Disney Channel (Asia)

16:9 (2001 (originally used in Singala to divide widescreen broadcasts)/2011-2022)

## Ownership

### Sister channels

Star Chinese Channel
Star Chinese Movies
National Geographic
National Geographic Wild
Fox
Fox Life
Fox Crime
FX
Fox Sports
Fox Sports 2
Fox Sports 3
Channel V
Disney Junior
Star Chinese Movies Legend
Fox Movies
Fox Family Movies
Fox Action Movies

## History

### Launched

March 29, 1995; 28 years ago (1995-03-29) (Taiwan)
June 1, 1995; 28 years ago (1995-06-01) (Singala)
June 8, 1996; 27 years ago (1996-06-08) (Australia and New Zealand)
January 15, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-01-15) (Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines)
June 1, 2002; 21 years ago (2002-06-01) (South Korea)
April 2, 2004; 19 years ago (2004-04-02) (Hong Kong)
June 2, 2005; 18 years ago (2005-06-02) (pan-Asia)

### Closed

June 1, 2020; 3 years ago (2020-06-01) (Singapore)
January 1, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-01-01) (Malaysia)
October 1, 2021; 2 years ago (2021-10-01) (Asia, excluding India, Japan, Singala and Taiwan)
January 1, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-01-01) (Taiwan)

### Replaced by

Boomerang (Malaysia)
DreamWorks Channel (Philippines and Thailand)

## Links

### Website

Example

**Disney Channel** was an Asian kids television channel owned by Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific. Among the main feed, the channel has three remaining feeds, India, Japan, and Singala.

## History

The first Disney Channel in Asia was the Taiwanese feed, launched on 29th March 1995, then on 1st June of the same year, the Singaliese version launched.

The Australian version launched on June 8th 1996 as the third version of Disney Channel Asia. This version is also available in New Zealand.

In the Middle East, The localized version of the Disney Channel was launched on April 2nd 1997, originally their headquarters was in Singapore, until being moved to the United Kingdom in December 2004.

On January 15th 2000, the pan-Asian feed launched, as the fourth main version of Disney Channel Asia. This version was available in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. Among the channels' most popular series was The Wonderful World of Disney which had Disney classic movies and beyond. Within the first three months of the main version, WWOD premiered The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, the 1987 version of Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, the 1997 version of Hercules, George of the Jungle, the 1998 version of Parent Trap and the live action version of 101 Dalmatians. WWOD was an nightly experience for the families watching the channel.

The TV series aired was Hercules the Series, Timon and Pumbaa, Bear in the Big Blue House and The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Disney Channel Asia also had a property to acquire famous dramatic kid's hits from Australia and America such as Crash Zone and Flash Forward from the Seven Network and the original USA version of Disney Channel. In addition to movies and series, Disney Channel Asia also featured music specials targeted to kids such as 'N Sync in Concert and Britney Spears & Joey McIntyre in Concert. This version adapted the Circles look from the international version. The channel also aired Disney Buzz, a 2-hour block which featured Doug, Crash Zone and Timon and Pumbaa. The block airs Saturdays at 4pm and repeats on Sundays at 8:30pm  The channel broadcasts from 4am-9am to 12am or when WWOD After Dark movie ends late.

On 1st June 2002, the main version launched in South Korea with Korean subtitles.  Meanwhile in July of the same year, the main channel will enter the Indonesian market by launching on 2 famous TV providers; cable version via Kabelvision and satellite version via Indovision. During the launch in Indonesia, the channel stuck with English audio, it might launch Indonesian audio version sooner.

On the December of the same year, Disney Channel Asia announced to acquire the rights for animated and live-action series, including an CGI animated series by Nelvana titled The Santa Claus Brothers was aired on the Christmas 2002 lineup. In addition to the Christmas specials, the channel also added Mr. Bean: The Animated Series to the lineup in January 2003, along with Jackie Chan Adventures in February and Totally Spies! in June.

On 2nd April 2004, a variation of the first version was launched in Hong Kong along with a Playhouse Disney channel. The said channel also launched in Indonesia.

By 2005, the channel (along with Playhouse Disney) was launched in Vietnam, Palau and Thailand, all via cable and satellite. The channel also launched in Cambodia. circa 2004, Playhouse Disney launched in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, South Korea and the Philippines where Disney Channel is also available.

In 2011, the main version closed down in Korea, replaced by it's own feed. On July 11st of the same year, Playhouse Disney rebranded to Disney Junior.

On 15th September 2012, Disney XD launched in Malaysia, being the second Disney XD in APAC to launch, with Singala being launched first in 2000 (as Fox Kids). The channel later expanded to Singapore on 16th March 2013, then Indonesia and Thailand on 19th October 2013, and finally the Philippines on 31st May 2014. The channel never made it to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam but selected programmes are available on the localized Disney Channel.

