Disney Junior was a British and Irish pay television kids' TV channel that was owned by Disney–ABC Television Group that focused on preschool programming. It was launched on 29 September 2000 as Playhouse Disney. The channel was rebranded as Disney Junior on 7 May 2011, it later ceased broadcasting on 30 September 2020.
Country | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Broadcast area | United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta[citation needed] |
Headquarters | 3 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9PE, United Kingdom |
Programming | |
Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed) |
Timeshift service | Disney Junior +1 |
Ownership | |
Owner | The Walt Disney Company Limited Disney Channels Worldwide (Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International) |
Sister channels |
|
History | |
Launched | 29 September 2000 7 May 2011 (as Disney Junior) | (as Playhouse Disney)
Closed | 30 September 2020 |
Replaced by | Disney+ (most of its content) |
Former names | Playhouse Disney (2000–2011) |
History
editEarly programming efforts
editWhen Disney Channel changed its programming focus in 1997, "Disney Channel Underfives" was launched to fill its morning schedule.
On 28 September 1999, the time slot was given its own distinct identity and live-action continuity. By 2000, it had become Playhouse Disney, introducing that branding for the first time outside of the United States. The two main presenters were Dave Benson Phillips and Alex Lovell (referred to as Big Dave and Little Alex), presenting programming from the appropriately titled Playhouse.
Launch as a dedicated channel
editOn 29 September 2000, Disney Television International launched Playhouse Disney as a standalone channel alongside Toon Disney and Disney Channel +1 on the Sky Digital platform.[1] Since the channel was exclusive to Sky Digital at this time, the Playhouse Disney block continued to broadcast on Disney Channel during school-term weekdays.
Playhouse Disney, alongside the other two networks, were added to NTL from November 2001.[2] and eventually launched on Telewest on 3 December 2003.[3] Following these launches, the Playhouse Disney block reduced its hours of programming featured and was eventually disposed of in July 2004.
The Playhouse presentation format hosted by Big Dave and Little Alex remained until late August 2006.[4]
Transition to standard network
editOn 28 February 2006, Disney Media Networks and BSkyB announced that Playhouse Disney, in addition to its sister channel Disney Channel would cease as premium add-ons and transition to basic TV packages such as Sky's "Kids Mix" beginning on March 16, and that a new sister channel - Disney Cinemagic would take over Disney's premium offerings, replacing Toon Disney.[5] The transition of Playhouse to a basic network led to a significant broadcast share increase of 83% by July.[6]
In June 2006, a Playhouse Disney block was added to the morning schedule of ABC1.[7] It was removed after Disney ceased transmission of ABC1 in September 2007. ABC1's slot itself on Sky would be used to launch a 25-minute timeshift of Playhouse Disney, which was added on 30 October, and launched on 3 November.[8]
Rebrand as Disney Junior
editOn 29 January 2011, it was announced that Playhouse Disney would rebrand as Disney Junior on 7 May, as part of a worldwide rebranding.[9] On the date of the rebrand, the channel transitioned to airing in a 16:9 widescreen ratio.
On 21 February 2013, Sky and Disney Channels Worldwide announced that a high-definition simulcast of Disney Junior would launch on Sky in May.[10]
In September 2017, Disney XD +1 was turned into a pop-up channel titled Mickey and Pals, which aired various programming from Disney Junior.
Closure
editDisney Junior, along with its sister channels Disney XD and Disney Channel, closed in the UK on 30 September 2020, after 20 years on-air. The closure was previously announced on 25 June that year; all of the channels' content were transferred to Disney's streaming service, Disney+.[11] Virgin Media removed the channels a day before their closure on 29 September, with CBBC and CBeebies taking over the network's former Sky EPG slots on 1 October.
Current Programming
edit- Alice's Wonderland Bakery
- Bluey
- Calling all T.O.T.S.
- Dance with Mira
- Disney Junior's Ariel
- Doc McStuffins
- Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital
- Doc Toy Hospital
- Doc Mcstuffins: Pet Rescue
- Doc Mcstuffins: Baby
- Doc Mcstuffins: Arctic Rescue
- Doc Mcstuffins: Ultimate Safari
- Elena of Avalor (Originally also on Disney Channel)
- Elena of Avalor: Adventures in Vallestrella
- Elena of Avalor: Scepter Training with Zuzo
- Elena of Avalor: The Secret Life of Sirenas
- Elena of Avalor: Discovering the Magic Within
- Eureka!
