Disney Channel
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For the Disney Channel in other countries, see Disney Channel around the world.
| Headquarters | California |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner | Walt Disney Company |
Disney Channel is an American 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. Presently available on basic cable and satellite television, Disney Channel 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. The channel runs a website, DisneyChannel.com. Disney Channel began broadcasting in high-definition on April 2, 2008. The HD version is carried on many cable systems as well as both DirecTV and Dish Network.
History
The 1980s
The Disney Channel's first broadcasting day aired on April 20, 1983. At this time, Disney Channel was a premium channel and only aired 18 hours a day. 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 produced Disney Channel 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; 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. From the inception, Disney Channel only aired from 6:00a.m. to 12:00a.m. midnight 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 1984, 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 [[Fergie (singer)|Stacy FergusonFergie's real name).
In early 1989, The Disney Channel revived one of the empire'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 mouseketeer jackets (albeit updated), but the scripted and musical segments were hip. MMC was just as blessed with 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".
The 1990s
By 1995, Disney Channel was seen in more than 8 million homes across the United States.[1]
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 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. 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 name was dropped, and Vault Disney was dropped (primarily to contribute to the network's new "hip" image).
Post-Zoog (2003-2006)
In September 2002, Disney Channel was gradually 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 and 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."[2] 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."[2] Sweeney's successful strategy was to discover, nurture, and aggressively cross-promote teen music stars whose style and image were carefully targeted to the preteen segment of 10-year-olds in the period between childhood and adolescence.
While Disney Channel's intended target audience are preschoolers, pre-teens and young adolescents, the channel has gained mega 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 of all time, as well as making history as the first Disney Channel Original Series to beat the 65 episode limit (eventually hitting 100 episodes) and spawn a spin off.
2007-Present
With the premiere of the extremely successful Hannah Montana in 2006 and its pop star Miley Cyrus, Disney Channel became even more pop music oriented than it once was, giving birth to the stardom of not only Miley but also the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez.
2007 was a huge year for Disney Channel, especially because of the premiere of some of the most popular of the Disney Channel Movies to air, including Jump In and High School Musical 2. It also included its first spin-off of one of their series, a spin-off of That's So Raven called Cory in the House.
2008 is recognized for its new series such as Phineas and Ferb, and The Suite Life on Deck, the spin-off of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, plus new Disney Channel Original Movies such as Minutemen, Camp Rock, and The Cheetah Girls: One World. Since the start of the year, Disney Channel has neglected to celebrate its 25th Anniversary.
Programming
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 Weekends, Playhouse Disney will end at 12:00 PM in which Disney Channel will start it's Summer lineup. In the 1990s, 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. The Suite Life On Deck.
Phil of the Future ended its run on Disney Channel in the United States on September 8, 2008.
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 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.
Programming Blocks
Summer
Disney Channel airs major summer blocks every summer, such as Raven's Psychic Summer, So Hot Summer and Totally Rockin' Summer. Ever since 2006, the Disney Channel Games air.
Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney occupies a major part of the programming on Disney Channel in the United States and has done so since it was introduced in 1997. Its programming airs during the morning hours and is focused on younger children and encourages morals, art, and music. Playhouse Disney airs as a channel in other countries around the world, including France, Australia, and New Zealand. Some of the programming features series like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and Little Einsteins. Movies are frequently shown on Monday, during Playhouse Disney’s Movie Time Monday.
Night of Premieres
Night of Premieres is a programming block on Disney Channel where 4 or more new episodes are aired in one night. Sometimes, it comes with an unaired movie. It generally airs every 5 months.
