Disney Channel

For the Disney Channel in other countries, see Disney Channel around the world.

Disney Channel

Ownership
Owner	The Walt Disney Company

Disney Channel headquarters in Burbank

Disney Channel is a 24-hour general entertainment television network in the United States that offers television programming for children through original series and movies as well as third party programming. It is marketed to mostly young children, however in recent years the diversity of viewers has increased. Currently available on basic cable and satellite, Disney Channel is part of Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is based in Burbank, California,and is a short distance from Disney's headquarters. The channel runs a website, DisneyChannel.com. Disney Channel is slated to begin broadcasting in High-definition starting in early 2008.

History

Beginning (1983-1997)

Disney Channel's first broadcasting day occurred on April 18, 1983. At the inception, the Disney Channel only aired 18 hours a day from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM; 24-hour programming would begin in December 1986. The channel's programming on the first day on the air was an episode of the 1950s-era Mickey Mouse Club. The first produced Disney Channel original series shown on the network included Good Morning, Mickey!, Donald Duck Presents, Contraption, Dumbo's Circus, You and Me Kid, EPCOT Magazine and Welcome to Pooh Corner. The original late night schedule featured reruns of the classic The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. During the early years, Disney Channel aired several foreign animated series and movies including Asterix, The Raccoons, and Paddington Bear. The Australian western, Five Mile Creek, was shown during this time period also.

During the 1980s, the channel debuted a few programs that later became part of the cultural lexicon of sorts. Early in the network's existence, in 1984, the musically-oriented sitcom Kids Incorporated became popular. Kids Incorporated, which is about a pre-teen (and later teen-to-young adult) gang of friends who formed a pop group, mixed their everyday situations with variety-show and music video style performances. During its nine year run, the series spawned many future stars in both music and acting, the most notable being Martika (who went by her real name of Marta Marrero in the first season), as well as eventual Party of Five star Jennifer Love Hewitt (billed as Love Hewitt), Mario Lopez (who served as the drummer as well as a dancer for the first three seasons) and Fergie (credited as Stacy Ferguson).

November 1988 saw the premiere of the sitcom Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was originally developed by Brandon Tartikoff for NBC. It starred Hayley Mills as a junior high schoolteacher and her day-to-day escapades with her students and faculty. While the sitcom was not a hit on The Disney Channel, it was cancelled and later retooled for NBC's Saturday morning lineup in August 1989 as Saved by the Bell. The show became the most successful Saturday morning sitcom in history, making stars out of its original cast and running until 2000 with a "next-generation cast" (as Saved by the Bell: The New Class).

In early 1989, The Disney Channel revived one of Disney's early TV staples with The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, which was an immediate hit and proved the basic Disney variety show formula could still work, unlike in the short-lived 1970s revival. This edition contained many of the features of the original, however the music was updated for a different generation of viewers. The early seasons of MMC (which became the official title by season 7) had an exclusive offering of musical numbers to recent hits, along with original material. The main scripted features included the continuing "show-within-a-show", Emerald Cove. Later, more on-set comedy skits were worked in. The show became a fixture on the late afternoon lineup alongside Kids Incorporated. Many of today's artists started out in MMC, including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. The network's slogan during this era was: Disney Channel: where the fun is.

Change (1997-2000)

In 1997, Disney Channel took on a revamped look and dropped the "The" in the network's name, and split the network into three programming blocks—Playhouse Disney, comprising shows aimed at preschoolers; Vault Disney, featuring classic Disney material such as Zorro, The Mickey Mouse Club, the Disney anthology television series, older television specials and features such as The Love Bug; and the most distinct one, running from afternoon to late evening, called Zoog Disney, aimed at preteens and young teenagers up to the age of 15. (Shows on this block included Even Stevens, Lizzie McGuire, Smart Guy, The Famous Jett Jackson and So Weird.) Zoog Disney used their website to connect viewers to their programs, allowing kids to interact with games, limited chat, and the possiblity of having their comments and/or screen names appear on television. The programming block also featured anthropomorphic characters called Zoogs. They began to carry break interruptions (not advertising commercials, but promos from the network). Also around this time Disney began running music specials, which showcased pop acts such as 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Steps, and B*Witched.

Of the three blocks introduced in 1997, only Playhouse Disney continues to this day. As part of the network's 2002 re-brand campaign, the "Zoog" brand name was dropped, and Vault Disney was dropped (primarily to contribute to the network's new "hip" image).