- Fancy Nancy
- Fancy It Yourself
- Firebuds
- Gigantosaurus (Originally also on Disney Channel)
- Henry Hugglemonster
- Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes
- Meet Spidey and His Amazing Friends
- Me & Winnie the Pooh
- Me & Ariel
- Mickey Mouse Funhouse
- Mira, Royal Detective
- Muppet Babies
- Muppet Babies Play Date
- Muppet Babies: Show and Tell
- Paprika
- PJ Masks
- PJ Masks: Power Heroes
- PJ Masks Music Video
- PJ Masks Shorts
- Play Break with Spidey and his Amazing Friends
- Playdate with Winnie the Pooh
- Puppy Dog Pals
- Pupstruction
- Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure
- Sofia the First (Originally also on Disney Channel)
- Spidey and His Amazing Friends
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
- SuperKitties
- Tangled: The Series (Originally also on Disney Channel)
- T.O.T.S.
- The Chicken Squad
- The Doc Files
- The Doc Is In
- The Doc Is 10
- The Lion Guard
- The Rocketeer (Now on Disney Channel)
- Vampirina
- Vampirina Bat Chat
- Vampirina Ghoul Girls Rock!
- Young Jedi Adventures
- Zoe Kezako
- Zou
Former Programming
edit- 101 Dalmatian Street
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series (English language only)
- 3-2-1 Penguins!
- Adventures in Wonderland
- Aladdin
- Allegra's Window
- Art Attack
- Arthur
- Austin & Ally
- Back at the Barnyard
- Bananas in Pyjamas
- Barbie Dreamtopia
- Bear in the Big Blue House (English language only)
- Beauty and the Beast
- Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom
- Big Hero 6: The Series
- Bizou
- Bob the Builder
- Boo!
- Bubble Guppies
- Butterbean's Café
- Caillou
- Calimero
- Captain Jake and the Never Land Pirates
- Care Bears: Unlock the Magic
- Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (English language only)
- Chip 'N Dale's Nutty Tales
- Cinderella
- Claude
- Coconut the Little Dragon
- Come And Get It!
- Curious George
- Dance with Mira
- Dinopaws
- Dinosaur Train
- Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (English language only)
- Disney Fairies Shorts
- Disney Poetry Shorts
- Disney Junior Lullabies
- Disney Junior Music Nursery Rhymes
- Disney Tsum Tsum
- DJ Melodies
- DJ Tales
- Dora the Explorer
- Dorothy the Dinosaur
- Dream Big, Princess
- Donald Duck Presents
- Donald's Quack Attack
- DuckTales
- Esme and Roy
- Fifi and the Flowertots
- Frozen - Olaf A Lots
- Gaspard and Lisa
- Goldie & Bear
- Goof Troop
- Go, Diego, Go!
- Green Eggs and Ham (Airs On Both Disney Junior and Txillo)
- Guess with Jess
- Gullah Gullah Island
- Handy Manny
- Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs
- Have a Laugh!
- Here in Higglytown
- Hi-5 House (Series-1-3)
- Higglytown Heroes
- Hotel Transylvania: The Series
- Imagination Movers
- In the Night Garden...
- It's UnBungalievable
- Jake and the Never Land Pirates
- JoJo's Circus
- Julius Jr.
- Jungle Cubs
- Jungle Junction
- Justin Time
- Let's Go Pocoyo
- Lights , Camera, Lexi!
- Lilo & Stitch: The Series
- Limon and Oli
- Little Bear
- Little Charley Bear
- Little Charmers
- Little Einsteins
- Little Red Tractor
- Loopdidoo
- Messages From Miles
- Messy Goes to Okido
- Mickey and the Roadster Racers
- Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Mickey's Mousekersize
- Mickey Mouse
- Mickey Mouse: Hot Diggity-Dog Tales
- Minnie's Bow-Toons
- Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mike the Knight
- Miles from Tomorrowland
- Mission Force One
- Mission Force One: Connect and Protect
- Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir
- Mouk
- My Big Big Friend
- My Friend Rabbit
- My Friends Tigger and Pooh
- My Little Pony Tales
- Nature Cat
- Nina Needs to Go!
