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Disney Channel

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

Disney Channel
HeadquartersBurbank, California
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
Disney Channel headquarters in Burbank

Disney Channel is a cable television channel specializing in television programming for children through original series and movies as well as third party programming. It is marketed to mostly children; however, in recent years the diversity of viewers has increased with an older audience, typically teenagers. Presently available on basic cable and satellite television, the network is part of Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is based in Burbank, California, U.S.A, and also runs a website called DisneyChannel.com. Disney Channel began broadcasting in high-definition on March 19, 2008. A high definition feed of the network is also offered on some cable providers, as well as both satellite providers and telco IPTV providers in the ABC/Disney networks preferred format of 720p.

History

Disney Channel: The Beginning (1982–1997)

The Disney Channel was formed in 1982 under the leadership of its first president Alan Wagner. The channel's first broadcasting day aired on April 18, 1983. At this time, Disney Channel was a premium channel and only aired 18 hours a day, from 6:00AM to 12:00AM EST. The program that kicked off the channel's first day on the air was an episode of the 1950s-era Mickey Mouse Club. The first Disney Channel-produced series were Good Morning, Mickey!, Welcome to Pooh Corner and You and Me Kid.

The original late night schedule featured reruns of the classic The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet; more of them are included in Disney Channel Original Series. Disney Channel received a special citation from the United States president Ronald Reagan in 1984. In December 1986, Disney Channel commenced full time broadcasting 24 hours everyday. 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 on, in 1986, the musically-oriented sitcom Kids Incorporated became a hit, about a pre-teen (and later teen-to-young adult) gang of friends who formed a pop group, mixing 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 show's first season), eventual Party of Five co-stars Scott Wolf and Jennifer Love Hewitt (billed as Love Hewitt) and, not to mention, Stacy Ferguson (Fergie).

In early 1989, The Disney Channel revived one of the company'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. The latest version contained many of the classic elements, from "theme days" to updated mouseketeer jackets, but the scripted and musical segments were more contemporary. MMC had a stellar young cast, launching more careers of today's big stars than the shows previously mentioned; Christina Aguilera, JC Chasez, Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, are just a few of the many "mice that soared".[1]

The Zoog & Vault Disney Era (1997–2002)

In 1997, Disney Channel took on a revamped look and dropped the word "The" in the network's name (However, promos often referred to the channel as simply "Disney" and the logo often omitted the "Channel" in the network's name also), and split the network into three programming blocks: Playhouse Disney, comprising of shows aimed at preschoolers; Vault Disney, featuring classic Disney material such as Zorro, The Mickey Mouse Club, the Walt 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 for teenagers, called Zoog Disney. A new channel logo (which featured a 1930s-era Mickey Mouse on a black Mickey ear-shaped TV), was introduced at this time. They began to carry break interruptions (not advertising commercials, but promos for network programming).

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 was merged into the channel itself, and the Vault Disney block was dropped (primarily to contribute to the network's new "hip" image).

Disney Channel's original programming during this time period began to skyrocket. First, with Flash Forward in 1997 and then continuing with shows like The Famous Jett Jackson, So Weird, Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, The Proud Family, and Kim Possible, among others.

In 2000, Disney Channel officially became a part of expanded cable, although the channel had started the move to expanded cable as early as 1997.[2] It was at this time that Disney Channel started to gain viewers. Before 2000, Disney Channel would have a free preview weekend two times a year, with ads targeted to non-subscribers.

Disney Channel Relaunched - The "hip" Era (2002–2006)

In January 2002, Disney Channel was remodeled once more. First, on September 16, 2002 the vintage material aired under the Vault Disney banner was discontinued in favor of same-day repeats of the channel's original programming and off-network series. As a result, primetime movies were also cut to one a night (from two). The channel also ceased producing drama and reality series, shifting focus to live-action comedies and animated series, and Disney Channel usually premieres about two or three new original series a year (typically two animated series and one live-action series). The current logo was implemented a month later.

