Wand ID' by fans, this format typically ends in a variation of the mnemonic.<ref name=defunctland/>
The Zoog Disney brand later expanded from September 2001 to August 2002, when the entire weekend lineup outside of the Vault Disney and Playhouse Disney blocks was branded as "Zoog Weekendz" at that point. The Zoogs' original looks were two-dimensional, though they were given a three-dimensional design and mature voices in 2001, which was phased out after less than a year. Disney Channel's original programming during this period began with '']'' in 1997 and continued with shows like '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'', among others.


=== Sports ===
In 1999, Disney Channel began notifying cable operators who continued to carry the network as a premium service that they must move the channel to their basic cable tiers or remove it altogether, stipulating that it would not renew carriage agreements with providers (such as ] and ], which were the last remaining major cable providers offering the channel as a premium service) that chose to continue carrying the network as a pay channel.<ref>, ''Multichannel News'' (via HighBeam Research), August 30, 1999.</ref> By 2001, Disney Channel was available to approximately 70 million cable and satellite subscribers, largely consisting of those who already received the channel via a basic tier as well at the remnants of its pay subscriber base.<ref>, ''Business Wire'' (via HighBeam Research), April 4, 2001.</ref> By this time, the music videos and concert specials that the channel ran since the 1997 rebrand were dropped, citing the inability to receive a stake in revenue from the artists' CD sales and lack of exclusivity for the videos;<ref>, '']'', June 25, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2011 from HighBeam Research.</ref> soon after, the channel began to incorporate music videos from songs featured in Disney's feature films and performed by artists on ] and signed by Disney's in-house record companies ] and ].
For a period, ]'s broadcasts of the ] baseball tournament frequently featured ] with music-related Disney Channel properties, with past editions having featured collaborations with '']'', the ], '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hudak |first=Kristen |date=2012-08-14 |title=Band 1985's Summer Forever is Little League World Series' theme |url=https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2012/08/band-1985s-summer-forever-is-little-league-world-series-theme/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=ESPN Front Row |language=en-US |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315043106/https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2012/08/band-1985s-summer-forever-is-little-league-world-series-theme/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


In March 2023, Disney Channel broadcast a live professional sporting event for the first time, carrying a youth-oriented alternate broadcast of a ] (NHL) game—known as the ''Big City Greens Classic—''as part of ]. The broadcast was themed around the Disney Channel animated series '']'', visualizing data from the league's player and ] tracking system with 3D animated players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2023-02-14 |title=Disney Will Animate ESPN Coverage for Disney Channel to Get Kids Into Hockey |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/disney-espn-animated-nhl-hockey-big-city-greens-1235522327/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320135819/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/disney-espn-animated-nhl-hockey-big-city-greens-1235522327/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rangers, Capitals in 'Big City Greens' Classic on ESPN, Disney Channel |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-washington-to-play-in-big-city-greens-classic-on-espn-disney-channel/c-341043372 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=NHL.com |language=en-US |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315050903/https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-washington-to-play-in-big-city-greens-classic-on-espn-disney-channel/c-341043372 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=2023-03-14 |title=ESPN, Disney Take Next Tech Leap in Kids-Focused Broadcast With Live, Animated 'NHL Big City Greens Classic' |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2023/03/14/espn-disney-take-next-tech-leap-in-kids-focused-broadcast-with-live-animated-nhl-big-city-greens-classic/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315043058/https://www.sportsvideo.org/2023/03/14/espn-disney-take-next-tech-leap-in-kids-focused-broadcast-with-live-animated-nhl-big-city-greens-classic/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Success and changing focus in the 2000s (2002–2007)===
]
By 2002, Disney Channel was seen in 80 million cable homes nationwide.<ref>, ] (via HighBeam Research), May 1, 2002.</ref> That September, Disney Channel was gradually remodeled once more with the "Zoog" brand phased out from on-air usage (though Zoog Disney continued as a separate website until 2003, when it was merged with Disney Channel's primary website). On September 16, 2002, the Vault Disney block was discontinued in favor of same-day repeats of the channel's original and ], primarily to contribute to the network's then-upcoming "hip" image; the removal of the block resulted in Disney Channel not featuring any programming targeted at adult audiences for the first time in the channel's history – with the only programming that intentionally targets the entire family being the channel's primetime feature films; as of June 2011, Disney Channel is the only one of the largest American children's cable networks that does not target both kids during the daytime, and a family/adult audience at night (Nickelodeon, ] and ] each feature program blocks that target such a dual audience).


== Related channels and programs ==
Primetime movies were also cut from two-three features per night to a single primetime feature per night.<ref>, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), September 5, 2002.</ref> The channel also phased out original drama and reality series, shifting its original programming focus to live-action sitcoms and animated series. A month later, at 2:00 p.m. ET on October 7, 2002, Disney Channel introduced a new on-air appearance with a new logo designed by CA Square (using an outline of Mickey Mouse's head as its centerpiece) that was adopted by its international sister channels in May 2003, and unveiling a new graphics designed to fit the network's new look. After these changes, Playhouse Disney became the only program block introduced in 1997 to remain (however, it was rebranded as ] in February 2011). Around the same time, Disney Channel began supplying its original programming to corporate sister ] for the network's ]. Moreover, Disney Channel began using a series of bumpers that are still in use, primarily featuring actors and animated characters from its original programs, drawing the Disney Channel logo using a glow stick.


===Current sister channels===
], a veteran cable executive, took control of Disney-ABC Television Group in 2004 and successfully remade Disney Channel into "the major profit driver in the company."<ref name=greenfeld>{{cite journal|url=http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/04/14/Disneys-Evolving-Business-Model|last=Greenfeld|first=Karl Taro|title=How Mickey Got His Groove Back|date=May 2008|accessdate=October 31, 2010|work=]|pages=126–131, 150}}</ref> By 2008, '']'' was reported that the channel " been adding a million viewers a month—every month—for the last five years", and also called it "the greatest teen-star incubator since the ] stopped drafting high schoolers."<ref name=greenfeld/> Sweeney's successful strategy was to discover, nurture and aggressively cross-promote teen music stars whose style and image were carefully targeted to pre-teens and teenagers.
==== Disney Jr. ====
{{Main|Disney Jr.|Playhouse Disney}}
Disney Jr. is a daily morning program block aimed at preschoolers, spiritually succeeding ''Playhouse Disney'' which launched on April 6, 1997, as part of Disney Channel's morning lineup. On May 26, 2010, Disney General Entertainment Content (at the time known as ''Disney-ABC Television Group'') announced the expansion of the block in to a 24/7 cable and satellite channel which debuted on March 23, 2012<ref name="dgedischan" /> The channel would be commercial-free channel and compete with other preschooler-skewing cable channels such as the ] and ] (previously known as ''PBS Kids Sprout'' and then ''Sprout'').<ref name=" PreSchool Programs Replace SOAPnet">{{cite news|date=27 May 2010|title=PreSchool Programs Replace SOAPnet|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/business/media/27disney.html?src=busln|newspaper=]|access-date=24 June 2012|archive-date=25 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625221708/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/business/media/27disney.html?src=busln|url-status=live}}</ref> The channel features programs from Disney Channel's existing preschool programming library and films/movies from the Walt Disney Pictures film library. On its launch, Disney Junior took over the channel space held by ] – a Disney-owned cable channel featuring ]s – due to that genre's decline in popularity on broadcast television and the growth of ], ], and ]s negating the need for a linear channel devoted to the soap opera genre. After a period during which cable providers unwilling to drop the network immediately retained it to prevent subscriber cancellations, Soapnet ceased all operations on December 31, 2013.<ref name="soapnetdrain">{{cite web|last=James|first=Meg|date=9 November 2013|title=Disney's SOAPnet channel headed for the drain|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-disney-soapnet-20131109,0,3311291.story|website=]|access-date=November 10, 2013|archive-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306063407/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-disney-soapnet-20131109,0,3311291.story|url-status=live}}</ref> The former ] block on Disney Channel rebranded as Disney Junior on February 14, 2011, along with the existing international channels; they had their names shortened to "Disney Jr." since June 1, 2024, although spelt/pronounced the same as before. Disney-ABC Television Group once planned to launch a ''Playhouse Disney''-branded channel in the ] in 2001, however it never happened despite launching internationally.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-76166895.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034312/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-76166895.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2011|title=Play nice now; Walt Disney Co. plans to introduce Playhouse Disney Channel|date=June 25, 2001|work=]}}</ref>


====Disney XD====
Around that time as Disney Channel's intended target audience became preschoolers, pre-teens and young adolescents, the channel began to quickly gain in popularity, even outside its main target audience, created increased competition with ]-owned ] and made teen idols out of some of its stars. Though Disney Channel has increased its viewership to rival that of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel has yet to officially unseat Nickelodeon in the ] as the highest-rated basic cable channel among total viewers (ages 2+) and all kid demos in its annual ratings.
{{Main|Disney XD}}
Launched on February 13, 2009,<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney XD Set to Launch on TV and Online|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1623346711.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034302/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1623346711.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2011|work=Targeted News Service|date=January 7, 2009}}</ref> as the successor to Toon Disney, Disney XD is a cable and satellite television channel which was originally aimed at young male audiences aged 6 to 14, but has since included girls in its programming.<ref>{{cite web|date=7 August 2008|last=Chmielewski|first=Dawn C|title=Enough with the girls, tween boys get their own brand of Disney love|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-07-fi-disney7-story.html|website=]|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930193135/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-07-fi-disney7-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The channel showcases action and comedy programming from Disney Channel and the former Jetix block from Toon Disney, alongside some first-run original programming and off-network syndicated shows. Disney XD, unlike its sister channels Disney Channel and Disney Junior, operates as an ad-supported service, similar to its predecessor Toon Disney. The channel carries the same name as an unrelated mini-site and media player on ], which stood for ], though it is said that the "XD" in the channel's name does not have an actual meaning.<ref>{{cite news|date=17 January 2007|title=Disney to offer safe social site for kids|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-157749732.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034420/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-157749732.html|archive-date=24 June 2011|newspaper=]|access-date=23 March 2012}}</ref>


===Former sister channels ===
In 2003, Disney Channel premiered its first ever musical made-for-cable film, '']''; it received 84 million viewers worldwide. The success of ''The Cheetah Girls'' led to the creation of other music-themed original programming such as the original movie '']'' and the original sitcom '']''. In 2005, '']'' became the network's highest-rated series since the network's move to basic cable; as well as being the first original series to beat the 65-episode limit (the highly controversial programming rule implemented in 1998, had guaranteed any original series would end after 65 episodes to prevent production costs from increasing; however this rule is no longer enforced); the series eventually hit 100 episodes, becoming the channel's longest-running original series until 2011 and became the first to spawn a spin-off, '']''. '']'' also debuted in 2005, becoming a hit for the channel. 2006 saw the debut of the hit original movie '']'' and the series ''Hannah Montana'', the latter of which launched the career of its star ] (who appeared alongside her father, popular 1990s country singer ], in the series). On July 28 of that year, the channel saw the debut of the its first multiple-series ], '']'' (involving ''That's So Raven'', ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' and ''Hannah Montana'').