New identity (2000-2003)

While Disney Channel moved from premium cable to basic cable on January 1997, most of the design elements changed three years later. The Zoogs were redesigned, and a new channel logo (which featured a 1930s-era Mickey Mouse on a black Mickey ear-shaped TV), was introduced in 1997. In 1998, Zoog Disney was introduced to Disney Channel meaning they would have two logos, the "Disney Channel TV" logo, introduced in 1997, and the Zoog Disney logo, introduced in 1998. In 2002 The two logos along with Zoog Disney were removed and Disney Channel introduced its current logo. The vintage material aired under the Vault Disney banner was also discontinued as of September 9, 2002.

From 2000 - 2003, Nielsen Ratings grew higher with such shows as Even Stevens, That's So Raven, Kim Possible, Lizzie McGuire and others. Lizzie McGuire became the network's banner show, and was the highest-rated program on the network. Reruns of Lizzie continued to out rate competing shows, including those from Disney Channel itself.

Today (2004-present day)

In 2005, That's So Raven became the network's highest rated series of all time, as well as making history as the first Disney channel Original Series to beat the 65th episode limit and get 100 episodes and a spinoff. Other popular shows on Disney Channel include: Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Wizards of Waverly Place, Cory in the House, Phineas and Ferb, and in 2008 J.O.N.A.S! is set to premiere. In 2007 Disney Channel redesigned itself with new design elements and new bumpers. Disney Channel's estimated value is set at $870,000,000.

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel

Main article: List of Disney Channel series

Series produced by Walt Disney Television or production companies unrelated to the Walt Disney Company used to make up most of the schedule; nowadays, with the explosion of Disney Channel Original Series, fewer of these series have aired on the channel. As of January 2008, the only non-original productions airing on Disney (not including the Playhouse Disney lineup, and short series Minuscule and Shaun the Sheep) are The Little Mermaid, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa. The Playhouse Disney block airs daily from 6:00 am until noon. During the summer line-up it ends at 10:00 AM and the regular Disney block begins Boy Meets World (As of summer 2007).

Naturally, Sadie and Sister, Sister were removed from the Disney Channel lineup in 2007, while other shows experienced time slot changes. The station returned to a more normal schedule on September 4, 2007.

Current Programming Blocks

Fridays

The Friday night was added in September 2006, this allows viewers to catch new episodes of shows on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, catch Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place. The spot for Wizards of Waverly Place was originally taken by Cory in the House and previously by The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. During the summer this spot will occasionally air Disney Channel movies, and spots for Disney Channel shows and specials.

Saturdays

Again this block was added in September 2006 as a tie-in block with Friday nights. It featured new episodes of the animated series The Replacements and American Dragon: Jake Long. Kim Possible and American Dragon: Jake Long occasionally aired new episodes in these slots before they were moved to earlier in the evening. Now The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Cory in the House take the slots. This spot now occasionally airs new episodes of The Suite Life and Cory In The House when a movie is aired on Friday.

Disney Channel Summer

Disney Channel hosts special summer programming events every summer, usually each summer is themed to a Disney Channel Original series or labeled So Hot Summer! Features often include viewer participation in online events, special downloads from DisneyChannel.com, digital trading card trading, new episodes of Disney Channel Original Series and new Disney Channel Original Movies.

Disney Channel Games

Main article: Disney Channel Games

Debuted in 2006, the Disney Channel Games includes stars from Disney Channel Original Series and Movies. Disney Channel Games 2007 also aired in the summer of 2007.

Back To Back Afternoons

A new block on Disney Channel that debuted May 28, 2007 at 3:00 pm. this block airs two episodes of four different shows Monday-Friday, the block ends at 7:00pm leading into Disney Channel's Primetime Hour. Because of this Disney Channel has also expanded their lineup to start at 10am.

Blockbuster Fridays

Debuted in 2007, starting June 15, Disney Channel started premiering blockbuster, or theatrical, movies such as Ice Princess, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, The Haunted Mansion and more. These movies would continue premiering until High School Musical 2 premieres worldwide.

Hauntober Fest

Main article: Disney Channel's Hauntober Fest

Every year since 2005 Disney Channel airs Halloween themed episodes of series and movies including Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown series, and Twitches during the Halloween season. In 2007 Disney Channel aired the sequel to Twitches, Twitches Too. Disney Channel also aired new Halloween episodes of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and their newest show Wizards of Waverly Place which revolves around wizards, a Halloween object.