Anne Sweeney, a veteran cable executive, took control of Disney-ABC Television Group in 2004 and successfully remade Disney Channel into "the major profit driver in the company."[3] By 2008, Condé Nast Portfolio was able to note that the Channel "has been adding a million viewers a month—every month—for the last five years," and also called the Channel "the greatest teen-star incubator since the NBA stopped drafting high schoolers."[3] Sweeney's successful strategy was to discover, nurture, and aggressively cross-promote teen music stars whose style and image were carefully targeted to teenagers.

While Disney Channel's intended target audience are preschoolers, pre-teens and young adolescents, the channel has gained popularity and also has viewers outside the main target audience and has even made teen idols out of some of the channel's stars. The channel has become well known in recent years for its Disney Channel Original Series, and because of them, Disney Channel is one of the most-watched cable channels in the United States, with some series averaging around three million viewers (which is considered impressive for cable television).

In 2005, That's So Raven became the network's highest-rated series since the network's move to basic cable; as well as being the first Disney Channel Original Series to beat the 65 episode limit (eventually hitting 100 episodes) and to be the first to spawn a spin off (Cory in the House).

Disney Channel: The POP Era (2007)

In 2007, Disney Channel remodled its looks. The logo, instead of bouncing around the screen, turned into a ribbon and swirled around the screen until forming the logo. The background turned into an astronomosphere, as opposed to abstract obsects bouncing and moving in the screen. Also, the font was updated from Didgital to bold. Bumpers were updated as well. Instead of the logo poping up and delivering a message, the ribbon swirled up, formed the logo, and another ribbon swirled out with the message. In addition, the female announcer was dropped.

In 2007, Disney Channel cut down on movies and shows, limiting to 4 DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) and 2 new DCOS (Disney Channel Original Series). The most succesful DCOM was High School Musical 2 with 17.2 million viewers. The most succesful DCOS was Wizards of Waverly Place with 5.9 million viewers on the premiere night.

Disney Channel: Today (2008–present)

In January 2008, the channel made another overhaul of its on-air look and programming. The channel abandoned its uniform schedules for weekday and weekend afternoons (with the exception of the 7-8PM hour), to run a five-hour (later six-hour, now back to five-hour) schedule featuring hour-long blocks of various original series (and the off-network programming that remained on the channel) with the schedule changing each day. As part of the change, promo cards and bumpers were changed to an abstract atmosphere with ribbon theming and themed to the programs.

Promos for the next program now only displayed the program airing next and were moved from immediately after the conclusion of a program to near the end of the last promo break, while a ribbon banner now appears on the bottom of the screen during programming (those airing from 11AM-8PM/ET and airing immediately following the end of each promo break) telling viewers the current program and the two programs airing afterwards. Slightly modified versions of these graphics fit for high definition were introduced in September 2008. The channel also moved its original series (mostly the live-action series) to primetime on weekends with new episodes airing in those timeslots, after having aired new episodes of its series on Fridays between 6-8PM/ET for the previous few years. The series began airing from 8-9PM/ET on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (The Friday 8-9PM block will be preempted if a Disney Channel Original Movie is scheduled to premiere on that night; the Saturday 8-9PM block has aired on a periodic basis since the change; and the Sunday 8-9PM block was added in January 2008).

2008 is recognized for its new series such as Phineas and Ferb, Brian O'Brian, and The Suite Life on Deck, the spin-off to The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, plus new Disney Channel Original Movies such as Minutemen and The Cheetah Girls: One World. Phineas and Ferb and The Suite Life on Deck each were the number one series in their respective categories in kids ages 6-11 and tweens ages 9-14 in 2008. [4]

In 2009, Disney Channel launched Sonny With a Chance (the channel's first original series to be shot in high definition) starring Demi Lovato, and in May launched JONAS starring the Jonas Brothers. Movies in 2009 included: Dadnapped starring Emily Osment, David Henrie, Moises Arias, Jason Earles, and Phill Lewis; Hatching Pete starring: Jason Dolley, Mitchel Musso, Tiffany Thornton and Brian Stepanek; and Princess Protection Program starring Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez. Disney Channel's next big project will be its film adaptation of Wizards of Waverly Place in Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie

Programming

Main articles: List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel and List of Disney Channel series

Disney Channel mostly airs its original sitcoms geared toward teenagers, and sometimes airs its original cartoons geared more towards upper-elementary and middle school age children. However, as of 2008 the only original cartoons it airs are The Replacements and Phineas and Ferb. Disney Channel also has a programming block that airs in the daytime geared toward pre-schoolers called Playhouse Disney. Despite these other programming, a great majority of the channel's time-slot is taken up by the teen sitcoms.