* ''']''' – Launched on April 18, 1998, during the 15th anniversary celebration of the launch of sister network, Disney Channel,<ref>{{cite news |title= Disney Channel to Take Wing of Running 24 Hours of Cartoons |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83894737.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034409/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83894737.html |url-status=dead |archive-date= June 24, 2011 |work= Daily News |date= December 9, 1997}}</ref> this channel was aimed at children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 18. The network's main competitors at launch were ] from '']'' (a merged company of previous owner ] (who absorbed ], the company that launched the channel) and ]) and ] from ] (formerly ] and ] and ''ViacomCBS''). Toon Disney initially operated as a commercial-free service from its launch until September 1999 when, unlike Disney Channel, it became ad-supported. The channel carried a mix of reruns of animated productions from ] (formerly ''Walt Disney Television Animation'') and Disney Channel, alongside some third-party programs from other distributors, animated films and original programming. In 2004, the channel introduced a nighttime program block aimed at children ages 7 to 14 called ], which featured action-oriented animated and live-action series. During Toon Disney's first year on the air, Disney Channel ran a sampler block of Toon Disney's programming on Sunday nights for interested subscribers. The network's successor, Disney XD, which launched on February 13, 2009, is also a channel also aimed at children and features a broader array of programming, with a heavier emphasis on live-action programs.
===Disney Channel today (2007–present)===
* ''']''' launched as a programming block in the United States on ] on February 14, 2004, to compete with ]'s ] block,<ref name="amag">{{cite news |last=Ball |first=Ryan |date=13 February 2004 |title=Toon Disney Launches Jetix, Live Card Game |newspaper=] |url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/toon-disney-launches-jetix-live-card-game/ |access-date=3 March 2014 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327223510/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/toon-disney-launches-jetix-live-card-game/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and in Europe in April 2004.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|date=5 January 2005|title=Postul TV Fox Kids Romania a devenit Jetix Romania|trans-title=Fox Kids Romania TV station becomes Jetix Romania|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-rhiva-1245863-postul-fox-kids-romania-devenit-jetix-romania.htm|website=HotNews|location=]|access-date=23 December 2014|language=ro-RO}}</ref> By the end of 2004, Jetix started to completely replace global ]-branded channels, with the first of them being ] in August 2004<ref name="brcl2">{{cite web|date=20 August 2004|title=Fox Kids Europe becomes Jetix to appeal to boys|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/220094/Fox-Kids-Europe-becomes-Jetix-appeal-boys/?HAYILC=RELATED|website=Brand Republic|access-date=23 March 2012}}</ref> and the last one being ] in June 2005.<ref>{{cite web|date=23 December 2006|title=Jetix Europe Financials|url=http://www.jetixeurope.com/site/pdf/financials/1046---PDF.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019095445/http://www.jetixeurope.com/site/pdf/financials/1046---PDF.pdf|archive-date=19 October 2014|website=]|access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref> The network's successor, Disney XD, launched on February 13, 2009, and features heavier emphasis on live-action programs.
{{refimprove section|date=November 2011}}
** ''']''' was the sister channel to Jetix and owned by its dedicated company ] that was broadcast in a small number of regions, such as ] and ]. The channel officially launched on January 1, 2005, and was available for 12 hours per day from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M.<ref>{{cite web|date=23 January 2005|title=Jetix Annual Review Report and Financial Statements 2006 PDF|url=http://www.jetixeurope.com/site/investor_relations/annual_report/2006/pdf/JETIXRA2006web.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070330105233/http://www.jetixeurope.com/site/investor_relations/annual_report/2006/pdf/JETIXRA2006web.pdf|archive-date=30 March 2007|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref> Jetix Play was aimed at a younger audience than the main Jetix channel and primarily showed archived programming from the catalogues of ] (previously known as ''Saban Entertainment'') and Fox Kids Europe. Jetix Play was replaced with ] and later ]{{efn|It was previously shown and spelt visually as '''Disney Junior''' between its launch in 2011 until 2024.}} in most regions by 2010.
]
* ''']''' was a ] aimed towards music programming is oriented towards children, pre-teens and teenagers. Launched on November 18, 1996, the network focused mainly on ] and placed a heavy emphasis on talents who signed with ] and/or ], the two record labels of ]. On December 3, 2020, The Walt Disney Company announced its closure in first quarter of 2021 during the company's restructuring activities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=2020-12-03|title=Radio Disney Shutting Down Amid Restructuring|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/radio-disney-shutting-down-amid-restructuring-4099864/|website=]|access-date=14 January 2022|archive-date=14 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114051629/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/radio-disney-shutting-down-amid-restructuring-4099864/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="variety1">{{cite web|last=Low|first=Elaine|date=2020-12-03|title=Radio Disney, Radio Disney Country to End Operations in Early 2021|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/radio-disney-shut-down-operations-early-2021-1234845630/|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217182129/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/radio-disney-shut-down-operations-early-2021-1234845630/|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 14, 2021, its feeds ceased totally when its last remaining terrestrial station was changed to a simulcast of KSPN.<ref name="variety1" />


=== Other services ===
In 2007, the network began to drop many of its ], and also began a new schedule arrangement featuring a rotation of hour-long blocks of its original series and other programs. Two new series also premiered, the ''That's So Raven'' spin-off '']'' (which ended after two seasons), and the more successful '']'', starring ], ] and ]. The year also saw the premiere of '']'' on August 17, 2007. The film's premiere broke records for the network; with 17.2 million viewers, it displaced an edition of '']'' as the highest-rated basic cable program of all time, the highest-rated program of Summer 2007 on both broadcast and cable, and the highest-rated premiere of a made-for-cable movie.<ref name="variety">{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970479.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |title='High School Musical 2' huge hit |accessdate=2007-08-18 |format= |work= Variety| first1=Rick | last1=Kissell | first2=Michael | last2=Schneider | date=August 18, 2007}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; background:#fff;"
|- style="color:white;"
! style="background:darkRed;"| Service
! style="background:darkRed;"| Description
|-
| style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|'''Disney Channel HD''' || Disney Channel HD is a high-definition simulcast feed of Disney Channel that broadcasts in the ] resolution format; the feed first began broadcasting on April 2, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=DirecTV adds Disney Channel HD, Toon Disney HD and ESPNews HD |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-04-02-directv-adds-disney-channel-hd-toon-disney-hd-and-espnews-hd.html |website=Engadget |publisher=Darren Murph |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref> Most of the channel's original programming since 2009 is produced and broadcast in HD, along with feature films, Disney Channel original movies made after 2005, and select episodes, films, and series produced before 2009. Disney XD and Disney Jr. also offer their own high-definition simulcast feeds.
|-
| style="text-align: center; width:200pt;"| {{anchor|Disney Channel On Demand}}''' Disney Channel On Demand''' || Disney Channel On-Demand is the channel's ] service, offering select episodes of the channel's original series and Disney Junior programming, along with select original movies and behind-the-scenes features to digital cable and IPTV providers.
|-
| style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|''']'''|| ] is a ] service that allows subscribers to Disney Channel on participating television providers to stream the channel's programming live and on-demand.<ref name="tc-disneynow">{{Cite news|last=Perez|first=Sarah|title=Disney releases DisneyNow, a new app that combines live TV, on-demand, games and music|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/29/disney-releases-disneynow-a-new-app-that-combines-live-tv-on-demand-games-and-music/|website=]|access-date=30 September 2017|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327204929/https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/29/disney-releases-disneynow-a-new-app-that-combines-live-tv-on-demand-games-and-music/|url-status=live}}</ref> The service succeeds Disney Channel's original TV Everywhere service, "Watch Disney Channel", which launched in June 2012;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Disney launches streaming apps for the iPhone and iPad, Comcast gets them first|website=]|date=13 June 2012|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/13/3083336/disney-launches-streaming-apps-iphone-ipad-comcast|access-date=30 September 2017|archive-date=30 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084820/https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/13/3083336/disney-launches-streaming-apps-iphone-ipad-comcast|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="mcn-modelforfuture">{{cite web|last=Reynolds|first=Mike|date=9 January 2012|title=Comcast-Disney Deal a Model for Future|url=http://multichannel.com/news/policy/comcast-disney-deal-model-future/264273|work=Multichannel News|publisher=NewBay Media|access-date=2 January 2014|archive-date=26 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115726/http://multichannel.com/news/policy/comcast-disney-deal-model-future/264273|url-status=live}}</ref> in September 2017, Disney replaced the separate apps for Disney Channel, Jr. and XD with DisneyNow.<ref name="tc-disneynow"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=28 February 2017|title=As 'Kids' Upfront' Kicks Off, Disney Woos Madison Avenue|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/disney-tv-upfront-2017-advertising-kids-1201998365/|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-date=12 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112191019/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/disney-tv-upfront-2017-advertising-kids-1201998365/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|''']''' || Launched in November 2019, Disney+ is a ] ] service owned and operated by the ] (DTCI) (now the ''Media & Entertainment Distribution'') division of ]. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced by ] and ], with the service advertising content from Disney's ], ], ] and '']'' brands.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gebhart|first=Andrew|date=7 September 2017|title=Marvel and Star Wars films will ditch Netflix for Disney's own service|website=]|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/marvel-and-star-wars-films-will-ditch-netflix-for-disney/|access-date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907190259/https://www.cnet.com/news/marvel-and-star-wars-films-will-ditch-netflix-for-disney/|archive-date=2017-09-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kastrenakes|first=Jacob|date=8 August 2017|title=Disney to end Netflix deal and launch its own streaming service|website=]|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/8/16115254/disney-launching-streaming-service-ending-netflix-deal|access-date=5 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406102020/https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/8/16115254/disney-launching-streaming-service-ending-netflix-deal|archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
|- style="color:white;"
! style="background:darkRed;" colspan="2" | Former services
|-
| style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|'''Disney Family Movies''' || Disney Family Movies is a defunct subscription video-on-demand service that launched on December 10, 2008, replacing Disney's previous service ], which used a data stream from over-the-air television stations to offer purchasable films from the studio via a set-top box. The service offered a limited selection of movies and ]s from the Walt Disney Pictures film catalog for a fee of about $5 to $10 per month, making it similar in structure to Disney Channel's original model as a premium service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disney Family Movies|url=http://dadt.com/dfm/|work=]|access-date=November 3, 2013|archive-date=4 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104102254/http://dadt.com/dfm/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Now available On Demand: Disney Family Movies|url=http://www.cox.com/sandiego/newsroom/service/2008/20081210-disney.asp|website=]|location=], ]|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725140224/http://www.cox.com/sandiego/newsroom/service/2008/20081210-disney.asp|archive-date=25 July 2011}}</ref> Disney Family Movies was discontinued on October 31, 2019, prior to the launch of ], which offers a wider film selection beyond cable on-demand provider deliveries.<ref>{{cite news|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=18 October 2019|title=Disney Family Movies SVOD Service Is Shutting Down Ahead of Disney Plus Debut|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/disney-plus-disney-family-movies-shutdown-1203375291/|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=30 October 2019|archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026033030/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/disney-plus-disney-family-movies-shutdown-1203375291/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}