Past Programming Blocks

Adventures in Comedy

Cartoon comedy series added in Summer 2006. The block consists of Lilo and Stitch: The Series, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King’s Timon and Pumbaa, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. This block has since been dissolved into the regular schedule as of May 28 with the shows airing on the early morning. This block was removed on Monday, May 28th, 2007.

Magnetude

This was added to Disney Channel summer of 2004. It aired every Friday and it involved 4 magnets that would host the show and air brand new episodes of Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Kim Possible, Brandy and Mr. Whiskers, etc. It was soon cancelled.

Disney Channel Diner

An opportunity to watch some of Disney Channel’s most popular shows weekdays at 6/5 central. That's So Raven was aired on Monday, then Phil of the Future on Tuesday, then Hannah Montana on Wednesday, then The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Thursday, and then Life with Derek on Friday. This block was added September 2006. This block was cancelled after major scheduling changes on May 28, 2007.

Movies

Main article: List of Disney Channel Original Movies

A movie is broadcast almost every night, but not necessarily a theatrically released feature film. Disney Channel airs new made-for-TV movies, called Disney Channel Original Movies (or DCOMs), about 8 to 10 times a year, and those are frequently broadcast during that timeslot. In 2000, Disney Channel claimed to produce a new movie each month; this only lasted throughout that same year.

In 2007, Jump In! became the most-watched DCOM on its premiere, it brought 8.2 million viewers, beating ratings champion The Cheetah Girls 2. Its soundtrack became available January 2, 2007. However, High School Musical is the most successful DCOM in popularity and awards. Its sequel High School Musical 2 set a cable record for most viewers of a basic cable program, when its debut scored 17.2 million, a record that stood until the December 3rd Monday Night Football matchup between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens on corporate sibling ESPN surpassed it with 17.5 million viewers. The Cheetah Girls films are also notably successful, with huge merchandise, sold out concert tours and soundtrack sales.

The channel will occasionally secure the rights to air a picture released by a non-Disney studio, most notably Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (along with its sequels, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), the same studio's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Universal Studios's Beethoven, Columbia-TriStar's Stuart Little and the same studio's Little Secrets which was owned by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Also, another non-Disney Christmas themed movie, The Polar Express was aired.

During the 1980s and 1990s, movies made up most Disney's evening and overnight schedule. It now only airs usually around 12 hours of movies per week, occasionally 14 or 15. A Disney Channel Original Movie used to air twice in a row on the night of its Friday night premiere; this tradition ended with the premiere of High School Musical. Most movies airing on Disney Channel usually run in the 95 to 105-minute range, promos included.

Because of this, Disney airs filler programming following the movie:

• If it lasts 1:25 to 1:35, an Original Series will air (Disney used to air syndicated series that aired on the channel).
• If it lasts 1:40 to 1:45, a miniature episode of an Original Animated Series will air (most likely an 11-minute episode of an Animated Original Series).
• If it lasts 1:50 to 1:55, either a music video or two, along with Disney Channel promos, will air, or an episode of Shaun the Sheep, The Road to HSM 2 or As The Bell Rings may run.

In November 2006, the Disney Channel Original Movie opener was remixed.

Spin-Offs

• Cory in the House (from That's So Raven)
• The Suite Life on Deck (from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)

Promotions

Disney Channel has aired promotions for General Mills cereals, Yoplait, McDonald's, and Kellogg's. Though they are not regular commercials, they are tailored to Disney Channel as sponsors of Disney Channel. Other than these sponsors, Disney Channel's program breaks remain, for the most part, to consist mostly of promos for the Channel's programming as well as occasional promos for other Disney-ABC Television Group networks (except SOAPnet), music videos and public service announcements promoting physical activity.

See also

• Playhouse Disney
• Toon Disney
• Disney Channel Asia

External links

• [1]

Official Websites

• USA
• UK
• Disney Channel International
• Australia/New Zealand
• Argentina
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Russia and Ukraine
• Poland
• Portugal
• Spain
• Sweden
• LatinAmerica
• Brazil
• South Africa
• South East Asia
• India
• Korea
• Japan
• Taiwan
• Zimbabwe

Corporate Information

• ABC Cable Networks Group page