Disney Channel
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Missing image DC_logo2002.jpg The present Disney Channel logo, used in the United States, since 2002. |
Missing image Disney_channel_logo.gif |
Missing image Disneyident.jpg The Disney Channel Promo Logo September-October (1995) |
The Disney Channel is a cable TV network run by The Walt Disney Company. Disney Channel features family-oriented programming, much of it aimed at pre-teens and young adolescents.
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Overview
Launched on April 18, 1983 as a premium channel, Disney Channel began with basic family programming of shows and movies.
Most of Disney Channel's programming today, surprisingly, does not heavily feature the "classic" Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy. The characters appear on occasion, especially during the holidays on movies such as Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, and are also featured on the show House of Mouse, which airs each weekend on the channel.
In 1997, Disney Channel took on a revamped look, with splitting the network into three programming blocks -- Playhouse Disney, a block of shows aimed at preschoolers; Vault Disney, an overnight block that featured classic Disney shows and movies such as Zorro, Mickey Mouse Club, and The Love Bug; and the most distinct block, running from afternoon to late evening, called Zoog Disney, which was a programming block aimed at tweens (children approaching their teenage years) -- Smart Guy, Bug Juice, The Famous Jett Jackson, So Weird, etc. Zoog Disney also connected Disney Channel viewers and the computer, by allowing kids to interact with games and see their screen names on television. The programming block also featured anthropomorphic characters called Zoogs.
In January of 2000, Disney Channel moved from premium cable to basic cable, and some design elements also changed. The Zoogs got new redesigned looks, and the channel's logo (which featured a 1930s-era Mickey Mouse on a black Mickey ear-shaped TV), introduced in 1997, was changed the reflect the Zoog Disney image.
From 2001 through 2002, ratings grew higher with such shows as Even Stevens, Kim Possible, Lizzie McGuire and others. This led to the termination of Vault Disney and all other classic Disney programming in September 2002.
The only actual spin-off of Disney Channel is Toon Disney, which features (mostly) cartoons either created or distributed by Disney. The ABC Family Channel (originally CBN and later The Family Channel and later FOX Family, founded in 1976 by Pat Robertson), is now owned by Disney and also features some programming similar to the Disney Channel.
Today's Disney Channel runs mostly former ABC sitcoms such as Boy Meets World along with original programming such as That's So Raven and Phil of the Future, both of which have been shown on ABC after debuting on the Disney Channel. Other shows aired by Disney Channel include The Proud Family, Recess, and Lilo and Stitch: The Series. Additionally, a movie is broadcast almost every night, but not necessarily a theatrically released feature film. The Disney Channel airs new made-for-TV movies several times a year, and those are frequently broadcast during that timeslot. Occasionally, Disney will secure the rights to air a picture released by a non-Disney studio, such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Preschool programming is still a part of the Disney Channel's morning schedule and includes Rolie Polie Olie, PB&J Otter and The Book of Pooh.
The channel received a special citation from U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Disney Channel has received criticism from some viewers for reducing or eliminating the classic Disney programming on its schedule in favor of new shows. However, other viewers have criticized the network for limiting production of those new series to only 65 episodes. For example, The Famous Jett Jackson, So Weird, Even Stevens, Lizzie McGuire, and Kim Possible all ceased production after exactly 65 episodes (not counting TV-movies or theatrical movies). Among recent Disney Channel series, That's So Raven is the only one for which the network has announced plans to produce more than 65 episodes.
Disney Channel has announced on television that an all-new Disney Channel is coming in the summer. Rumors have been spread that an all-new logo, an all new interface, and a rumored "main show" will control the Disney Channel programming, much like in other countries like Mexico who has the show "Zapping Zone" that controls the whole channel programming. Other rumors have been heard that new shows will be shown. And to find a solution for the criticism, it is a major rumor that all night long or in a special hour, old Disney Channel originals will be shown. Stay updated as Disney confirms these rumors.
Disney Channel Original Movies
These movies originally premiered on the channel with the "Disney Channel Original Movie" (or DCOM for short) stamp. Incidentally, there have been several specials (such as multiple-part TV show episodes) that originally aired as TV movies on the Disney Channel, but are, strangely, not officially considered DCOMs (most likely as the term had not been invented when they originally aired), despite the fact that some of them run longer than most of the films listed here.