=== Production studios ===
2008 saw the debut of '']'', the first original animated series to be broadcast in HD, and '']'' spin-off, '']'', along with Disney Channel Original Movies such as '']'', '']'' and '']''. ''The Suite Life on Deck'' became the number one series in kids ages 6–12 in 2008.<ref>{{cite web | title=Disney Channel/DisneyChannel.com Highlights For 2008 | url=http://www.pr-inside.com/disney-channel-disneychannel-com-highlights-r992914.htm | accessdate=January 19, 2009}}</ref>


==== Disney Television Animation ====
2009 saw the premiere of '']'' (starring ]) in February, and '']'' (starring the ]) in May; along with the original movies '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. ''Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie'' also became the highest-rated cable program of 2009, excluding sporting events, premiering to 11.4&nbsp;million viewers and becoming the second highest-rated DCOM premiere in history. The premiere of the crossover special '']'' (involving ''Wizards of Waverly Place'', ''The Suite Life on Deck'' and ''Hannah Montana'') also beat out its competition, both cable and broadcast network programming, on the night of its premiere with 9.1&nbsp;million viewers (making it the highest-rated episodes of ''Wizards'' and ''On Deck'' to date).
{{Main|Disney Television Animation}}


Also known by its trade name, "'''Disney Channel Animation'''", it is the television animation production studio division of ] and based in ], providing original animated programming for the three main Disney-branded television channels.
In 2010, the channel launched its first original sitcom intentionally targeted at family audiences: '']'', starring ] and ]. Later in 2010, the channel also premiered the new animated series '']'', and the buddy sitcom '']''. 2010 also saw the premieres of four original movies: '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Two other made-for-TV movies produced for Disney Channel in association with Canadian specialty cable channels debuted as well ('']'', produced in association with pay services ] and ]; and '']'', produced in association with ]).


==== It's a Laugh Productions ====
'']'' and '']'' ended their runs in 2011; '']'' meanwhile, was retooled as '']'' (focusing on the ]) due to Demi Lovato's announcement that she would not return to the series following her treatment for ] and ], in order to focus on her music career. In addition, five new series ('']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'') were also added to the lineup in 2011, along with six Disney Channel Original Movies ('']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''). The ] original movie '']'', premiered on June 10, 2011 with its ] premiering two weeks later on June 27.
{{Main|It's a Laugh Productions}}


A live-action production studio based in ], ], that provides original sitcoms and comedy programs primary for Disney Channel. Despite being the prime production source of Disney Channel shows, many of its projects are still co-produced and financed by ].
In January 2012, '']'' ended its run on the channel, becoming Disney Channel's longest-running original series with 106 episodes (the record for the channel's longest-running series was formerly held by '']'', which ran for 100 episodes). In May 2012 it was indicated that '']'', a spin-off of '']'', had been canceled after only one season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYz1KNqQ_tU|title=Tiffany Thornton Talks "So Random!" Memories - Selena Gomez, Helmet Ninjas|author=clevverTV|publisher=YouTube|date=May 1, 2012|accessdate=May 12, 2012}}</ref>


==== Walt Disney EMEA Productions ====
In June 2012, Disney announced that by 2015, it would no longer advertise or promote any food or beverage that does not meet strict nutritional guidelines, on any of its media properties aimed at children, which includes Disney Channel. Disney believes that it is the first media company to take such a stance on stopping the marketing of "]" to children.<ref name=usatoday-junk>{{cite web|title=Disney to quit taking ads for junk food aimed at kids|url=http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/story/2012-06-05/disney-advertising-to-kids/55385470/1|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref>
'''Walt Disney EMEA Productions Limited''' is the network's European production studio located in ], England, which co-produces original programs within Europe alongside other companies.


==== Disney Original Documentary ====
== Programming ==
'''Disney Original Documentary''' is a banner from ] for ]-based programs broadcast on Disney Channel and released on Disney+ that launched on December 9, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|date=9 December 2021|title=Disney Branded Television Acquires Doc Short 'Sophie & The Baron' As First Title Under Newly Formed Disney Original Documentary Banner|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/sophie-the-baron-disney-branded-television-acquires-documentary-short-1234887454/|website=]|access-date=1 September 2022|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901015620/https://deadline.com/2021/12/sophie-the-baron-disney-branded-television-acquires-documentary-short-1234887454/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Main|List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel|List of Disney Channel series}}
Disney Channel broadcasts original series such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. Repeats of former Disney Channel original series include '']'' and '']''. Reruns of Disney XD original series includes '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Acquired programing from other networks includes '']''. Upcoming original series includes ''Code 9''. Unlike the most basic cable channels in the U.S., Disney Channel's original scripted programs (including those featured on the Disney Junior block) feature tag scenes during the closing credits. The channel also airs short-form programs known as "short shows", which air more commonly on the Disney Junior block. Music videos, mainly featuring ] and ] artists as well as songs featured in newer Disney feature films are frequently aired, though the full versions of these music videos typically air only during the video's premiere and as filler between programs, while shorter versions usually air during promo breaks during the current program).


== Media ==
The original ] produced for Disney Channel that are geared toward teenage girls (with shows like '']'' and '']'') and also airs a moderate amount of animated series geared more towards upper-elementary and middle school-age children. Disney Channel has aired some programming more appealing to teenage boys with '']'' and other such ] shows in 2009. Acquired series produced by ], ] and other production companies outside of the Walt Disney Company portfolio previously made up most of the schedule; however since Disney Channel began increasing its reliance on original series, television series acquired for broadcast on the channel have become very limited and primarily confined to the Disney Junior block.


=== Video games ===
In the 1980s and 1990s, Disney Channel aired classic ] ] that were made when ] headed his namesake company; they were removed from the lineup in 2000, however their presence has returned as of 2009 with the addition of the short series ''have a laugh!''. On December 14, 2008, it was announced that Disney Channel in the U.S. would bring back the animation block, which aired from 12–6 a.m. ET. The animated block was added to Disney Channel during the late night hours after Christmas Day 2008.
In 2010, '']'' was released for the ] ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney Channel All Star Party|url=https://www.ign.com/games/disney-channel-all-star-party/wii-78798|work=]|access-date=2017-01-21|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710121326/http://www.ign.com/games/disney-channel-all-star-party/wii-78798|url-status=live}}</ref> The four-player mascot party game, in which the stages resemble ]s, features characters from Disney Channel programs such as ''Sonny with a Chance'', ''Wizards of Waverly Place'', and ''JONAS L.A.'' Several video games based on the Disney Channel animated series ''Phineas and Ferb'' were released by ]. The Disney Channel website also featured various ] incorporating characters from the channel's various program franchises, including '']'' and '']''.


== Marketing programs ==
Since 2003, Disney Channel has typically imposed an unwritten "6-to-a-cast" rule as its original series generally have a maximum of six contract cast members, with '']'' being the last series before 2003 to have more than six actors appearing as series regulars (since then however, ''Shake It Up'' had become the first series to feature seven contract cast members in season two). The channel's series also have a smaller writing staff compared to other broadcast and cable network scripted television series (usually around 6 and 8 credited staff writers, instead of the 8 to 11 writers standard with most scripted series). Most of its series also employ are produced in the videotaped ] that involves filming before a studio audience or utilizing a laugh track; its multi-camera series also utilize a simulated film look (the ] image processing for series that debuted between 2003 and 2008; the HD-compatible ']' technique for all newly-commissioned and returning original series produced in high definition after 2009, which reduce the videotape frame rate to ]).
In June 2012, ] announced that it would stop advertising or promoting food or beverage products that do not meet strict nutritional guidelines. Disney Channel purportedly became the first media company to take such a stance on stopping the marketing of ] products to kids. Due to its commercial-free format, such advertising appears only in the form of underwriter sponsorships during promotional breaks.<ref name="usatoday-junk">{{cite news |date=June 5, 2012 |title=Disney to quit taking ads for junk food aimed at kids |work=] |publisher=] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/story/2012-06-05/disney-advertising-to-kids/55385470/1 |accessdate=June 10, 2012 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305060028/http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/story/2012-06-05/disney-advertising-to-kids/55385470/1 |url-status=live }}</ref>


On July 1, 2012, Disney Channel began providing ] audio in compliance with the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which required network ]s and ] in the 25 largest ] as well as the five highest-rated cable and satellite channels (including Disney Channel) to offer ]s for the ]. This is accompanied by an on-screen mark at the beginning of certain scheduled programming indicating to viewers that the service is available. Some episodes of '']'', '']'', ''],'' and '']'' show the ''AD)))'' mark and a 2-tone sound repeated 3 times at the beginning of the episode to give notice of the audio description track available through the SAP feed. Disney Junior displays the ''AD))'' mark and the intended SAP track on newer episodes of '']''. (ABC positions this mark in the bottom-left corner of the screen.)<ref name="TVNewsCheck">{{cite web |date=June 13, 2012 |title=Networks Set To Launch Video Descriptions |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/60097/networks-set-to-launch-video-descriptions |work=TVNewsCheck |access-date=13 February 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214003401/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/60097/networks-set-to-launch-video-descriptions |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Movie library===
{{Main|List of Disney Channel Original Movies}}
]
A film is broadcast every weekday afternoon and most nights during the week, but not necessarily a theatrically released feature film. Disney Channel airs new ]s, called ] (or DCOMs), about 4–6 times a year, and those are frequently broadcast during the prime-time slot. In 2000, Disney Channel claimed to produce a new movie each month; this only lasted throughout that same year. Disney Channel began producing its Original Movies in 1997 with the premiere of '']''. The number of DCOMs per year began to increase – from two in 1997 to three in 1998 to a high of twelve in 2000.