Disney Channel Games
Debuting in 2006, the Disney Channel Games includes stars from Disney Channel Original Series and Movies. Disney Channel Games 2007, airing in summer 2007, featured Disney Channel stars from outside of the US and added the yellow team to the three other colors(red, blue, and green). The games returned again on July 27, 2008 right after the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. This time the four teams had names. Yellow-Comets, Blue-Lightning,Green-Cyclones, and Red-Inferno. The Disney Channel Games website was also redesigned with a new feature called the "Inside Track" with hosts Meaghan Martin and Cody Linley. Well to really say it The INFERNO won. Out of those here's thee chart: 1st: Inferno 2nd: Comets 3rd: Lightning Last: Cyclones
Halloween Events
The Disney Channel formerly aired classic Halloween telefilms such as The Halloween That Almost Wasn't, Witch's Night Out,The Worst Witch, Mr. Boogedy, The Canterville Ghost, Grinch Night, and Disney's Halloween Treat/A Disney Halloween from October 1983 to the late 1990s.
Since 2005, Disney Channel has aired Halloween themed episodes of series and movies during the Halloween season, including Hocus Pocus, the Halloweentown series, and Twitches. In 2007, Disney Channel aired the Twitches sequel, Twitches Too. Disney Channel also aired new Halloween episodes of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and their newest show Wizards of Waverly Place revolving around wizards, a Halloween object. In 2008, Disney Channel aired Disney Channel's Wiz-Tober, which uses the same styles as Hauntoberfest, but features a new block, where new episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place air every Sunday. It was also hosted by the stars of the show all month long.
Disney Channel Christmas Events
Disney Channel had a block in the past called "Hail to the Holidays". It started in 2004 and ended in 2006. It featured new Christmas movies, episodes and commercials. It did not return in 2007. In 2008, 9 Christmas movies will air at 8/7c or 9/8c. There will be marathons of Phineas and Ferb, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana. On Christmas Eve, both The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2 air, and on Christmas, @ Noon/11c, catch The Ultimate Christmas Present, and the at 8/7c, catch Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas.
New Year Events
Disney Channel, like other TV networks, lets its viewers vote for the best episode or movie under a certain category. Up until 2006, a cast of a TV show would host the New Year events. Last year, Disney Channel let viewers create a music video that could be shown on an event called, Happy U Year!, and this year, the cast of Wizards of Waverly Place host Totally New Year.
Past Programming Blocks
Adventures in Comedy
Cartoon comedy series added in Summer 2006 included 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 absorbed into the regular schedule, with the shows airing on the early morning.
Magnetude
This was added to Disney Channel summer of 2005. 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.
Disney Channel Diner
An opportunity to watch some of Disney Channel’s most popular shows weekday afternoons. That's So Raven aired on Monday, with Phil of the Future on Tuesday, Hannah Montana on Wednesday, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody Thursday, and Life with Derek on Friday. This block was added September 2006 and removed in May 2007.
Films
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.
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 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. 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 Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, NBC Universal's Beethoven, Sony Pictures' Stuart Little and Stuart Little 2 which was owned by Samuel Goldwyn Films and 20th Century Fox's Catch That Kid. Also, another non-Disney Christmas themed film, such asThe Polar Express have aired.
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. 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 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).
- 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 with air along with Disney Channel promos music video "7 things", 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.
Disney Channel Shows
Here are the Disney Channel Shows that have been removed from Disney Channel
| Show Removed | Airing of Show | Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Lizzie Mcguire | January 12, 2001 | Early 2007 |
| Even Stevens | February 1, 2000 | July 8, 2007 |
| Naturally, Sadie | June 24, 2005 | Early 2007 |
| Phil of the Future | June 18, 2004 | September 8, 2008 |
References
- ^ Bryant, J. Alison (November 7, 2006). The Children's Television Community. Lawrence Erlbaum. p. p. 149. ISBN 0-805-84996-3.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|page=has extra text (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Karl Taro Greenfeld, "How Mickey Got His Groove Back," Condé Nast Portfolio, May 2008, 126-131 & 150.
External links
- Official Website
- Disney Channel International
- ABC Cable Networks Group page
- Disney Channel Fan Blog
- Current U.S. schedule