- Noddy, Toyland Detective
- Oddbods (shorts)
- Pajanimals
- Paw Patrol
- Rubble & Crew
- PB&J Otter
- Peg + Cat
- Pic Me
- Pingu
- Pixie Hollow Games
- Pixie Hollow Bake Off
- P. King Duckling
- Pocoyo
- Postman Pat
- Quack Pack
- Raa Raa the Noisy Lion
- Rainbow Ruby
- Ready, Steady, Wiggle!
- Rev & Roll
- Ricky Zoom
- Roary the Racing Car
- Robocar Poli
- Rolie Polie Olie
- Rusty Rivets
- Ryan's Mystery Playdate
- Sesame Street (Season 46)
- Shake your tail with Chip 'N' Dale
- Shaun the Sheep
- Sheriff Callie's Wild West
- Shimmer and Shine
- Sid the Science Kid
- Special Agent Oso
- Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps
- Star vs. the Forces of Evil
- Star Wars Rebels
- Super Boomi
- Super Why!
- Super Wings
- Tales of Friendship with Winnie the Pooh
- Teletubbies
- Teletubbies Everywhere
- That's Fresh
- The 7D
- The Adventures of Disney Fairies
- The Berenstain Bears
- The Big Comfy Couch
- The Book of Pooh
- The Care Bears
- The Hive
- The Koala Brothers
- The Legend of Tarzan
- The Little Mermaid
- The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (English language only)
- The Oddbods Show
- The Remarkable Mr. King
- The Save-Ums!
- The Wiggles
- The ZhuZhus
- Tickety Toc
- Timmy Time
- Timon and Pumbaa
- Timothy Goes to School
- Titi Pangpang
- Titi Pangpang Rescue
- Top Wing
- Tractor Tom
- Treetown
- Trucktown
- Trulli Tales
- VeggieTales
- Welcome to Pooh Corner
- Whisker Haven Tales With the Palace Pets
- Willa's Wild Life
- Wimzie's House
- Yo Gabba Gabba!
- Zigby
Upcoming Programming
editProgramming Blocks
edit- Bad Dog
- Bobby's World
- Bunnytown
- Bunnytown Shorts
- Camp Candy
- Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?
- Captain Flamingo
- Dennis the Menace
- Diplodos
- Disney Junior Ready for Preschool
- Disney Junior's The Wonderful World of Songs
- Eek! The Cat
- Fox's Peter Pan & the Pirates
- Gadget & the Gadgetinis
- Guziczek
- Heathcliff
- Honk, Toot and Swo-Swoosh
- Inspector Gadget
- Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol
- Johnny and the Sprites
- Lady Lovelylocks and the Pixietails
- Lalaloopsy
- LazyTown
- Life with Louie
- Little Mouse on the Prairie
- Little Wizards
- Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol
- Mad Jack the Pirate
- Madeline
- Me & Mickey
- Mickey's World Record Animals
- Once Upon a Studio
- Out of the Box
- Playtime with Puppy Dog Pals
- Princess Sissi
- Puppy Dog Pals Playcare
- Rainbow Brite
- Ruff-Ruff, Tweet and Dave
- Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist
- Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid
- Saban's Around the World in Eighty Dreams
- Stanley
- Sylvanian Families
- The Bite-Sized Adventures of Sam Sandwich
- The Care Bears Family
- The Get Along Gang
- The Kids from Room 402
- The Littles
- The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs
- The Tofus
- Tom and Jerry Tales
- Untitled Doc Mcstuffins Stop Motion Shorts
- Vampirina Bat-chats: Ghoul Girls on Tour
- Walter Melon
- Wunschpunsch
References
edit- ^ "Disney launches new channels". Brand Republic. Haymarket Media Group Ltd. MediaWeek. 13 September 2000. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 21 July 2014. Alt URL Archived 11 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: New channels on NTL next week". Digital Spy. 2 December 2001. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "More Disney channels launch on Telewest". Digital Spy. 3 December 2003. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Guardian Unlimited: TV Listings". 22 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Sky, Disney Media Networks and the Walt Disney Studios Team up for More Family Entertainment, HDTV and Legal Broadband Movie Downloads". 28 February 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ ""Record ratings" for Disney Channel". Digital Spy. 9 July 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Stewart, Lianne (1 April 2006). "New kid on the U.K. Freeview block". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ "Playhouse Disney timeshift joins Sky EPG". Digital Spy. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Disney preps Playhouse UK rebrand". Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Disney, Sky bow co-branded movie net". C21Media. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (25 June 2020). "Disney To Close Kids Channels In The UK Following Launch Of Disney+". Deadline. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2020.