Disney XD

Disney XD is a US digital cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney–ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is also the sister channel division of the Disney Channel, Disney XD mostly airs action-oriented children's animated television series, with some live-action programming and movies aimed at viewers aged 6 to 14.
Disney XD airs original content, such as Zeke and Luther, Kickin' It, I'm in the Band, and Pair of Kings and some of Disney Channel's most popular programming, including recent and archived original series, such as The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Phineas and Ferb, as well as some made-for-TV movies.
It is offered with the Spanish language audio, either via a separate channel as part of a Spanish language network package sold by cable and satellite providers or a separate audio track with the SAP option, depending on the system. The channel also offers a video-on-demand service to digital cable and IPTV subscribers, offering free programming.
== Contents ==
* 1Overview
* 2Programming
* 3Programming blocks
** 3.1Anime Block
** 3.2Marvel Universe
*** 3.2.1Shows
*** 3.2.2Animated Shows
*** 3.2.3Sitcoms
** 3.3D|XP
* 4XD in HD
* 5International
* 6Trivia
* 7Logos
** 7.12009-2015
** 7.22015-2016
** 7.32017-present
** 7.4Halloween
*** 7.4.12010-2013
*** 7.4.22017
** 7.5Christmas
*** 7.5.12010-2013
*** 7.5.22014
* 8External links
== Overview ==
The network launched on February 13, 2009 at 24:00 (EST) on (technically, it started replacing Toon Disney on February 12, 2009 it premiered at Midnight on EST), replacing Toon Disney and its evening programming block Jetix, the latter of which targeted a similar audience as Disney XD. Its target market is from 2 to 15, though it also airs programming aimed at older audiences.
Like its predecessor Toon Disney, yet unlike its sister network Disney Channel, Disney XD is advertiser-supported and sometimes runs commercials for mostly non-Disney branded products during the ad breaks, as well as some network promos. Despite Disney XD's relationship to Disney Channel and airing some Disney Channel series, there is little cross-promotion of Disney Channel shows on the channel, though Disney Channel cross-promotes Disney XD programming within their promo breaks and has aired some of Disney XD's original programming. However, cross-promotion is more common for networks, such as ABC or ESPN.
According to Gary Marsh, President of Entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide, "XD" does not even "stand for anything" and was chosen simply because it looked "cool." Marsh notes that "the letter X has many cool associations" and that "the beauty of it is the audience can imbue it with all sorts of positive attributes." Coincidentally though, the name "Disney XD" was previously used as the name for an online media player and interactive web portal on the Disney.com website, which in that case stood for Disney Xtreme Digital. "XD" is also an emoticon for laughter.
Since Disney XD's launch in the U.S., localized versions have launched in other countries, typically replacing international versions of Toon Disney or Jetix, depending on which network was available in the particular market.
Begining in 2019, with the build up towards the launch of Disney+ and especially during its international expansion during 2020, several Disney XD channels worldwide have began to shut down, mostly in regions where Disney+ is already available.
After March 31, 2022, only 4 Disney XD channels will remain active, with these being present in the following countries: United States, Canada, Netherlands, and Poland.
== Programming ==
: Main article: List of programs broadcast by Disney XD
Disney XD broadcasts original series, such as Aaron Stone and Zeke and Luther, as well as some reruns of older Disney Channel and Jetix shows, such as American Dragon: Jake Long and Recess, as well as some from other channels. A large amount of the channel's schedule consists of action-oriented animated series, like The Spectacular Spider-Man, and several others. The channel airs a limited amount of Disney Channel series, particularly Phineas and Ferb (for which Disney XD had aired premieres of first-run episodes before Disney Channel, though Disney Channel Original Productions still produces the series, however, as of the episode "Wizard of Odd", first-run episodes went back to Disney Channel, and later became on XD in 2014 for most of the eps), Cory in the House, and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spinoff The Suite Life on Deck had also been run. Original series include the Marvel Comics-produced animated series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes or Crash & Bernstein, and later Season 2 eps of Gravity Falls and episodes of Wander Over Yonder (despite them starting as a DCOS).
A notable aspect of Disney XD's original series is that they tend to feature predominately male casts, and as such, its original programs feature very few females as main characters (with most live-action originals typically featuring only one female in its main cast) in comparison to Disney Channel's original programs, which tend to feature an equal or nearly equal amount of main characters of either gender. New episodes of live-action original series are usually aired on Monday nights, while new episodes of animated original series air on Saturday mornings. Also, Disney XD sometimes airs movies, but unlike Disney Channel, movies are typically not aired in primetime; instead, films generally air at 5 pm ET with double features airing a few times a week. The channel's first made-for-TV movie, Skyrunners, premiered on November 27, 2009. The second wasn't made until November 9, 2014 with Pants on Fire - nearly five years later.
In addition to the full-length live-action and animated original series, the channel also debuts short-series similar to those seen on Disney Channel during the commercial breaks, such as Moises Rules, The Next X, and its spinoff The Next Winter X. These shows often follow other network shows and last about two to three minutes or sometimes fifteen minutes, except for a few short-form series. Often, these shows are televised in the last two minutes of the program, except for the Disney XD Shortstop, or following the ending of a movie. ESPN's SportsCenter provides youth-oriented sports updates periodically between shows. Edited segments of ABC's Wipeout are also broadcast.
Allegedly multiple shows have been pulled from this network and will air on the Disney Channel. Examples: Star vs. the Forces of Evil, DuckTales (even though the latter it was was pulled back to Disney XD after the end of its second season.)
