Disney Channel (Australia and New Zealand)

Disney Channel
Launched 8 June 1996[1]
Owned by The Walt Disney Company Australia
Picture format 576i (SDTV 16:9)
Audience share 1.3% (February 2008, )
Slogan The Best Place to Be
Country Australia
Language English
Broadcast area Australia
New Zealand
Fiji
Tuvalu
Formerly called The Disney Channel (1996-1997)
Sister channel(s) Disney Junior
Disney XD
Website disneychannel.com.au
Availability
Satellite
Foxtel Channel 707
SKY Network Television (NZ) Channel 100
Cable
Optus TV Channel 707
Foxtel Channel 707
TransTV Digital Channel 201
Neighbourhood Cable Channel 28
Vodafone (NZ) Channel 100
IPTV
Xbox 360 Channel 707

Disney Channel is a television channel that is broadcast in Australia and New Zealand. It is mainly aimed at children and their families. It does occasionally broadcast commercial advertisements and programming is broken up by a number of breaks, during which trailers for Disney's programming are usually shown. On 1 September 2009, Disney Channel started broadcasting in 16:9 widescreen.

History

The Disney Channel has been broadcast by Optus since 8 June 1996.[1] It became available though Austar on 1 April 2001,[2] Foxtel on 1 December 2001,[3][4] TransTV on 21 January 2002,[5] and is also available on Neighbourhood Cable. It was formerly available on SelecTV from September 2008 until the closure of its English service in late 2010.[6][7]

It has been broadcast on New Zealand's pay television network (SKY Network Television) since December 2003. On 5 December 2005, Disney Channel launched Playhouse Disney Channel in Australia on the Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television digital services and in New Zealand on the SKY Network Television digital service. On 1 September 2009 the channel started 16:9 widescreen broadcasting. On 6 February 2012 a new logo was adopted.

Presentation

When Disney Channel's Australian service commenced operations, it aired the same Disney Channel programs from America, but utilised the same Disney Channel idents from the UK. In 1997, to prepare for the launch of Disney Channel France, the network dropped "The" from its name and introduced a new logo with two red splats and a blue splat and also adopted idents with the logo formed by red and blue objects. In August 1999, the channel changed its presentation again and introduced a top Circles logo (with three circles forming Mickey's head) and adopted new idents with the logo being formed by various circular objects. The "Splat" logo from 1997 was still in use, but it adapted the new Circles style. The Circles logo and idents were first used on Disney Channel UK on 1 May 1999.

In July 2003, Disney Channel adopted the new logo designed by CA Square. Presentation changed again in 2007, with the logo being formed by a ribbon. The new logo came into use on 6 February 2012, when the music video "Turn It Up" aired showing brand new shows coming and featuring the new logo. The logo was first used on an episode of Shake It Up after "Turn It Up" premiered. All promos that featured the old logo have all been re-branded to the new logo adopted from the US The new logo came into use on Disney Channel's website.

Programming

Current programming

Local programming

Original from Disney Channel (U.S.)

Acquired programming

Second-run

Sister channels

Disney Junior

Disney Junior is a 24-hour Australian cable and satellite channel available on local platforms. It launched on 5 December 2005 as Playhouse Disney and on 29 May 2011 as Disney Junior. All programs target younger kids.[8][9]

Disney XD

Main article: Disney XD (Australia)

Disney XD is a 24-hour Australia cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel. It launched on 10 April 2014. All programs target boys aged 6–14.[10]

See also

Explanatory notes

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Elder, Bruce (2 June 1996). "Disney to the rescue". Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney: Fairfax Media). p. 1. Retrieved 21 December 2009. The Disney Channel, which kicks off with the TV premiere of Aladdin at 6.30 pm on Saturday, June 8
    2. ↑ "News on the Hour". Illawarra Mercury (Illawarra, Australia: Fairfax Media). 17 March 2000. p. 55. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
    3. ↑ "Hitting Disney heights". The Sunday Mail. 16 December 2001. p. T35. |chapter= ignored (help)
    4. ↑ "Package Updates". Foxtel. 2001. Archived from the original on 14 December 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2009. You'll be able to enjoy a world of fun and adventure, with Disney Channel coming to FOXTEL for the first time! Disney Channel becomes part of our Entertainment Plus package, moving TCM from Entertainment Plus into the Movies package.
    5. ↑ "Transact to screen 24-hour Disney films, animation, on its 12th channel.". The Canberra Times (Canberra, Australia: Fairfax Media). 20 January 2002. p. 10.
    6. ↑ Shoebridge, Neil (15 September 2008). "WIN's on to a winner as SelecTV ups service". The Australian Financial Review. p. 16. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
    7. ↑ Chessell, James (20 August 2010). "Bruce Gordon's SelecTV to make changes". The Australian. Retrieved 20 August 2010. |chapter= ignored (help)
    8. ↑ Alarcon, Camille (29 May 2011). "Disney makes new friends". B & T Weekly 54 (2546): 23. ISSN 1325-9210. Retrieved 15 May 2100. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); |chapter= ignored (help)
    9. ↑ Tim Addington. "Disney to launch Junior channel". B&T. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
    10. ↑ http://www.disney.com.au/disney-xd

    External links