Jump to content

Disney Channel (United Kingdom and Ireland): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 122: Line 122:
Image:Disney.PNG|The original Disney Channel logo from its launch in 1995, used until 1997.
Image:Disney.PNG|The original Disney Channel logo from its launch in 1995, used until 1997.
Image:Disney_logo.gif|Disney Channels logo from 1997 to 2003.
Image:Disney_logo.gif|Disney Channels logo from 1997 to 2003.
Image:Disney_logo..png|The fifth and current Disney Channel logo from 2003.
Image:Disney_logo..png|The third and current Disney Channel logo from 2003.
</gallery>
</gallery>


Revision as of 15:45, 16 December 2006

For Disney Channel in United States, see Disney Channel.

Disney Channel (UK)
Ownership
OwnerDisney

Disney Channel is a British television channel. It was originally planned to launch in 1989 on the newly launched Sky satellite service, but due to an apparent dispute the launch was cancelled, and did not air until 1 October 1995. Disney Channel is also available in the Republic of Ireland. Like its American counterpart, it airs without adverts and commercials between shows, but does however have breaks in the programmes to air promos.

The UK Disney Channel also has a +1 hour timeshift channel (Disney Channel +1), a Playhouse Disney channel and a Disney Cinemagic channel (along with its +1 hour timeshift). In the March 2006 reshuffle Toon Disney was axed to make room for Disney Cinemagic, and Disney Channel + 1 was temporarily axed to make room for Disney Cinemagic's own +1 hour timeshift channel. Disney Channel +1 returned 26 June 2006.

Sky and Disney had been locked in ongoing negotiations over a new contract for carriage on the former's digital service. However, this dispute seems to have been resolved with the new agreement.

The previous, ten-year deal — inked as Sky floated on the stock exchange in 1994 — was temporarily extended while both sides attempted to reach a resolution. Sky was understood to have been seeking a substantially reduced payment towards the kids broadcaster, which offered a portfolio of four channels either on a standalone basis or as a free bonus for subscribers to Sky's premium movie channels.

The new agreement, said to be worth £130 million a year, was reached on 27 February which resulted in Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney joining the Sky Kids package on 16 March. In addition, a new premium movie channel, Disney Cinemagic, officially launched on 19 March. However the channel itself launched on the same day that Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney joined the Sky Kids package.

The new contract also saw ESPN Classic become available on Sky Digital from 13 March.

In the past Disney Channel used to have a live segment called Studio Disney (weekdays from 4pm to 8pm) in which a live presenting team were on air between programmes giving viewers the chance to call in, interact and win prizes. Studio Disney also made many short shows which were aired in Studio Disney itself and at other times. Once a year they also held a music awards show voted for online called Disney Channel: Kids Awards. Both Studio Disney and the Kids Awards were later ditched giving the channel a similar format to its American counterpart.

Disney Channel in the UK also offers two interactive television services on Sky Digital. The first can be accessed by pressing the red button from Disney Channel with the ability to put up messages for display and win prizes. The second is part of Sky's interactive gaming service, Sky Gamestar, called Disney Channel Play which has games related to some of Disney Channel's shows. It can also be accessed from the first interactive service. Along with the interactive television services both Disney Channel and Disney Channel +1 have a Teletext service consisting of about 200 pages called Disney Text.

In the past Disney Channel broadcast most Walt Disney movies on the channel alongside Disney Channel Original Movies. These movies were broadcast weeknights at 7pm under The Wonderful World of Disney brand. At weekends and holidays it would show upto three movies in a day, with one on Sundays at 4pm in widescreen and Dolby Digital Surround Sound. On Saturday mornings at 10am it also had an interactive segment entitled Saturday Movie Showdown, in which viewers could vote from a choice of three movies on their website to be broadcast at that time. However, when Disney Cinemagic started broadcating, the Saturday Movie Showdown segment was axed and all Walt Disney movies were moved to Disney Cinemagic, which also saw an end to The Wonderful World of Disney plus their broadcasts in widescreen surround sound. The channel still broadcasts a DCOM everyday, with premieres of new DCOMs shown on Friday evenings a few weeks after their american premieres (up to eight months in some cases, such as High School Musical).

Disney Channel sometimes carries sign language on its late evening programming. Many newer series are also Audio Described on Sky Digital (such as That's So Raven).

Disney Channel Programmes

This list only includes programmes aired on Disney Channel and not its sister channels Disney Cinemagic or Playhouse Disney.

Current programming

Coming Soon

(Note: Due to the constant addition of shows that are not going to air on Disney Channel UK, this section can not be stated as fact)

Former programming

Logos

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disney_Channel_(United_Kingdom_and_Ireland)&oldid=94713213"