When Disney XD was originally launched, re-runs of archival content that were shown on predecessor Toon Disney (such as Gargoyles, Kim Possible, and Recess) were carried over and continued to air in the network's graveyard timeslots until 2011, with some shows continuing to air until 2013. This was even more apparent in Europe, as even older shows (such as Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, and Quack Pack) were still rerunning on the channel.
== Programming blocks ==
=== Anime Block ===
On February 18, 2017, Disney XD launched the Anime Block which showcased the various anime programs that were featured on the channel. Series include Pokémon, Beyblade Burst, and Yo-kai Watch. Anime Block airs on Saturdays.
=== Marvel Universe ===
On April 1, 2012, Disney XD launched a block called the Marvel Universe, with the premiere of Ultimate Spider-Man, followed by the returning The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The block is a result of Disney's 2009 acquisition of Marvel. The block also includes new short-form animation series and live-action interstitials.
Marvel Animation announced in May 2013, that its new shows: Avengers Assemble and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., would be shown on Disney XD as part of the Marvel Universe block and would be a part of the same fictional universe.
==== Shows ====
Season(s)	Show 	First-Run 	Note
2 	The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes	April 1, 2012 - November 11, 2012 	Ended in 2012 (replaced by Avengers Assemble)
4 	Ultimate Spider-Man 	April 1, 2012 - January 7, 2017 	Ended in 2017 (replaced by Marvel's Spider-Man)
3 	Avengers Assemble 	July 7, 2013 - February 24, 2019 	
1 	Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. 	August 11, 2013 - June 28, 2015 	
3 	Guardians of the Galaxy 	September 26, 2015 - June 9, 2019 	
2 	Marvel's Spider-Man 	August 19, 2017 - October 25, 2020	
==== Animated Shows ====
1 Indicates program moved from Jetix.
2 Indicates program moved to the Disney Channel cable channel.
Title 	First-Run
Yin Yang Yo!1 	February 13, 2009 - April 18, 2009
Motorcity 	April 30, 2012 - January 7, 2013
Tron: Uprising 	May 21, 2012 - January 28, 2013
Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 	August 13, 2012 - July 27, 2015
The 7D 	July 7, 2014 - November 5, 2016
Star Wars Rebels 	October 3, 2014 - March 5, 2018
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero 	December 5, 2014 - July 28, 2017
Pickle and Peanut 	September 7, 2015 - January 20, 2018
Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures 	June 20, 2016 - August 16, 2017
Future-Worm! 	August 1, 2016 - May 19, 2018
Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer	June 3, 2017 - June 15, 2017
Star Wars Resistance2 	October 7, 2018 - January 26, 2020
==== Sitcoms ====
Season(s)	Show 	First-Run
2 	Aaron Stone 	February 13, 2009 - July 30, 2010
3 	Zeke and Luther 	June 15, 2009 - April 2, 2012
2 	I'm in the Band 	November 27, 2009 - December 9, 2011
3 	Pair of Kings 	September 10, 2010 - February 18, 2013
4 	Kickin' It 	June 13, 2011 - March 25, 2015
4 	Lab Rats 	February 27, 2012 - February 3, 2016
2 	Crash & Bernstein 	October 8, 2012 - August 11, 2014
2 	Mighty Med 	October 7, 2013 - September 9, 2015
3 	Kirby Buckets 	October 20, 2014 - February 2, 2017
2 	Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything	July 22, 2015 - January 2, 2017
1 	Lab Rats: Elite Force 	March 2 - October 22, 2016
=== D|XP ===
Launched on July 15, 2017, D|XP is a programming block dedicated to video game-related shows aimed at teenagers. Running in the late prime-time and into the late-night hours, D|XP showcases content from Disney's sister properties, such as Maker Studios, ESPN, and Vice Media as well as content from outside producers and companies, such as IGN. Programs on the channel include the weekly Polaris Primetime, Waypoint, and e-sports coverage. On July 16, D|XP covered the finals of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Street Fighter V tournaments from Evo 2017.
Season(s)	Show 	First-Run
1 	ESL Brawlers 	July 20, 2017 - present
1 	Nintendo Summer Showdown: Splatoon 2	July 30, 2017 - present
1 	Parker Plays 	July 15, 2017 - present
1 	Play With Caution 	July 17, 2017 - present
1 	Polaris: Player Select 	July 15, 2017 - present
1 	Polaris Primetime 	July 15, 2017 - present
1 	The Attack 	July 15, 2017 - present
1 	The IGN Show 	July 15, 2017 - present
1 	Waypoint Presents 	July 15, 2017 - present
== XD in HD ==
Disney XD HD is the branding used for the high-definition feed of the network. It is offered on some cable providers, as well as both satellite providers and telco IPTV providers in the Disney/ABC television networks preferred HD picture format of 720p. The high-definition feed airs a limited amount of programming in High Definition, mainly Disney XD's original programming as well as certain films and some episodes of Disney Channel series made after 2009. A high-definition simulcast of an international version of Disney XD HD in The Netherlands launched on April 15, 2010. Disney XD UK released Disney XD HD on October 18, 2010. Dish Network currently does not carry the HD version of Disney XD due to a dispute with Disney/ABC.
== International ==
: Main article: Disney Channels Worldwide Disney XD, similarly born of a merger between Jetix and Toon Disney, is also available on cable systems in France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Spain, and United Kingdom. A Canadian channel has launched on June 1, 2011~September 2013, and returned in December 2015.
== Trivia ==
* According to Gary Marsh, President of Entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide, "XD" does not "stand for anything" and was chosen simply because it looked "cool".