- Under Wraps (October 25, 1997)Missing image
Halloweentown2.jpgPromotional poster for "Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge" - You Lucky Dog (June 27, 1998)
- Brink (August 9, 1998)
- Halloweentown (October 17, 1998)
- Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (January 23, 1999)
- Can of Worms (April 10, 1999)
- The Thirteenth Year (May 15, 1999)
- Smart House (June 26, 1999)
- Johnny Tsunami (July 24, 1999)
- Genius (August 21, 1999)
- Don't Look Under the Bed (October 9, 1999)
- Horse Sense (November 20, 1999)
- Up, Up, and Away (January 22, 2000)Missing image
B0007US7C601.jpgDVD Cover for "Cadet Kelly" - The Color of Friendship (February 5, 2000)
- Alley Cats Strike! (March 18, 2000)
- Rip Girls (April 22, 2000)
- Miracle in Lane 2 (May 13, 2000)
- Stepsister from the Planet Weird (June 17, 2000)
- Ready to Run (July 14, 2000)
- Quints (August 18, 2000)
- The Other Me (September 8, 2000)
- Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire (October 13, 2000)
- Phantom of the Megaplex (November 10, 2000)
- The Ultimate Christmas Present (December 1, 2000)
- Zenon - The Zequel (January 12, 2001)Missing image
Zenonposter.jpgPromotional Poster for "Zenon: Z3" - Motocrossed (February 16, 2001)
- The Luck of the Irish (March 9, 2001)
- Hounded (April 13, 2001)
- Jett Jackson: The Movie (June 8, 2001)
- The Jennie Project (July 13, 2001)
- Jumping Ship (August 17, 2001)
- The Poof Point (September 14, 2001)
- Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge (October 12, 2001)
- 'Twas the Night (December 7, 2001)
- Double Teamed (January 18, 2002)
- Cadet Kelly (March 8, 2002)
- Tru Confessions (April 5, 2002)
- Get A Clue (June 28, 2002)Missing image
Sothedrama.jpgDVD Cover for "Kim Possible Movie: So The Drama" - Gotta Kick It Up! (July 26, 2002)
- A Ring Of Endless Light (August 23, 2002)
- The Scream Team (October 11, 2002)
- You Wish! (January 10, 2003)
- Right on Track (March 21, 2003)
- The Even Stevens Movie (June 13, 2003)
- Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off (July 18, 2003)
- The Cheetah Girls (August 15, 2003)
- Full-Court Miracle (November 21, 2003)
- Pixel Perfect (January 16, 2004)
- Going to the Mat (March 19, 2004)
- Zenon: Z3 (June 11, 2004)Missing image
Gkiuposter.jpgPromotional Poster for "Gotta Kick It Up" - Stuck in the Suburbs (July 16, 2004)
- Tiger Cruise (August 6, 2004)
- Halloweentown High (October 8, 2004)
- Now You See it... (January 14, 2005)
- Buffalo Dreams (March 11, 2005)
- Kim Possible: So the Drama (April 8, 2005)
- Go Figure! (June 10, 2005)
- Life is Ruff! (July 2005)
- The Proud Family Movie (August 2005)
Disney Channel in the world
United Kingdom
A British version of the Disney Channel was originally scheduled to launch in 1989 as part of the Sky Television package, but due to an apparent dispute the launch was cancelled, and it was not until 1995 that it finally went on air.
In the UK, Disney Channel runs a live program between shows, which viewers have the chance to call in, or play games. The programmer usually has guests, who are usually popular singers in the UK. It runs Monday through Friday, from 15:45 to 19:00 GMT.
The UK Disney Channel also has a +1 hour variant, a Toon Disney channel and a Playhouse Disney channel.
Africa and Asia
During the same decade the Disney Channel expanded its operations to Africa and by 2000 to much of Asia.
Australia
The Disney Channel has been broadcast in Australia by OptusVision, Foxtel and Austar since the late 1990s.
Scandinavia
In 2003 the Disney Channel started broadcasting in Scandinavia via Viasat. The Scandinavian edition broadcasts three different soundtracks with Swedish, Danish and Norwegian dubbing. At first the Disney Channel was exclusively provided by Viasat, but after some months other companies started distributing the channel. In Sweden, the Disney Channel can be watched through cable via com hem, through satellite via Viasat and in the terrestrial network via Boxer. Starting on 1 August, 2005 Disney Channel also will be aired by Canal Digital at the Thor Satellite.
Latin America
The Disney Channel was first broadcast in Latin America and Brazil in 1999 as a premium channel. It became a basic channel in 2004.
See also Walt Disney anthology series
External links
- Disney Channel official site (http://psc.disney.go.com/disneychannel/index_main.html)
- The Disneyland Report - Offers the latest news on the Disney Channel and other Disney news (http://www.disneylandreport.com/)
- The Biz: Disney Channels Summer (http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000929625)
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