==International==
''High School Musical 2'' is currently the most successful DCOM in popularity and awards, setting a cable record for most viewers of a basic cable program, when its August 2007 debut scored 17.2&nbsp;million, a record that stood until the December 3, 2007 ] matchup between the ] and ] on corporate sibling ] surpassed it with 17.5&nbsp;million viewers (it still remains the most-watched scripted program in cable television history). '']'' films are also notably successful, with huge merchandise sales, sold-out concert tours and soundtrack sales. The first film was the first TV movie musical in Disney Channel history. It saw over 84 million viewers worldwide. The second movie was the most successful of the series, bringing in 8.1&nbsp;million viewers in the U.S. It scored an 86-date concert tour, and was on the top 10 tours of 2006; the tour broke a record at the ] that was set by ] in 1973. The concert sold out with 73,500 tickets sold in three minutes.
{{Main|Disney Branded Television#List of Disney Channels}}


Disney Channel has established presence in various regions across the Americas, most of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and Japan. Channel versions/feeds were also available or used to exist in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey, but ceased broadcast since the early 2020s, with most content moving to ] or ] following their launches in those countries/regions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Walt Disney to shut down 100 TV channels in 2021: Bob Chapek|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv-news/walt-disney-to-shut-down-100-tv-channels-in-2021-bob-chapek-113153.html|website=Exchange4Media|access-date=13 August 2022|archive-date=20 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520041954/https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv-news/walt-disney-to-shut-down-100-tv-channels-in-2021-bob-chapek-113153.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2023-06-14 |title=Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/disney-closing-tv-channels-southeast-asia-korea-1235643667/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
Film rights for much of the channel are shared by sister network ]. The network also has rights to many films not released by Disney (either because the studio does not have a children's network or has one that is incompatible with their focus), such as ]' ('']'' (known in the US as ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone''), '']''), ] ('']'', '']'', '']''), ] ('']'', '']''), ] ('']'', '']'', '']''), ] ('']''), ] ('']'', the '']'' film series, '']''), ] ('']''). Also, another non-Disney Christmas themed film, such as'']'' have aired. Other non-Disney films over the years have included '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'' just to name a few. Films produced by current Disney subsidiary ] have also aired on Disney Channel in the past, although most of them are not presently owned by Disney, including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Bagdasarian Productions films have also aired on Disney Channel, although most of them are not presently owned by Disney, including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''


On December 14, 2022, Disney ceased its distribution of programs in Russia in response to the ongoing ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-02 |title=Disney Channel Russia To Stop Broadcasting December 14th |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2022/12/02/disney-channel-russia-shutdown/ |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=LaughingPlace.com |language=en-US |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203131141/https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2022/12/02/disney-channel-russia-shutdown/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=Reuters |date=2022-12-02 |title=Disney Channel to stop broadcasting in Russia from Dec. 14 - Kommersant |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/disney-channel-stop-broadcasting-russia-dec-14-kommersant-2022-12-02/ |access-date=2022-12-03 |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203050950/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/disney-channel-stop-broadcasting-russia-dec-14-kommersant-2022-12-02/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-02 |title=Улетает наш ласковый Микки |trans-title=Our affectionate Mickey is flying away! |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5705386 |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=Kommersant |language=ru |archive-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320182819/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5705386 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia's Media1 and Disney Channel dissolve their joint-venture |url=https://kidscreen.com/2022/12/13/russias-media1-and-disney-channel-dissolve-their-joint-venture/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214134331/https://kidscreen.com/2022/12/13/russias-media1-and-disney-channel-dissolve-their-joint-venture/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Between 1986 and 1998, films made up most Disney Channel's evening and overnight schedule. It now only airs films usually each afternoon and in primetime Monday through Thursday nights. Many of the channel's earliest original movies (particularly those made from 1997 to 2002) have seldom been aired by Disney Channel in recent years, except for some holiday-themed movies; in January 2009, the channel began airing these older original movies on Friday and Saturday nights at 3&nbsp;am ET/PT; since June 2010, movies also air on Sundays in late night and since July 2010, the movies start at 2:30&nbsp;am ET/PT and some of the late-night weekend movies are aired without promo breaks. A Disney Channel Original Movie used to air twice in a row on the night of its premiere; this tradition ended with the January 2006 premiere of ''High School Musical''. Encore presentations of Disney Channel Original Movies however, still sometimes air on the channel in prime time on the Saturday and Sunday after its original Friday night debut ('']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' are the only exceptions to this rule). '']'' and '']'' are currently the only DCOMs to air on a non-Disney Channel branded network domestically as they have both aired on sister channel ], and ''Camp Rock'' has also aired on ] as part of '']''. On September 13, 2010, Disney Channel began airing theatrically released films in a ] ] format on the channel's primary ] feed, broadcasting them in a similar manner to how they are aired on the HD feed.


Disney Channel also licenses its programming to air on certain other broadcast and cable channels outside the United States (formerly including ] in Canada), regardless of whether or not a localized channel feed already exists in that country.
Disney Channel occasionally airs "special edition" airings of its high-profile original movie premieres: ] versions of ''The Cheetah Girls'' trilogy, ''High School Musical'', ''High School Musical 2'' and ''Camp Rock'' have aired in which lyrics are displayed on screen for viewers to sing with the songs in the films; the channel also airs "What's What" editions of its high-profile original movies using a format that mimics the former ] series '']'' in which facts about the movie and its stars pop up on screen at various points during the film.


==Criticism==
In part because the network does not air commercials and advertises only network programming, films typically run short of their allotted time slot ]ming airs to fill an entire two-hour slot, usually an episode of a Disney Channel original series for a film running about 90 to 100 minutes, an 11-minute-long episode of an original animated series for a film running 105 minutes, and any film longer than 105 minutes has the remaining time filled with a music video, promotions, and/or shorts such as '']'', '']'' or '']''.
Some critics disapprove of the Disney Channel marketing strategy led by ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anne Sweeney Executive Biography |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/bios/anne_sweeney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041112142437/http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/bios/anne_sweeney.html |archive-date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=June 20, 2011 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref> president of the Disney Channel from 1996 to 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Walt Disney Company |url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/bios/anne_sweeney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041112142437/http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/bios/anne_sweeney.html |archive-date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=October 16, 2009}}</ref> Under Sweeney, the Disney Channel's programming was geared mainly towards preteen and teenage girls, with a decrease in animated programming.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Expert Uses Science to Draw Boy Viewers |url=http://commercialexploitation.org/news/2009/04/disneyexpert.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613135215/http://commercialexploitation.org/news/2009/04/disneyexpert.html |archive-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Criticism was also aimed at removing almost all Walt-era and pre-1990s material from the channel in 2002 with the removal of the late-night "Vault Disney" block devoted to this material, which used to make up the majority of the channel's programming since its inception in 1983.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{Cite news |last=Verrier |first=Richard |date=May 9, 2002 |title=Closing the 'Vault' leaves channel with no Disney |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-09-05-0209050029-story.html |access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Portfolio.com">{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Disneys Evolving Business Model – News Markets |url=http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/04/14/Disneys-Evolving-Business-Model |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420044803/http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/04/14/Disneys-Evolving-Business-Model |archive-date=April 20, 2008 |access-date=June 20, 2011 |publisher=Portfolio.com}}</ref> In 2008, Sweeney explained that Disney Channel, resulting from its multi-platform marketing strategy using television and music, would become "the major profit driver for the Company."<ref name="Portfolio.com" />


The channel has also pulled (and sometimes re-shot) episodes that have featured subject matter deemed inappropriate for its target audience, due either to humor or to timing of real-life events.
==Programming blocks==
===Current===
*''']''' - Disney Channel currently programs shows targeted at preschool-age children on Monday through Fridays from 6 a.m.–2 p.m. and weekends from 6–9 a.m. ET/PT, called Disney Junior, which debuted on February 14, 2011. During the summer months, the block ends at 9&nbsp;am ET/PT on weekdays. {{As of|2010}}, the only programming featuring classic Disney characters is '']'' on Disney Junior, and the ''Have a Laugh!'' short films on the network itself. Current programming in this block includes '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Disney Junior is the successor to ], another preschool-targeted block which debuted in September 1997. Disney Junior became its own basic cable and satellite channel on March 23, 2012, replacing ]. The Disney Junior channel is a direct competitor to ]'s ] channel, NBC and ION's ] and PBS and Comcast's ].<ref name="PreSchool Programs Replace SOAPnet">, ''New York Times'', May 27, 2010</ref>
*'''Weekend evening blocks''' - Disney Channel airs first-run or recent episodes of its original series over the course of three nights, branded as "Disney Channel (day of week) Night", with first-run episodes premiering on Friday and/or Sunday evenings. The Friday night schedule features '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'', while Sunday nights feature '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Since October 2010, programming on both night's schedules has been somewhat fluid as while all series have a permanent place on the Friday and Sunday primetime schedules, episode premieres of all Disney Channel original series are subject to being rotated on and off the schedule depending on the schedule for that given week as they usually air as part of a 90-minute block from 8–9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Friday evenings and 7:30–9 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday evenings. Saturday nights usually feature repeats of recent episodes of the channel's original series and occasional film telecasts, after an attempt in early 2009 to use the night to launch a beachhead against Nickelodeon's Saturday night block with the premiere of '']'' and the move of '']'' from Fridays to Saturdays proved unsuccessful. Encores of each night's programs typically air between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. ET/PT each night.
*''']''' - A Saturday morning animation block that debuted on June 17, 2011, the "Toonin' Saturdays" lineup primarily consists of double-episode airings of Disney Channel original animated series '']'' and '']''. Occasionally, new first-run episodes of either series will be featured in the block, though new episodes may also sometimes air in their original Friday night time slots.


