Playhouse Disney

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**Playhouse Disney** is an American pay television network that is owned by the Walt Disney Company through Disney Channels Worldwide. Aimed mainly at children ages two to seven, its programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically-released and home media-exclusive movies and select other third-party programming.

Until January 2017, Playhouse Disney also lent its name to a morning and early afternoon program block seen on sister network Disney Channel, branded as "**Playhouse Disney on Disney Channel**", airing weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (6:00 to 10:00 a.m. during the summer months and designated school break periods) and weekends from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time.

As of January 2017, the channel is available to 74.0 million households in the U.S.

## History

Playhouse Disney launched on the Disney Channel on May 8, 1997 as the Disney Channel Preschool Block. The first original program created for the block was *Bear in the Big Blue House*. Other original programs created for this incarnation of the block are *PB&J Otter* and *Out of the Box*. By 1999, the block rebranded and introduced its official name. In spring 2001, it re-launched with new graphics. On October 7, 2002, the block used a new logo to fit into Disney Channel's current logo design, though it used the same graphics. This change saw the block's first mascot, who is a stop-motion animated talking yellow ball of clay named "Clay" (voiced by Debi Derryberry) whose catchphrases were "It's true!" and "Are you with me?" Clay would often shift himself into different things that show his thoughts or give clues into the next program in the block.

Around this time, there were plans to make a full 24-hour Playhouse Disney channel in the United States, but those plans were scrapped. However, international channels were created that carried the Playhouse Disney name.

The former programming announcer was actress Allyce Beasley (until March 30, 2007). The following day (March 31, 2007), Clay was replaced by two monkey hosts, Ooh and Aah. Every summer since 2007, usually starting sometime in June, Disney Channel began truncating the weekday block to four hours (from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time) in order to air episodes of Disney Channel's original series during the late morning and early afternoon hours; however, the weekend schedule continued to air as a six-hour block.

## Cable and Statelite Channel

A 24-hour basic cable and satellite channel for Playhouse Disney launched on March 23, 2012, replacing the soap opera channel, SOAPnet.

The brand new channel was originally set to debut in January 2012, but on July 28, 2011, soap opera-focused websites listed the launch date as moving from January to a more non-specific date in late-spring 2012, and later in 2011, to February 2012. Soapnet's definite closing date (March 23, 2012) was announced by Disney-ABC on January 9, 2012. However, like the transitions from Nick GAS to TeenNick and Fox Reality to Nat Geo Wild, an automated version of Soapnet's program schedule will continue on some cable and satellite services, as deals for Playhouse Disney are finalized.

The channel is expected its original TV Series (*Jake and the Never Land Pirates*, *3rd & Bird*, etc.), shows from the block version's library (that are currently airing on the block) (*Mickey Mouse Clubhouse*, *Handy Manny*, *Special Agent Oso*, etc.), a programming block titled **The Wonderful World of Playhouse Disney** (which broadcasts movies) and short-form series in its lineup. On June 17, 2011, it was confirmed that the Playhouse Disney channel would include previously discontinued Playhouse Disney series, in reruns, in its lineup when the channel launches. Five such Playhouse Disney series was confirmed on January 9, 2012: *Stanley*, *JoJo's Circus*, *Rolie Polie Olie*, *The Koala Brothers*, and *Higglytown Heroes*.

It also provides video on demand, a high-definition version (**Playhouse Disney HD**) and a Spanish language SAP audio track.

## Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Playhouse Disney