Jetix

**Jetix** is a defunct international children's television network owned by Jetix Europe, Jetix Latin America and ABC Cable Networks Group (all owned by The Walt Disney Company). The Jetix brand was for children's blocks and channels featuring action and adventure-related programming, most of which had previously aired on Fox Kids and some original programming.

In the United States, the block aired on Toon Disney (from 2004–2009) and ABC Family (from 2004–2006). The Jetix brand, alongside Toon Disney, were eventually retired and both rebranded as Disney XD in 2009, or Disney Channel in certain European countries, by The Walt Disney Company's focus on its Disney, ABC, and ESPN brands.

## History

In January 2004, Fox Kids Europe, Fox Kids Latin America and ABC Cable Networks Group renamed their operations under **Jetix**. It strengthened its operations into a single force. The Jetix name was applied to its programming blocks on ABC Family and Toon Disney, its European and Latin American channels, along with its programme library and merchandising.

The Jetix name was chosen after the company conducted international research specifically with several children focus groups. Many of the children picked the name as it implied action and adventure. The company was able to use the name internationally due to its ambiguity. Bruce Steinberg, chairman and CEO of Fox Kids Europe, explained that Jetix strengthens Fox Kids Europe's partnership with Disney. All while building new alliances to leverage its programming library and distribution.

On 14 February 2004, Toon Disney and ABC Family launched their Jetix blocks with Jetix Cards Live, the world's first online and telecast trading card game. Toon Disney had 12 hours of weekly prime time programming to start, and ABC Family had two hours on weekdays and four hours on weekends, all in the morning. In fall 2004, with three new shows, Toon Disney's U.S. block was expanded to 16 hours.

After Jetix Europe was purchased by Disney in December 2008, they announced that all Jetix operations would be replaced with a Disney branded channel. In the United States, Toon Disney and Jetix were merged to form Disney XD on 13 February 2009.

The rest of the Jetix channels were either merged with Toon Disney to create Disney XD or were replaced with Disney XD or Disney Channel, depending on the region.

The Latin American channel was also rebranded as Disney XD on 3 July 2009. On 1 August 2009, Jetix block alongside Toon Disney replaced by Disney XD in Japan, the Jetix block in Canada went off the air. The Jetix channel replaced by Disney XD was the Indian one on 14 November 2009.

## History

### Launched

January 2001 (CEE)
November 2001 (MENA)
November 2003 (Poland)

### Closed

31 July 2010 (Poland)
1 September 2010 (Turkey)
12 March 2011 (MENA)
Mid 2011 (CEE)

### Former names

Fox Kids Play

**Jetix Play** (Formerly **Fox Kids Play**) was a brand used by Jetix Europe N.V. across the world, mostly used as a sister channel to Jetix.

#### As a Channel

In most European regions, Jetix Play functioned as a sister channel to Jetix shown in various European countries. It launched in January 2001 in CEE regions and was later found in MENA regions, Turkey and Poland.

Jetix Play was aimed at a younger audience than the main Jetix channel. It showed mainly classic animated cartoons and animated television series from the Saban Entertainment catalogue and other programs owned by ABC Family Worldwide and Fox Kids Europe/Jetix Europe, as well as some DIC Entertainment shows.

After Jetix Europe's purchase from The Walt Disney Company, they planned to rebrand the service after Jetix's rebranding into Disney XD or Disney Channel. The CEE and Polish feeds were closed down on 1 August 2010. The channel closed in Turkey on 1 September 2010 and was closed in Romania and the remaining MENA Regions in 2011. It was replaced with Playhouse Disney/Disney Junior in all regions apart from Russia, as Playhouse Disney wasn't licensed to air in the country since it aired as a block on Disney Channel (Russia).

#### As an Interactive Service

In the United Kingdom, Fox Kids Europe launched an interactive VOD channel on Telewest under the Fox Kids Play brand in July 2003. The service extended to Sky Digital in March 2004.

#### As a Programming Block

Jetix Play in The Netherlands functioned as a pre-school focused morning block on Jetix, airing shows aimed towards younger children.

## Programming

Further information: List of programs broadcast by Jetix
Jetix owned the Saban Entertainment library, which included shows from Marvel Productions.

**Jetix Animation Concepts**, also **Jetix Concepts Animation**, was a brand used for animation co-produced by and for the Jetix global group by the American partner, ABC Cable Networks Group.

## Magazine

In the U.K., Future plc published the official *Jetix Magazine*. Published every four weeks, it featured puzzles and features based on the channel's shows. The magazine also came with a free DVD featuring performances from it.

In other countries, including Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Romania, similar Jetix magazines were also produced.

*Jetix Magazine* was launched in early September 2004 by Jetix Consumer Products and Future Publishing. Cavan Scott was the magazine's initial editor.

After Disney bought the remaining Jetix Europe shares and put them under Disney, Future renamed Nitro's magazine to become an independent magazine with the same general focus.

## Kids Cup

The Jetix Kids Cup was an association football tournament in which children from 16 countries competed to "promote fair play, sportsmanship and cultural exchange."

## See also

* List of Disney TV programming blocks
* List of programmes broadcast by Disney XD (British and Irish TV channel)
* List of programs broadcast by Fox Kids
* List of programs broadcast by Jetix