* In November 2008, the episode "No Sugar, Sugar" ('']''), in which ]'s character, ], is revealed to have ], was pulled before its broadcast, due to parent complaints about its portrayal of ] and ] intake.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huff |first=Richard |date=September 9, 2009 |title='Hannah Montana' episode on diabetes set to air on Disney Channel |work=] |location=New York |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/hannah-montana-episode-diabetes-set-air-disney-channel-article-1.403081}}</ref>
===Former===
* In December 2011, Disney Channel pulled episodes of two of its original series, due to complaints on ] from ] about their portrayal of ]. Pulled episodes included "Party It Up" ('']'') and "Colbie Caillat" ('']'').<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marcus |first=Stephanie |date=December 23, 2011 |title=Demi Lovato Slams Disney For Eating Disorder Joke On 'Shake It Up' (UPDATE) |work=] |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/demi-lovato-slams-disney-for-eating-disorder-joke-on-shake-it-up_n_1168436.html}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite tweet |number=150418514426081281 |user=DisneyChannelPR |title=@ddlovato – we hear you & are pulling both episodes as quickly as possible & reevaluating them (1 of 2 messages) |author=Disney Channel PR |date=24 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2011 |title=Demi Lovato Slams Disney Channel – Eating Disorder Joke |url=http://www.gossipcop.com/demi-lovato-slams-disney-channel-eating-disorder-joke-shake-it-up/ |access-date=September 4, 2012 |publisher=Gossip Cop}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2011 |title=Demi Lovato Fans Upset Over Last Episode Of So Random |url=http://disneyinfonet.com/2011/08/18/demi-lovato-fans-upset-over-last-episode-of-so-random-ddlovato-therealtiffany-disneychanphoto/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429190255/http://disneyinfonet.com/2011/08/18/demi-lovato-fans-upset-over-last-episode-of-so-random-ddlovato-therealtiffany-disneychanphoto/ |archive-date=April 29, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2013 |website=Disney Infonet}}</ref>
*'''Zoog Disney''' – Launched in August 1998, Zoog Disney was a program block that aired on weekend afternoons. The hosts for the block were "Zoogs", animated anthropomorphic characters resembling robots, but given human voices, with most of the Zoog characters acting like teenagers. The block tied television and the internet together, allowing viewer comments and scores from players of ZoogDisney.com's online games to be aired on the channel during regular programming in a ticker format (which the channel continued to use after the block was discontinued, and is used in a significantly decreased capacity as of May 2010).<ref name="highbeam1998"/> The Zoogs were given a more three-dimensional redesign and mature voices in 2001, but were phased out after less than a year. With the entire block phased out by September 2002. From September 2001 to August 2002, the entire Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon and primetime lineup was branded as "Zoog Weekendz".
* In May 2013, Disney Channel pulled "Quitting Cold Koala" (]) due to parental concerns over a scene in which a character's ]-free diet leads to ridicule.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 20, 2013 |title=Mom: Disney show 'Jessie' ridicules kids with celiac disease |work=] |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/tv-radio/mom-disney-show-jessie-ridicules-kids-with-celiac-disease-688350/}}</ref>
*'''Disney Nighttime''' – From 1983 to 1997, Disney Channel, during the premium channel era featured programming aimed at adult audiences, during the nighttime hours under the banner name "Disney Nighttime"; unlike the nighttime content aired on the channel's then-competitor premium channels at the time of its launch, the "adult" programming featured on Disney Channel was devoid of sexual and violent content. Disney Nighttime featured older feature films (similar to those seen at the time on ], and eventually ], with both Disney and non-Disney titles mixed in) and the traditional premium channel fare of original concert specials from artists ranging from ] to ].
*'''Vault Disney''' – Disney Nighttime was reworked into "Vault Disney" in September 1997, upon Disney Channel's first major rebrand. Originally a Sunday-only block, Vault Disney expanded to seven nights a week by 1999, and aired late nights from midnight to 6&nbsp;am ET (except on Sunday nights from 1997 to 1999, when the block had a 9&nbsp;pm ET start time on Sundays). The classic programming changed to feature only Disney-produced television series and specials such as '']'', '']'', ''The Mickey Mouse Club'' and the ],<ref name="highbeam1997"/> along with older Disney television specials; older Disney feature films also were part of the lineup from 1997 to 2000, but aired in a reduced capacity. The block also featured ''The Ink and Paint Club'', featuring classic Disney animated shorts, which became the only remaining program on the channel to feature these shorts by 1999, upon the removal of '']'' from the schedule.


* On June 13, 2023, the opening sequence of the series '']'', which premiered on the Disney Channel in July 2024, was released by ],<ref>{{cite web|last=Lang|first=Jamie|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/disney-tv-animation-lineup-annecy-229724.html|title=Disney Presents Packed TV Slate With Loads Of New Trailers And Images|website=]|date=June 15, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615135946/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/disney-tv-animation-lineup-annecy-229724.html|archive-date=June 15, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="comicsbeat2023">{{cite web|last=Dar|first=Taimar|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/disney-animated-primos-theme-song/|title=Disney unveils details and theme song for PRIMOS cartoon|website=]|date=June 13, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613221520/https://www.comicsbeat.com/disney-animated-primos-theme-song/|archive-date=June 13, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> with a mixed reception to the sequence on ], including from ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rodríguez|first=Andrés|url=https://elpais.com/mexico/2023-06-16/racista-y-llena-de-estereotipos-primos-la-serie-animada-de-disney-que-ha-molestado-al-publico-latinoamericano.html|title="Racista" y "llena de estereotipos": 'Primos', la serie animada de Disney que ha molestado al público latinoamericano|trans-title="Racist" and "full of stereotypes": 'Primos', the Disney animated series that has upset the Latin American public|website=] Mexico|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230616211732/https://elpais.com/mexico/2023-06-16/racista-y-llena-de-estereotipos-primos-la-serie-animada-de-disney-que-ha-molestado-al-publico-latinoamericano.html|archive-date=June 16, 2023|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://aristeguinoticias.com/1506/cultura/disney-hace-enojar-a-mexicanos-con-su-nueva-serie-primos-acusan-racismo/|title=Disney hace enojar a mexicanos con su nueva serie 'Primos'; acusan racismo|trans-title=Disney makes Mexicans angry with its new series 'Primos'; accuse racism|website=]|date=June 15, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230617043954/https://aristeguinoticias.com/1506/cultura/disney-hace-enojar-a-mexicanos-con-su-nueva-serie-primos-acusan-racismo/|archive-date=June 17, 2023|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Martínez|first=Valerie|url=https://es-us.vida-estilo.yahoo.com/el-bochorno-que-disney-pudo-evitar-y-tiene-indignados-a-los-latinoamericanos-161510158.html|title=El bochorno que Disney pudo evitar y tiene indignados a los latinoamericanos|trans-title=The embarrassment that Disney was able to avoid and has Latin Americans outraged|website=Yahoo! vida y estello|publisher=]|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617043855/https://es-us.vida-estilo.yahoo.com/el-bochorno-que-disney-pudo-evitar-y-tiene-indignados-a-los-latinoamericanos-161510158.html|archive-date=June 17, 2023|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref> Some viewers argued that the sequence had various ], complained about names of some characters, and claimed the Spanish pronunciation of some characters in the sequence was incorrect.<ref name="Capitalino">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=Jun 16, 2023 |title="Primos" la nueva serie de Disney que Latinoamérica NO quiere |trans-title="Primos" the new Disney series that Latin America does NOT want |url=https://elcapitalino.mx/entretenimiento/titulares-entretenimiento/titular-3/primos-la-nueva-serie-de-disney-que-latinoamerica-no-quiere/ |language=Spanish |work=El Capitalino |location= |access-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617180831/https://elcapitalino.mx/entretenimiento/titulares-entretenimiento/titular-3/primos-la-nueva-serie-de-disney-que-latinoamerica-no-quiere/ |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Arrieta |first=José |date=June 14, 2023 |title=¿Por qué está causando polémica "Primos", la nueva serie de Disney? |url=https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/espectaculos/2023/6/14/por-que-esta-causando-polemica-primos-la-nueva-serie-de-disney-514173.html |access-date=June 17, 2023 |trans-title= Why is "Primos", the new Disney series, causing controversy? |website=El Heraldo de México |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615201230/https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/espectaculos/2023/6/14/por-que-esta-causando-polemica-primos-la-nueva-serie-de-disney-514173.html |archive-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bermudez|first=Justin|url=https://www.latintimes.com/disneys-primos-gets-un-warm-welcome-family-544863|title=Disney's 'Primos' Gets Un-Warm Welcome To The Family|website=]|date=June 17, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617181824/https://www.latintimes.com/disneys-primos-gets-un-warm-welcome-family-544863|archive-date=June 17, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Seasonal programming blocks===
* '''Summer''' - The network runs summer programming blocks every year with differing themes titled "Disney Channel Summer" since 2012. Generally most of the network's series run new episodes through the summer and original movies premiere in these months to take advantage of the largest possible children's audience, as do most children's networks.
* '''Halloween''' - In October, Disney Channel airs Halloween programming in an annual event, titled "Monstober", which Disney announced they would continue to use due to its popularity in 2011.<ref>, Disney Channel Medianet</ref> Halloween films such as the '']'' series have premiered in this month, along with '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', along with Halloween episodes of the network's original series.
* '''Christmas''' - The network's December schedule usually focuses on ] programming, with the title of the branding changing every year. Christmas films such as the ''The Christmas Visitor'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' have premiered in this month, along with Christmas episodes of the network's original series such as '']'', and several '']'' Christmas Specials. A ] week with encores of Christmas-themed programming is featured in that summer month.
* '''New Year's''' - A tradition going back to the Zoog Disney days in 2000, the network airs a marathon into the early morning of New Year's Day of programs, films and moments deemed the best by viewer vote on disneychannel.com, followed by an original series marathon on New Year's Day (the exception was 2011 due to New Year's Eve occurring on a Saturday that year). As with Christmas, the New Year's block's name changed yearly, until New Year's 2012.


==Ratings== ==See also==
{{Portal|Disney|Television|California|Companies}}
In the May 2010 Nielsen ratings, Disney Channel ranked No.1 for the 63rd consecutive month in the Kids 6–11 demographic and for the 62nd straight month among Tweens 9–14. Disney Channel is ranked as the second most watched cable channel among total viewers during primetime, behind USA Network in first place with an average of 2.8&nbsp;million people.


* ]
According to Nielsen Media Research, the month of February 2011 had finished as Disney Channel’s most-watched February sweeps period in Total Day ratings in the network's history ever, earning an average of 1.7&nbsp;million viewers among Total Viewers, along with 590,000 viewers with a 2.1 rating share among Kids 6–11 and 459,000 viewers with a 1.9 rating share among Tweens 6–9; 9–15; among the first two demos, the channel posted its 14th consecutive month of year-to-year gains in both demos. First-run episodes of ''Shake It Up'', ''Wizards of Waverly Place'' and ''Good Luck Charlie'' earned six of television’s top 10 telecasts that month in key child demographics, with ''Phineas and Ferb'' ranked as the No.1 animated series on TV among Kids 6–11 and Tweens 9–14 for that month and ''Mickey Mouse Clubhouse'' ranked among TV’s top 10 programs for that month in Playhouse Disney's Kids 2–5 target demographic.
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==Sister networks== ==Notes==
{{notelist}}
===Current networks===
====Disney XD====
{{Main|Disney XD}}
Disney XD is a digital cable and satellite television channel in the United States, which is aimed at males aged 7–14. The channel was launched on February 13, 2009,<ref>, Targeted News Service (via HighBeam Research), January 7, 2009.</ref> replacing predecessor ], carrying action and comedy programming from Disney Channel and the former Jetix block from Toon Disney along with some first-run original programming and off-network syndicated shows. Like its predecessor Toon Disney and unlike parent network Disney Channel, Disney XD is advertiser-supported. The channel carries the same name as an unrelated mini-site and media player on ], which stood for ],<ref>, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), January 17, 2007.</ref> though the "XD" in the ''channel''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s name is said to not have an actual meaning.