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, movies, and short series Minuscule and Shaun the Sheep) are Life With Derek, The Little Mermaid and Recess. 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. On summer weekends, Playhouse Disney ends at 11:00 PM and then Disney airs its summer lineup. As of February 2008, the only Walt Disney related programming is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Playhouse Disney.

In the 1234, Disney Channel aired special shows that featured old-time Disney cartoons (that were usually made in Walt Disney's time). It was taken off the lineup in 2000.

Naturally, Sadie, Boy Meets World, and Sister, Sister were removed from the Disney Channel lineup in 2007, while other shows experienced time slot changes. The station returned to the usual schedule on September 4, 2007. After Totally Rockin' Summer Disney Channel returned to its basic schedule again on September 7, 2008. Phil of the Future ended its run on Disney Channel in the United States on September 8, 2008. It's not being aired on Disney XD.

On December 14, 2008, it was announced that Disney Channel in the U.S. will bring back the animated block which has aired from 12 to 3PM. Once it becomes official, the network will have shows such as Lilo & Stitch: The Series and Recess.

Much of Disney Channel's programming seems to appeal to teenage girls for example Hannah Montana. Disney Channel is planning to release programming more appealing to teenage boys in the near future. Aaron Stone and other such Disney XD shows aired in 2009.[citation needed]

Disney Channel's live-action series usually have no more than six contract cast members, and have between 6 to 8 credited staff writers (fewer than the typical 8 to 11). Its multi-camera sitcoms, which use the classic studio audience/laugh track format, are shot on videotape (note that these shows have Video Control Operators, Video Tape Operators and Technical Directors listed in the closing credits) and use some type of simulated film look: former series That's So Raven, Cory in the House and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and current series Hannah Montana and The Suite Life on Deck use the FilmLook image processing (Wizards of Waverly Place does not use this due to FilmLook's incompatibility with the visual effects used in the show); while Sonny with a Chance uses a 'filmized' appearance, but is shot on videotape, that will become standard on other Disney Channel multi-camera sitcoms as they transition to high definition.

Original Series Programming

Comedies and dramas

The first official Disney Channel Original Series was also its first original comedy series Flash Forward, which debuted in 1997 (and was a co-production with Canada's Family cable channel). The sci-fi drama So Weird (which some critics likened to a teen version of The X-Files) and the sports comedy The Jersey debuted in 1999. 2000 saw the debut of the teen medical drama In a Heartbeat (the channel's shortest-lived live-action series), but the most successful of the shows that year was the sitcom Even Stevens. In 2001, Lizzie McGuire debuted, becoming the channel's most-watched series (and star Hilary Duff's success resulting from the show would open the door for today's generation of Disney stars, like Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers).

That's So Raven (starring Raven-Symoné) debuted in 2003, becoming the channel's highest-rated original series of all time prior to Hannah Montana's debut; and was the channel's first series to last 65 episodes, the first Disney series to last 100 episodes, and the first series to create a spin-off with the less-successful Cory in the House in 2007. The campy sci-fi comedy Phil of the Future debuted in 2004, and was controversially cancelled in 2006. 2005 saw the debut of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, which later spun-off The Suite Life on Deck in 2008, which has become equally popular as its parent series, becoming the #1 live-action series for kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 in 2008. Hannah Montana premiered in March 2006, and quickly became the channel's banner show and made its star Miley Cyrus a household name. In 2009, the channel debuted two new sitcoms, both of which are the channel's first starring vehicle series. In 2007, Wizards of Waverly Place debuted and became just as successful as Disney's current top series, Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. In February 2009, Sonny with a Chance (which is mildly similar to 30 Rock) premiered starring Demi Lovato, star of the 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock. JONAS, the channel's first single-camera comedy since Phil of the Future, starring The Jonas Brothers debuted in May 2009.

