Playhouse Disney
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Burbank, California |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Disney-ABC Television Group (The Walt Disney Company) |
Playhouse Disney was Disney Channel's television block for programs aimed at entertaining preschool aged children, often airing as its own channel outside the United States. It was introduced in 1997 after Disney Channel's move to basic cable from premium cable, with a target audience of children ages 2-8. The block was rebranded as Disney Junior, Disney Channel's current preschool block, on February 14, 2011.
History
Playhouse Disney started on the Disney Channel on May 8, 1997. However, it didn't use its actual on-screen logo until January 22, 2001. On July 27, 2001, it re-launched with new graphics. On September 9, 2002, the block re-launched with a new logo and an animated yellow clay ball named Clay (voiced by Debi Derryberry), whose catchphrase was "It's true!" and "Are you with me?"
The previous programming announcer was actress Allyce Beasley, best known for her role as Agnes DiPesto on Moonlighting, and also as Miss Grotke on Recess. On January 1, 2007, it received substantial upgrades to their on-air show. At this time, Clay was replaced by two monkey hosts, Ooh and Aah. Every summer since 2007, usually starting sometime in May, Playhouse Disney's end time on weekdays aired only four hours. Disney Channel original series are aired over this time slot during the change of lineup. On weekends, Playhouse Disney still aired six hours.
Disney Junior
On May 26, 2010, Disney announced that Playhouse Disney will shut down and replaced with a new block, Disney Junior. Playhouse Disney shuts down for the day on February 13, 2011. The last program to air was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with the final short series being Handy Manny's School for Tools. After that, Disney aired an advertisement for Disney Junior, and then Ooh and Aah's daily sign-off, which was presented for the very last time before Ooh and Aah faded out from the airwaves for good.
On February 14, 2011, Disney Junior launched, in preparation to launch a 24/7 network for it on March 23, 2012.[1] It replaced Soapnet, owned by Disney, which has a subscriber base of 75 million viewers.[2][3] The first program to air was Little Einsteins with the episode "Fire Truck Rocket."[4][5][6]
Programming
Playhouse Disney would broadcast 4:00 am to 2:00 pm ET (3:00 am to 1:00 pm CT) on weekdays, and from 4:00 am to 9:00 am ET, (3:00 am to 8:00 am CT) on weekends, each running a different schedule. They would feature 22-minute standard length shows, interspersed with short 3-5 minute shorts and music videos. Introducing each show were two monkey puppets, Ooh and Aah. Between these times, there were no commercials played during Playhouse Disney (though Disney Channel, being a commercial-free cable channel, does not air regular commercials anyway), though short "promotional spots" did run every so often, such as often seen on PBS.[7] Between 4:00 and 6:00, when Playhouse Disney programs aired under the regular Disney Channel branding, there were commercials for Disney properties as there are for other Disney Channel programs.
See also
References
- ^ Disney Junior acing frosh year, Variety, September 26, 2011
- ^ Disney Junior to Replace SOAPnet in 2012, Deadline Hollywood, May 26, 2010
- ^ SOAPnet Will Go Dark to Make Way for Disney Junior, Entertainment Weekly, May 26, 2010
- ^ "Doc McStuffins" Set for Disney, Variety.com, June 24, 2010
- ^ Disney Junior to Debut In February 2011 on Disney Channel, TV By the Numbers, November 5, 2010
- ^ Disney Junior Shifts Focus Away From Educational Programming, Hollywood Reporter, November 4, 2010
- ^ "Playhouse Disney schedule". Retrieved 2007-10-28.
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