====Disney Junior====
{{Main|Disney Junior}}
On May 26, 2010 Disney-ABC Television Group announced the launch of a new 24-hour preschool-targeted digital cable and satellite channel called ], which made its debut on March 23, 2012; the Disney Junior channel (which is commercial-free, like parent network Disney Channel but unlike SOAPnet, which it replaced, and Disney XD) will compete with other preschooler-skewing cable channels such as ], ] and ].<ref name="PreSchool Programs Replace SOAPnet"/> The channel will feature programs from Disney Channel's existing library of preschool programs and movies from the ] film library. Disney Junior took over the channel space currently held by Disney-ABC Television Group-owned ] (a channel airing soap operas), with the closure of SOAPnet citing the continued decrease in popularity of the soap opera genre on broadcast television and the growth of ] (including the online streaming availability for soap operas) and ] negating the need for a linear channel devoted to the format. The former ] block on Disney Channel was rebranded as Disney Junior on February 14, 2011, and the 22 existing cable channels and program blocks bearing the Playhouse Disney name outside the United States have been in the process of rebranding under the Disney Junior name.<ref>, ''Entertainment Weekly'', May 26, 2010</ref> Disney had previously announced plans for a preschool-targeted network in the U.S. in 2001,<ref>, '']'' (via HighBeam Research), June 25, 2001.</ref> however the planned Playhouse Disney Channel did not come to fruition, though dedicated Playhouse Disney Channels did launch internationally.

===Former networks===
====Toon Disney====
{{Main|Toon Disney}}
This television channel, that launched on April 18, 1998,<ref>, ''Daily News'' (via HighBeam Research), December 9, 1997.</ref> was aimed at children ages 6–12; the network's main competition were ]/]'s ] and ], and ]/]' ]. Unlike Disney Channel, Toon Disney was an advertiser-supported cable channel. The channel carried a format of reruns of ] and Disney Channel-produced animated programming, along with some third-party programming, animated films and original programming. In 2002, the channel debuted a nighttime program block aimed at children ages 7–14 called ], which featured action-oriented animated and live-action series. During Toon Disney's first year on the air, Disney Channel ran a sampler block of Toon Disney programming on Sunday nights for interested subscribers. The network ceased operations and was relaunched as the preteen male-oriented ], featuring a broader array of programming, on February 13, 2009.

===Other services===
*'''Disney Channel HD''' is a ] ] simulcast of Disney Channel, first broadcasting on March 19, 2008. Most of the channel's original programming since 2009 is produced and shown in HD, along with feature films, Disney Channel original movies made after 2005 and select episodes, films and series produced before 2009.
*'''Disney Channel On Demand''' is the channel's ] service, offering select episodes of the channel's original series and Disney Junior programming, along with select original movies and behind-the-scenes features to digital cable and IPTV providers.
* '''DisneyChannel.com''', the network's ], features additional content relating to the channel's programming, streaming video, and other content.

==International==
{{Main|Disney Channel (international)}}
Disney Channel has established channels in various countries worldwide including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], the ], and ]. Disney Channel also licenses its programming to air on certain other broadcast and cable channels outside the United States, regardless as to whether an international version of Disney Channel exists in the country.

==Criticism==
{{criticism section |date=November 2011}}
Disney Channel has received some criticism for their current programming direction. Experts {{who |date=November 2011}} criticize the company for programming that has pulled away from the characters that the network's parent company, ] was based on: ], ] and ] and thus more "traditionalist" fans {{who |date=November 2011}} of the network have gone so far to say that the network is no longer really a ''Disney'' Channel. Other critics disapprove of the marketing strategy made by ], the President of ABC-Disney Television Group,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/bios/anne_sweeney.html |title=The Walt Disney Company – Anne Sweeney Executive Biography |publisher=Corporate.disney.go.com |accessdate=June 20, 2011}}</ref> which makes the programs on Disney Channel geared mainly toward pre-teen girls and teenage girls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commercialexploitation.org/news/2009/04/disneyexpert.html |title=Disney Expert Uses Science to Draw Boy Viewers |publisher=Commercialexploitation.org |date=April 14, 2009 |accessdate=June 20, 2011}}</ref> Sweeney had also said that the main goal of the programming on Disney Channel was not to entertain, but to solely make money, officially stating that Disney Channel would be "the major profit driver for the (Walt Disney) Company."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/04/14/Disneys-Evolving-Business-Model |title=Disneys Evolving Business Model – News Markets |publisher=Portfolio.com |date=September 11, 2008 |accessdate=June 20, 2011}}</ref>

In December 2011, Disney Channel has pulled an episode from its original series '']'', titled "Party It Up". The network had also pulled an episode from its other original series '']'', titled "Colbie Caillat". They both were pulled from the network's airing cycle due to eating disorder references.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/demi-lovato-slams-disney-for-eating-disorder-joke-on-shake-it-up_n_1168436.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Stephanie | last=Marcus | title=Demi Lovato Slams Disney For Eating Disorder Joke On 'Shake It Up' (UPDATE) | date=December 23, 2011}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">https://twitter.com/#!/DisneyChannelPR/status/150418514426081281</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>http://www.gossipcop.com/demi-lovato-slams-disney-channel-eating-disorder-joke-shake-it-up/</ref><ref>http://disneyinfonet.com/2011/08/18/demi-lovato-fans-upset-over-last-episode-of-so-random-ddlovato-therealtiffany-disneychanphoto/</ref>

==Branding==
From 1983 to 1997, Disney Channel's logo involves a Mickey Mouse head inside a TV screen. When the network split in 1997, a new logo was launched, with a 1930s Mickey Mouse inside a Mickey Mouse-shaped TV. The logo was slightly modified in 1999. In 2002, a new logo (designed by CA Square) was adopted internationally, which continued until the 2010. In 2010 the logo was altered to look better in HD Widescreen format, the original 2002 logo was incased inside a rounded box, and has been used ever since.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Disney|Television|Companies}}
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== References == ==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Citation style|date=August 2010}}
{{Reflist|2}}


== Bibliography == ==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Flower|first=Joe|title=Prince of the Magic Kingdom: Michael Eisner and the Re-Making of Disney|isbn=0-471-52465-4|year=1991|publisher=]|ref=harv}} * {{cite book |last=Grover |first=Ron |url=https://archive.org/details/disneytouchhowda0000grov |title=The Disney Touch: How a Daring Management Team Revived an Entertainment Empire |publisher=Business One Irwin |year=1991 |isbn=1-55623-385-X |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book|last=Grover|first=Ron|title=The Disney Touch: How a Daring Management Team Revived an Entertainment Empire|isbn=1-55623-385-X|year=1991|publisher=Business One Irwin|ref=harv}}


== External links == ==External links==
{{Commons category|Disney Channel}}
* {{official website|http://disney.go.com/disneychannel/}}
* {{official website|http://disneychannel.disney.com}} (Redirects to ])
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{{Disney Channel}} {{Disney Channel}}
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Latest revision as of 15:49, 22 December 2024

American children's/family television channel For other uses, see Disney Channel (disambiguation).

Television channel
Disney Channel
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersBurbank, California, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)
  • English
  • Spanish (via SAP audio track)
Picture format
Ownership
OwnerDisney Entertainment
ParentDisney Branded Television
Sister channels List
History
LaunchedApril 18, 1983; 41 years ago (1983-04-18)
Former namesThe Disney Channel (1983-1997)
Links
WebcastWatch live
WebsiteOfficial website
Availability
Streaming media
Affiliated streaming serviceDisney+
Service(s)Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Vidgo

Disney Channel is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company.

Launched on April 18, 1983, under the name The Disney Channel as a premium channel on top of basic cable television systems, it originally showcased programming towards families due to availability of home television sets locally at the time. It dropped the "The" word from the name in 1997, thus getting rebranded as just Disney Channel, with its programming since till date shifting focus to target mainly children and adolescents ages 6–14. The channel showcases original first-run children's television series, theatrically-released and original television films and other selected third-party programming.

As of November 2023, Disney Channel is available to approximately 70 million pay television households in the United States — down from its peak of 100 million households in 2011. The channel's international footprint, once encompassing 46 channels available in 33 languages, has also diminished in parts of Europe and most of the Asia-Pacific due to the launch of Disney+ and competition from other streaming and social media platforms.

History

Main article: History of Disney Channel

Disney Channel launched nationally as a premium channel at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 18, 1983, under the name The Disney Channel. The channel's development with help from its founding president Alan Wagner, and formally announced the launch of its family-oriented cable channel in early 1983. The channel – which initially maintained a 16-hour-per-day programming schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time – would become available on cable providers in all 50 U.S. states by September 1983, and accrue a base of more than 611,000 subscribers by December of that year. In October 1983, the channel debuted its first made-for-cable movie, Tiger Town, which earned the channel a CableACE Award. The channel had reached profitability by January 1985, with its programming reaching 1.75 million subscribers by that point.

In September 1990, TCI's Montgomery, Alabama, system became the first cable provider to carry the channel as a basic cable service. Between 1991 and 1996, a steadily increasing number of cable providers began shifting The Disney Channel from a premium add-on offering to their basic tiers, either experimentally or on a full-time basis; however, Walt Disney Company executives denied any plans to convert the channel into an ad-supported basic service, stating that the premium-to-basic shifts on some providers was part of a five-year "hybrid" strategy that allowed providers to offer the channel in either manner. On April 6, 1997, the channel officially rebranded as Disney Channel, although occasionally marketed as "Disney" from 1997 to 2002.

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel

Movie library

Main article: List of Disney Channel original films

Television films have also been produced for broadcast on Disney Channel since its launch under the banner of Disney Channel Premiere Films, with the first film released being Tiger Town in 1983, until October 1997, which is when they stopped using the "Premiere Films" label and renamed it the "Disney Channel Original Movies" (DCOM) thereafter. The first movie to be released under the Disney Channel Original Movie category was Under Wraps, a Halloween themed movie that aired for the first time on Disney Channel on October 25, 1997.