Animated series

It was not until 2001 that the channel debuted its first animated series (outside Playhouse Disney) with The Proud Family. Kim Possible debuted a year later and was (and still is, even after it ended in 2007) the channel's most successful animated series and the only Disney Channel animated series to air more than 65 episodes. Other Disney Channel original animated series include: Dave the Barbarian, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, The Buzz on Maggie, American Dragon: Jake Long, The Emperor's New School and The Replacements. Phineas and Ferb, which debuted in 2008, is the only animated series on the channel to have matched the success of Kim Possible, and was the #1 animated series for kids ages 6–11 and tweens ages 9–14 in 2008. As of April 2009, The only animated series that is still in production is Phineas and Ferb.

Reality programming

In 1998, the channel debuted its first documentary series Bug Juice, which centered on a group of kids attending summer camp. 1999 featured the debut of the interactive series Z Games, in which viewers would submit their own homemade games. 2000 saw the debut of the documentary series Totally Circus (which would be followed up the next year with the basketball documentary series Totally Hoops and in 2002 with Totally in Tune, the last reality program on Disney Channel). Since then, reality programming on Disney Channel has been relegated to short series, such as Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream and High School Musical: The Music in You.

Playhouse Disney

Playhouse Disney's first hit series was Bear in the Big Blue House, which debuted in 1997. This was followed in 1998 with the computer-animated Rolie Polie Olie. Other popular Playhouse Disney series of the past and present include: Little Einsteins, Out of the Box, PB&J Otter, Stanley, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Imagination Movers, and most recently Special Agent Oso.

Logos

Disney Channel used Mickey Mouse's face superimposed on a television screen as its logo from its debut in 1983 until 1997.

In 1997, Disney Channel introduced the Mickey Mouse Ear-Shaped TV Screen logo, featuring a 1930s-era Mickey Mouse, which it used until 2000, when they used the logo again, but without the characters. This logo was used until 2002.

From 2002 - 2007, Disney Channel used Mickey Mouse's face again, this time with the "Disney Channel" logo. From 2002 - 2007, the face bounced from corner to corner of the screen, showing which two shows were coming up next. At the beginning of each movie's, or each episode's, part, the face bounced to the screen and showed what show the viewers were watching.

The current logo is a more 3D version of the previous 3030 logo, which goes along with the new style the network is taking.

Programming Blocks

Summer

Main article: Disney Channel Summer Events

Disney Channel's new summer programming block , Summer of Stars, begins Saturday, May 30 2009 and will last until the end of August 2009. Previous blocks have been Totally Rockin' Summer! (May 17, 2008- September 7, 2008),Summer! (May 24, 2007- September 8, 2007) and So Hot Summer! (June 1, 2006- August 31, 2006) and Summer 2005! (June 10, 2005- August 28, 2005).

Halloween

Main article: Disney Channel's Hauntober Fest

Every night during October, Disney Channel has had Halloween Events. Programs include Casper's Halloween Special, Raggedy Ann and Andy: The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile,Mr. Boogedy,Halloween Is Grinch Night,The Canterville Ghost (1985),Witch's Night Out,The Worst Witch (1986),The Halloween That Almost Wasn't, and Disney's Halloween Treat/A Disney Halloween. In 2008, Disney Channel presented Wiz-Tober, a succesor to Hauntoberfest, though that block will be terminated and succeeded by Halloween of Stars. More info in the Hauntoberfest Article featured above.

New Year

Main article: Disney Channel's New Year Events

Disney Channel Stars host New Year events every New Year's Eve followed by a Series Marathon on New Year's Day. The next New Year Block will be titled New Year of Stars.

Disney Channel Games

Main article: Disney Channel Games

Debuting in 2006, the Disney Channel Games includes stars from Disney Channel Original Series and Movies. After the kick-off Games in 2006, the 2007 and 2008 Games included stars from across the world, making room for the addition of a Yellow Team (Added to Blue, Red and Green) during the 2007 event. In 2008, the games featured 4 teams: Cyclones, Comets, Lightning and the Inferno.

Films

Main article: List of Disney Channel Original Movies

A film is broadcast almost every night, but not necessarily a theatrically released feature film. Disney Channel airs new original films, called Disney Channel Original Movies (or DCOMs), about 4 to 6 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.