On 1st June 2013, all Disney channels was launched on mio TV (now Singtel TV in Singapore and SingalaTelecom TV in Singala) on both Singapore and Singala.

In 2016, due to the ban of Disney Channel India and Disney XD India in Bangladesh due to Hindi-language invasion, the Asian feeds were launched on Bengal Digital. After the channels closure, it was replaced by Disney International HD.

On 25th March 2018, DisneyLife was launched in the Philippines, serving as a alternative of Disney Now from the USA. It was downgraded the streaming service on 1st April 2020, due to the launch of Disney+ in the region in 2022.

After almost 24 years on-air, Disney Channel and Disney Junior stated to cease broadcasts in Australia and New Zealand due to the launch of Disney+ in both countries on 30th April 2020. Sky in New Zealand ceased early on 30th November 2019 and Foxtel on February 2020. Before the shutdown, an promo stated that the channel will "thank viewers for believing in the magic".

On 1st June 2020, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD ceased broadcasting in Singapore due to the company failing to renew contracts with StarHub TV and Singtel TV.

On 1st September 2020, the Indonesian feed was separated from the main feed. The feed stopped airing movies and had a live-stream on it's website.

On 1st January 2021, Disney Channel and Disney Junior ceased broadcast in Malaysia due to Astro's Refreshed Kids Pack and the launch of Disney+ Hotstar in the region. The channel ceased broadcast with Bolt at midnight. The closedown screen shows Tom and Jerry and Dora in a grey background with a message in the center saying "This channel is no longer available. Enjoy the Refreshed Kids Pack with new channels Boomerang (ch 619) and Nick Jr. (ch 617) on TV and 10,000 episodes on demand. We also have FAMtv (ch 100), a brand new pop-up channel.", on the same day, Disney XD ceased broadcast across Asia with Counterfeit Cat as it's final programme, Astro ceased the channel early.

After 21 years on-air, Disney Channel and Disney Junior, along with 18 Fox/Star channels across Asia ceased broadcast on October 1st 2021. Before the closure, on 4th September 2021, Red Dot Moving Pictures in Singapore made the image spot that viewers grown up watching Disney Channel in the future days, the image spot ends with family gathering together to watch the ending of Toy Story 3, and then the Disney Channel logo forming the same way from the 2014 branding package. The channel ceased broadcast with Star vs. the Forces of Evil (Asia) and Bao (Hong Kong) as it's final programmes, all programmes ended with a note that "This channel was no longer available, Thank you for watching.", the Indonesian and Vietnamese feeds ceased earlier. Meanwhile, the Indian, Japanese, Singaliese and Taiwanese feeds remained.

On January 1st 2022, the Taiwanese feed ceased broadcasting with an movie Dens' Brother and a Big Hero 6 short as it's final programmes. All programmes were moved to Disney+.

## Programming

***Main article:** List of programmes broadcast by Disney Channel Asia*

### Programming blocks

* Studio Disney - Formerly Disney Buzz, the block was an 2-hour block.
* Aftertoons - Airs from July 9th 2007 to 2008.
* Woo-Hoo Rules - Airs during the summer during the late 2000s.
* Monstober - It was an halloween block aired every October.
* Disney Junior - Like the USA, it was an junior block based of the channel of the same name, the block was removed in 2018.

## Branding and presentation

During their original launch in Taiwan and Singala in 1995, respectively, and in Australia during June 1996, the channel firstly adapted the look made by Lambie-Nairn, which was originally aired on the British version.

In 1997, during the launch of Disney Channel France, the Disney Channel service in pan-Asia rebranded to match the new service.

And in 1999, the Disney Channel Asia service was rebranded again to the same International package made by GÉDÉON, as the Circles look, as the rest of the few (including the United Kingdom, France and more) adapted it. However, the idents can be seen here.

During April to July 2003, almost all the Disney Channel Asia channels was rebranded along with Toon Disney in Singala.

On 1st January 2004, Disney Channel Singala was rebranded to match the remaining Asian looks, albeit with a different screen-bug.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Disney Channel Comes to Manila", Manila Standard, p. 24
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Disney Channel Goes Home", Manila Standard, p. 47
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Go get the buzz!", New Straits Times
4. ↑ "Disney Channel Asia Launches In Korea", Animation World Network
5. ↑ "Disney launches into Indonesia", C21media
6. ↑ [https://www.c21media.net/news/disney-asia-buys-in-some-xmas-spirit/ "Disney Asia buys in some Xmas spirit", C21media
7. ↑ "Disney beams into Indonesia, HK", C21media
8. ↑ "Disney Channels to launch on mio TV", Rapid TV News (singapore ver.)