The most successful original film under the banner in terms of popularity and accolades is High School Musical 2, which debuted on August 17, 2007, to 17.2 million viewers and set a current longstanding record for the highest-rated television premiere in the history of the channel. Following High School Musical 2, the movie that had the second highest-rated Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) premiere was Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, followed by Camp Rock, Descendants 2, Princess Protection Program, Teen Beach Movie, and Jump In!. It also set a basic cable record for the single most-watched television program until December 3, 2007, when corporate sister channel, ESPN, surpassed it with the telecast of an NFL game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens on its Monday Night Football programme by 0.3 million viewers more (17.5 million viewers). The Cheetah Girls media franchise was also notably successful in terms of merchandise and sales for its concert tours and soundtrack albums. Its debut film from 2003, being the first Disney Channel original musical television film, premiered to over 84 million global viewers and its sequel premiered to 8.1 million American viewers and in the process became the most successful of the film series. An 86-date concert tour featuring the eponymous girl group was ranked as one of the top 10 concert tours of 2006, smashing the record at the Houston Rodeo previously set by Elvis Presley in 1973, selling out with 73,500 tickets in three minutes at one point.

In addition to its original television films, Disney Channel has rights to theatrically released feature films, with some film rights shared with sister network, Freeform. Alongside films released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (mainly consisting of releases from Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar), the channel also maintains rights to films from other studios. Some films released by Bagdasarian Productions (such as The Chipmunk Adventure and Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein) have also aired on Disney Channel, although most of them are not currently owned by any of the Walt Disney Company's divisions.

Programming blocks

Current

  • Disney Jr./Mickey Mornings – A weekday morning block of preschool programming from Disney Jr. It first debuted on February 14, 2011, following the closure of Playhouse Disney; the current name and Mickey Mouse-hosted continuity segments were both launched in June 2020, replacing the previous "Disney Junior on Disney Channel" branding.

Former

  • Disney Night Time – As The Disney Channel as a premium channel from its launch until April 6, 1997, this block featured programming aimed at older parental audiences during the evening and overnight hours under the banner title "Disney Nighttime". The content seen in these blocks was devoid of sexual and violent content. Programming seen during Disney Nighttime included older feature films (similar to those seen at the time on American Movie Classics, and eventually Turner Classic Movies, with both Disney film titles and movies from other film studios mixed in), alongside original concert specials (featuring artists ranging from Rick Springfield to Jon Secada to Elton John), variety specials and documentaries.
  • The Magical World of Disney – used as a Sunday night umbrella for films and specials on The Disney Channel from September 23, 1990, to November 24, 1996, originally airing exclusively on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. From December 1, 1996, to 2001, The Magical World of Disney served as the overall branding for Disney Channel's nightly evening lineup of films starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific.
  • The American Legacy – ran on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific from January 7, 1992, to August 27, 1996. Originally launched in honor of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the United States, the block featured films, documentaries and specials about the contributions, history and scenic wonders of the nation.
  • Toonin' Tuesday – Running from October 5, 1993, to August 27, 1996, "Toonin' Tuesday" was a weekly program block featuring various animated programs. Each Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, "Toonin' Tuesday" featured primarily animated films and specials (though reruns of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show sometimes aired as part of the block). The block ended on August 27, 1996, due to changes to the channel's programming schedule.
  • Bonus! Thursday – From October 7, 1993, to August 29, 1996, The Disney Channel ran a weekly program block called "Bonus! Thursday" (or "Bonus!" for short), which ran each Thursday from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. The block featured programs aimed at teenagers, including series such as Kids Incorporated, The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, various Mickey Mouse Club serials (including Teen Angel and Match Point), and Eerie Indiana, followed by films and specials. The block ended on August 29, 1996, due to changes to the channel's programming schedule.
  • Totally Kids Only ("TKO") – an afternoon lineup of live-action and animated series introduced in 1992, which became the overall branding for the channel's daytime children's programs from 1995 to 1996.
  • Triple Feature Friday – ran each Friday starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific from October 8, 1993, to May 30, 1997, featured three separate films – sometimes regardless of each film's genre – that were tied to a specific subject
  • Disney Drive-In – ran each Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m. Eastern/Pacific from October 8, 1994, to August 31, 1996, featured Disney series such as Zorro, Texas John Slaughter and Spin and Marty, followed by Disney films and specials The block ended on August 31, 1996, due to changes in the channel's schedule.
  • Block Party – From October 2, 1995, to August 28, 1996, four animated series that previously aired in syndication on The Disney Afternoon (Darkwing Duck, TaleSpin, DuckTales and Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers) were rerun together on The Disney Channel as a two-hour programming block called "Block Party", which aired weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. The "Block Party" branding was dropped on September 3, 1996, when Darkwing Duck was removed as the block's lead-in and Goof Troop was added to end the lineup. This unnamed block continued to air into 1997.
  • Magical World of Animals – an hour-long block of wildlife series aimed at children that ran from August 1997 to 1999. Promoted as an offshoot of the Magical World of Disney and airing Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the block consisted of two series: Going Wild with Jeff Corwin and Omba Mokomba.
  • Vault Disney – premiered in September 1997, five months after Disney Channel's first major rebrand, replacing the Disney Nighttime lineup. Originally airing only on Sunday nights from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time, Vault Disney expanded to seven nights a week in September 1998 (the Monday through Saturday editions of the block at this time aired from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Eastern/Pacific; the start time of the block as a whole was moved consistently to midnight daily in September 1999). The vintage programming featured during the late-night schedule changed to feature only Disney-produced television series and specials (such as Zorro, Spin and Marty, The Mickey Mouse Club and the Walt Disney anthology television series), along with older Disney television specials. Older Disney feature films also were part of the lineup from 1997 to 2000 but aired in a reduced capacity. The block also featured The Ink and Paint Club, an anthology series featuring Disney animated shorts, which became the only remaining program on the channel to feature these shorts by 1999, upon the removal of Quack Pack from the schedule. The channel discontinued the block in September 2002, in favor of running reruns of its original and acquired series during the late evening and overnight hours (which comparative to the adult-focused Vault Disney, are aimed at children and teenagers, an audience that is typically asleep during that time period).
  • Zoog Disney – launched in August 1998, a program block that originally aired only on weekend afternoons from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. The hosts for the block were "Zoogs", animated anthropomorphic robot/alien creature-hybrid characters with human voices (some of whom acted like teenagers). The block unified television and the Internet, allowing viewer comments and scores from players of ZoogDisney.com's online games to be aired on the channel during regular programming in a ticker format (which the channel continued to use after the block was discontinued, however, the ticker has been all but completely dropped from on-air usage as of May 2010). From June 2000 to August 2002, the afternoon and primetime lineups on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays were branded under the umbrella title "Zoog Weekendz". The Zoogs were redesigned with cel shading and given mature voices in 2000, though the remade Zoog characters were discontinued after less than a year; the entire Zoog Disney block was phased out by September 2002.
  • Disney Replay – "Disney Replay" was a block that premiered on April 17, 2013, featuring episodes of defunct Disney Channel Original Series that premiered between 2000 and 2007 (such as Lizzie McGuire, That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana). Airing Wednesday nights/early Thursday mornings (as a nod to the popular social media trend "Throwback Thursday"), originally from 12:00 to 1:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time, the block expanded to six hours (running until 6:00 a.m. Eastern/Pacific) on August 14, 2014. Programs featured on Disney Replay were added to the WATCH Disney Channel service on August 16, 2014. The block was discontinued on April 28, 2016, and moved to Freeform with a new name: That's So Throwback.
  • Disney XD on Disney Channel – "Disney XD on Disney Channel" is the former branding of two blocks airing on Friday and Saturday nights; an animated block airing Fridays from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., showing series mainly exclusive to Disney XD such as Phineas and Ferb, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Milo Murphy's Law, and DuckTales, and a live-action block airing Saturdays from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., airing series such as MECH-X4 and Walk the Prank. It was discontinued as Disney XD's carriage became equivalent to that of Disney Channel.

Bumpers

In between regularly scheduled programming and advertisement breaks, Disney Channel features bumpers. These bumpers have varied in content substantially throughout the history of the channel, created using a broad array of artistic methods such as traditional animation, digital animation, claymation, live action, and puppeteering. They have been praised for their high quality composition and ingenuity.

However, they became especially iconic in September 2002, when Disney Channel underwent a major rebranding, including in its bumpers and logo. These bumpers highlighted the iconic 'mouse ears' logo throughout them, featuring various videos that culminated in both the appearance of the logo, alongside a newly introduced theme song, which is regarded as its most recognizable and is still used to this day. This theme song consists of a four-note mnemonic jingle composed by the late Alex Lasarenko, former executive of Tonal Sounds and creative director at Elias Arts.

In addition to its logo and jingle, Disney Channel's most recognizable bumper format consists of a celebrity or figure from one of its programs holding a wand and drawing the then-current form of the Disney Channel logo on the screen. This celebrity will introduce their name, the program they are featured on, and finish with the line "And you're watching Disney Channel." Dubbed a 'Wand ID' by fans, this format typically ends in a variation of the mnemonic.

Sports

For a period, ESPN's broadcasts of the Little League World Series baseball tournament frequently featured cross-promotion with music-related Disney Channel properties, with past editions having featured collaborations with High School Musical, the Jonas Brothers, Camp Rock, and Phineas and Ferb.

In March 2023, Disney Channel broadcast a live professional sporting event for the first time, carrying a youth-oriented alternate broadcast of a National Hockey League (NHL) game—known as the Big City Greens Classic—as part of ESPN's coverage of the league. The broadcast was themed around the Disney Channel animated series Big City Greens, visualizing data from the league's player and puck tracking system with 3D animated players.

Related channels and programs

Current sister channels

Disney Jr.

Main articles: Disney Jr. and Playhouse Disney

Disney Jr. is a daily morning program block aimed at preschoolers, spiritually succeeding Playhouse Disney which launched on April 6, 1997, as part of Disney Channel's morning lineup. On May 26, 2010, Disney General Entertainment Content (at the time known as Disney-ABC Television Group) announced the expansion of the block in to a 24/7 cable and satellite channel which debuted on March 23, 2012 The channel would be commercial-free channel and compete with other preschooler-skewing cable channels such as the Nick Jr. Channel and Universal Kids (previously known as PBS Kids Sprout and then Sprout). The channel features programs from Disney Channel's existing preschool programming library and films/movies from the Walt Disney Pictures film library. On its launch, Disney Junior took over the channel space held by Soapnet – a Disney-owned cable channel featuring soap operas – due to that genre's decline in popularity on broadcast television and the growth of video on demand, online streaming, and digital video recorders negating the need for a linear channel devoted to the soap opera genre. After a period during which cable providers unwilling to drop the network immediately retained it to prevent subscriber cancellations, Soapnet ceased all operations on December 31, 2013. The former Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel rebranded as Disney Junior on February 14, 2011, along with the existing international channels; they had their names shortened to "Disney Jr." since June 1, 2024, although spelt/pronounced the same as before. Disney-ABC Television Group once planned to launch a Playhouse Disney-branded channel in the United States in 2001, however it never happened despite launching internationally.