The Disney Channel Original Movies began in 1997 with Northern Lights. The amount of DCOMs per year began to increase—from two in 1997 to three in 1998 to a high of twelve in 2000.

High School Musical 2 is the most successful DCOM in popularity and awards, setting 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 3 Monday Night Football matchup between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens on corporate sibling ESPN surpassed it with 17.5 million viewers (it still remains the most watched made-for-TV movie in cable television history). 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 Sorcerers Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, NBC Universal's Beethoven, The Weinstein Company's Hoodwinked and Doogal, Sony Pictures' Stuart Little and Stuart Little 2, 20th Century Fox's Catch That Kid and Paramount's Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown. Also, another non-Disney Christmas themed film, such asThe Polar Express have aired. Other non-Disney films may include Little Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown and Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird just to name a few.

Between 1986 and 1998, films made up most Disney Channel's evening and overnight schedule. It now only airs usually around 12 hours of movies per week, occasionally 14 or 15. Many of the channel's earliest original movies (particularly those made from 1997 to 2002) have seldom been aired by Disney Channel in recent years, except for some holiday-themed movies. This changed in January 2009 when the channel began airing these early original movies in late night on Fridays and Saturdays. 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 January 2006 premiere of High School Musical. Encore presentations of Disney Channel Original Movies however, still air on the channel in primetime on the Saturday and Sunday after its original Friday night debut (Camp Rock is the only exception to this rule as that movie debuted on Disney Channel on June 19, 2008, then re-aired on ABC's Wonderful World of Disney the following night, and then aired on ABC Family the night after that; that movie is currently the only DCOM to air on a non-Disney Channel branded network).

Because of this, Disney airs programming following the film:

  • If it lasts 1:25 to 1:35, an Original Series will air (Disney used to air syndicated series that aired on the channel). In primetime, Wizards of Waverly Place will air and in daytime or primetime, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody will air, followed by another episode airing at its regularly scheduled time.
  • 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 will air (e.g. Disney Channel Circle of Stars) along with a Disney Channel promos music video, or an episode of a Disney Channel Short Series such as Shaun the Sheep, The Road to The Cheetah Girls 3: One World, As the Bell Rings, Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream, or Brian O' Brian.

In November 2006, the Disney Channel Original Movie opener was remixed. On December 22, 2008, the Disney Channel Original Movie opener was renewed again. It now features Disney Channel movies revisted in a soundstage, using stills from each movie (starting with the first High School Musical movie, ending with the second, with appearances by "Camp Rock", Jump In! and The Cheetah Girls: One World, among few). The commercial break bumpers were also renewed, in which viewers enter the stage, fly through with the name finally revealed.

2009's slate of Disney Channel Original Movies features several stars of several Disney Channel series appearing in each of these films. In February 2009, Disney Channel aired its first new DCOM of the year (Dadnapped) on a Monday evening, on President's Day, February 16. This movie starred Emily Osment, Jason Earles and Moises Arias of Hannah Montana; David Henrie of Wizards of Waverly Place and Phill Lewis of The Suite Life on Deck. Hatching Pete, which aired in April, stars Mitchel Musso, of Hannah Montana; Jason Dolley, formerly of Cory in the House; Tiffany Thornton of Sonny with a Chance and Brian Stepanek of the short series Brian O'Brian and formerly of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. The third original movie of the year, Princess Protection Program aired in June 2009, and stars Selena Gomez, of Wizards of Waverly Place and Demi Lovato, of Sonny With A Chance.

References

  1. ^ Bryant, J. Alison (November 7, 2006 (2006-11-07)). The Children's Television Community. Lawrence Erlbaum. p. 149. ISBN 0-805-84996-3. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Cable TV Arlington's Archived Lineup. Disney is channel 21 under the basic lineup.
  3. ^ a b Karl Taro Greenfeld, "How Mickey Got His Groove Back," Condé Nast Portfolio, May 2008, 126-131 & 150.
  4. ^ "Disney Channel/DisneyChannel.com Highlights For 2008". Retrieved 2009-01-19.

External links

Corporate Information

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