Disney XD

Main article: Disney XD

Launched on February 13, 2009, as the successor to Toon Disney, Disney XD is a cable and satellite television channel which was originally aimed at young male audiences aged 6 to 14, but has since included girls in its programming. The channel showcases action and comedy programming from Disney Channel and the former Jetix block from Toon Disney, alongside some first-run original programming and off-network syndicated shows. Disney XD, unlike its sister channels Disney Channel and Disney Junior, operates as an ad-supported service, similar to its predecessor Toon Disney. The channel carries the same name as an unrelated mini-site and media player on Disney.com, which stood for Disney Xtreme Digital, though it is said that the "XD" in the channel's name does not have an actual meaning.

Former sister channels

  • Toon Disney – Launched on April 18, 1998, during the 15th anniversary celebration of the launch of sister network, Disney Channel, this channel was aimed at children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 18. The network's main competitors at launch were Cartoon Network from Warner Bros. Discovery (a merged company of previous owner Time Warner/WarnerMedia (who absorbed Turner Broadcasting System, the company that launched the channel) and Discovery, Inc.) and Nickelodeon from Paramount Global (formerly the first and the second incarnations of Viacom and ViacomCBS). Toon Disney initially operated as a commercial-free service from its launch until September 1999 when, unlike Disney Channel, it became ad-supported. The channel carried a mix of reruns of animated productions from Disney Television Animation (formerly Walt Disney Television Animation) and Disney Channel, alongside some third-party programs from other distributors, animated films and original programming. In 2004, the channel introduced a nighttime program block aimed at children ages 7 to 14 called Jetix, which featured action-oriented animated and live-action series. During Toon Disney's first year on the air, Disney Channel ran a sampler block of Toon Disney's programming on Sunday nights for interested subscribers. The network's successor, Disney XD, which launched on February 13, 2009, is also a channel also aimed at children and features a broader array of programming, with a heavier emphasis on live-action programs.
  • Jetix launched as a programming block in the United States on Toon Disney on February 14, 2004, to compete with Cartoon Network's Toonami block, and in Europe in April 2004. By the end of 2004, Jetix started to completely replace global Fox Kids-branded channels, with the first of them being the French version in August 2004 and the last one being the German version in June 2005. The network's successor, Disney XD, launched on February 13, 2009, and features heavier emphasis on live-action programs.
    • Jetix Play was the sister channel to Jetix and owned by its dedicated company Jetix Europe that was broadcast in a small number of regions, such as Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East. The channel officially launched on January 1, 2005, and was available for 12 hours per day from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Jetix Play was aimed at a younger audience than the main Jetix channel and primarily showed archived programming from the catalogues of BVS Entertainment (previously known as Saban Entertainment) and Fox Kids Europe. Jetix Play was replaced with Playhouse Disney and later Disney Jr. in most regions by 2010.
  • Radio Disney was a radio network aimed towards music programming is oriented towards children, pre-teens and teenagers. Launched on November 18, 1996, the network focused mainly on current hit music and placed a heavy emphasis on talents who signed with Walt Disney Records and/or Hollywood Records, the two record labels of Disney Music Group. On December 3, 2020, The Walt Disney Company announced its closure in first quarter of 2021 during the company's restructuring activities. On April 14, 2021, its feeds ceased totally when its last remaining terrestrial station was changed to a simulcast of KSPN.

Other services

Service Description
Disney Channel HD Disney Channel HD is a high-definition simulcast feed of Disney Channel that broadcasts in the 720p resolution format; the feed first began broadcasting on April 2, 2008. Most of the channel's original programming since 2009 is produced and broadcast in HD, along with feature films, Disney Channel original movies made after 2005, and select episodes, films, and series produced before 2009. Disney XD and Disney Jr. also offer their own high-definition simulcast feeds.
Disney Channel On Demand Disney Channel On-Demand is the channel's video-on-demand service, offering select episodes of the channel's original series and Disney Junior programming, along with select original movies and behind-the-scenes features to digital cable and IPTV providers.
DisneyNow DisneyNow is a TV Everywhere service that allows subscribers to Disney Channel on participating television providers to stream the channel's programming live and on-demand. The service succeeds Disney Channel's original TV Everywhere service, "Watch Disney Channel", which launched in June 2012; in September 2017, Disney replaced the separate apps for Disney Channel, Jr. and XD with DisneyNow.
Disney+ Launched in November 2019, Disney+ is a subscription video-on-demand streaming service owned and operated by the Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) (now the Media & Entertainment Distribution) division of The Walt Disney Company. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced by the Walt Disney Studios and Disney General Entertainment Content, with the service advertising content from Disney's Marvel, National Geographic, Pixar and Star Wars brands.
Former services
Disney Family Movies Disney Family Movies is a defunct subscription video-on-demand service that launched on December 10, 2008, replacing Disney's previous service MovieBeam, which used a data stream from over-the-air television stations to offer purchasable films from the studio via a set-top box. The service offered a limited selection of movies and short films from the Walt Disney Pictures film catalog for a fee of about $5 to $10 per month, making it similar in structure to Disney Channel's original model as a premium service. Disney Family Movies was discontinued on October 31, 2019, prior to the launch of Disney+, which offers a wider film selection beyond cable on-demand provider deliveries.

Production studios

Disney Television Animation

Main article: Disney Television Animation

Also known by its trade name, "Disney Channel Animation", it is the television animation production studio division of the Walt Disney Studios and based in Glendale, California, providing original animated programming for the three main Disney-branded television channels.

It's a Laugh Productions

Main article: It's a Laugh Productions

A live-action production studio based in Studio City, Los Angeles, California, that provides original sitcoms and comedy programs primary for Disney Channel. Despite being the prime production source of Disney Channel shows, many of its projects are still co-produced and financed by the Walt Disney Company.

Walt Disney EMEA Productions

Walt Disney EMEA Productions Limited is the network's European production studio located in London, England, which co-produces original programs within Europe alongside other companies.

Disney Original Documentary

Disney Original Documentary is a banner from Disney Branded Television for documentary-based programs broadcast on Disney Channel and released on Disney+ that launched on December 9, 2021.

Media

Video games

In 2010, Disney Channel All Star Party was released for the Nintendo Wii. The four-player mascot party game, in which the stages resemble board games, features characters from Disney Channel programs such as Sonny with a Chance, Wizards of Waverly Place, and JONAS L.A. Several video games based on the Disney Channel animated series Phineas and Ferb were released by Disney Interactive Studios. The Disney Channel website also featured various Flash games incorporating characters from the channel's various program franchises, including Kim Possible and Hannah Montana.

Marketing programs

In June 2012, The Walt Disney Company announced that it would stop advertising or promoting food or beverage products that do not meet strict nutritional guidelines. Disney Channel purportedly became the first media company to take such a stance on stopping the marketing of junk food products to kids. Due to its commercial-free format, such advertising appears only in the form of underwriter sponsorships during promotional breaks.

On July 1, 2012, Disney Channel began providing Descriptive Video Service audio in compliance with the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which required network owned-and-operated stations and affiliates in the 25 largest television markets as well as the five highest-rated cable and satellite channels (including Disney Channel) to offer audio descriptions for the blind. This is accompanied by an on-screen mark at the beginning of certain scheduled programming indicating to viewers that the service is available. Some episodes of Gravity Falls, Austin and Ally, Good Luck Charlie, and Phineas and Ferb show the AD))) mark and a 2-tone sound repeated 3 times at the beginning of the episode to give notice of the audio description track available through the SAP feed. Disney Junior displays the AD)) mark and the intended SAP track on newer episodes of Little Einsteins. (ABC positions this mark in the bottom-left corner of the screen.)

International

Main article: Disney Branded Television § List of Disney Channels

Disney Channel has established presence in various regions across the Americas, most of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and Japan. Channel versions/feeds were also available or used to exist in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey, but ceased broadcast since the early 2020s, with most content moving to Disney+ or Disney+ Hotstar following their launches in those countries/regions.

On December 14, 2022, Disney ceased its distribution of programs in Russia in response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Disney Channel also licenses its programming to air on certain other broadcast and cable channels outside the United States (formerly including Family Channel in Canada), regardless of whether or not a localized channel feed already exists in that country.

Criticism

Some critics disapprove of the Disney Channel marketing strategy led by Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney Channel from 1996 to 2014. Under Sweeney, the Disney Channel's programming was geared mainly towards preteen and teenage girls, with a decrease in animated programming. Criticism was also aimed at removing almost all Walt-era and pre-1990s material from the channel in 2002 with the removal of the late-night "Vault Disney" block devoted to this material, which used to make up the majority of the channel's programming since its inception in 1983. In 2008, Sweeney explained that Disney Channel, resulting from its multi-platform marketing strategy using television and music, would become "the major profit driver for the Company."

The channel has also pulled (and sometimes re-shot) episodes that have featured subject matter deemed inappropriate for its target audience, due either to humor or to timing of real-life events.

  • In November 2008, the episode "No Sugar, Sugar" (Hannah Montana), in which Mitchel Musso's character, Oliver Oken, is revealed to have Type 1 diabetes, was pulled before its broadcast, due to parent complaints about its portrayal of diabetics and sugar intake.
  • In December 2011, Disney Channel pulled episodes of two of its original series, due to complaints on Twitter from Demi Lovato about their portrayal of eating disorders. Pulled episodes included "Party It Up" (Shake It Up) and "Colbie Caillat" (So Random!).
  • In May 2013, Disney Channel pulled "Quitting Cold Koala" (Jessie) due to parental concerns over a scene in which a character's gluten-free diet leads to ridicule.
  • On June 13, 2023, the opening sequence of the series Primos, which premiered on the Disney Channel in July 2024, was released by Disney Branded Television, with a mixed reception to the sequence on social media, including from Latinos and Mexicans. Some viewers argued that the sequence had various negative stereotypes, complained about names of some characters, and claimed the Spanish pronunciation of some characters in the sequence was incorrect.

See also

Notes

  1. It was previously shown and spelt visually as Disney Junior between its launch in 2011 until 2024.

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Bibliography

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