Disney Channel (Southeast Asian TV channel)

Disney Channel was a Malaysian-based Southeast Asian pay television channel owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia and Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific, part of The Walt Disney Company Asia-Pacific. Also part of Disney Branded Television which originally from The Walt Disney Company.

This article is about Disney Channel in Asia. For Disney Channel in the United States, see Disney Channel. For other international channels, see Disney Branded Television.

Disney Channel Asia
Country
Broadcast area
NetworkDisney Branded Television
HeadquartersCorporate office: 1 #06-01 Sandcrawler, Fusionopolis View, Singapore 138577
Studios and production facility: 4 Loyang Ln #01-01/02 and #02-01/02., Singapore 508914
Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Programming
Language(s)
Picture format
Ownership
Owner
ParentThe Walt Disney Company Asia-Pacific
Sister channels
History
Launched
  • 29 March 1995 (1995-03-29) (Taiwan)
  • 1 October 1995 (1995-10-01) (First broadcast in Malaysia)
Closed
  • 1 October 2021 (2021-10-01) (Southeast Asia & Hong Kong)[1][2]
  • 1 January 2022 (2022-01-01) (Taiwan)
Links
Websitetv.disney.asia

Disney Channel Asia's programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically released and original made-for-cable movies and select other third-party programming. At time of closure, it had a sister channel Disney Junior; while Disney XD broadcasts teenage and action content.

History

Within the launch in the late 90s and early 2000s, Disney Channel Broadcasts with a single video feed and two audio tracks in English and Mandarin, as well as subtitles in Mandarin.

The channel was available in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines.[3] On 1 June 2002, the channel was launched in the South Korean market with a Korean language feed.[4]

Over the first six months of 2005, Disney Channel Asia, along with sister channel Playhouse Disney (now Disney Junior) was launched in Vietnam, Palau and Thailand. It finished off with a launch of both in Cambodia, its 11th market, with Cambodia Entertainment Production Co. Ltd. as distributor.[5]

On June 11, 2011, Disney Channel launches it's Korean feed separating the pan-Asian feed, which is the first Disney channel to be broadcasting for Korean dubbing.

After the ban of Disney Channel India and Disney XD India in Bangladesh due to broadcasting in Hindi language and heavy localization of the Indian feeds, Disney Channel Asia was made available on selected digital cable platforms there in 2016. Due to the shutdown of the channel, Disney International HD India started broadcasting as a replacement.

On 1 September 2020, Disney Channel in Indonesia was separated from the main feed, following of the launch of Disney+ Hotstar on 5 September 2020. It also has a 24/7 live stream on the website, and airs some idents as well.

Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior ceased transmission in Singapore on 1 June 2020 after failing to renew their contracts, on both Singtel and StarHub, despite causing COVID-19 to disrupt employees.[6] It's content was moved to and replaced with Disney+ on 23 February 2021.

On 1 January 2021, Disney Channel and Disney Junior ceased transmission in Malaysia on Astro due to the TV provider's Refreshed Kids Pack while airing the movie Bolt at midnight. Disney's content was moved to and replaced instead by Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia since its launch on 1 June 2021.[7]

On 1 October 2021, Disney Channel and Disney Junior officially closed in the rest of Asia; and Hong Kong[8] at exactly at 01:00 am (UTC+08:00)/12:00 am (UTC+07:00).[1] Concluding with Star vs. the Forces of Evil (Southeast Asia)[9] and Bao (Hong Kong).[10] While the Indonesian and Vietnam feeds cease transmission, a few minutes or hours before the closure.

However, Disney Channel in Taiwan will continue to operate,[11] until its cessation on New Year's Day (1 January 2022),[12][13] concluding with a Big Hero 6 short also at midnight (In Taipei's Time).[14]

While most of its content (including third-party progams) will be replaced on Disney+ Hotstar and Disney+ depends on their countries' versions.[15]

HD channel

On 1 May 2015, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia launched a high-definition simulcast feed of Disney Channel in the Philippines, available on Sky Cable and Destiny Cable distributed by ACCION in that country. Just like its SD counterpart, the HD simulcast of the channel airs the same shows shown in the SD feed. The HD feed was also launched on TrueVisions in Thailand on 7 July 2016 as an exclusive for cable subscribers, and on Astro in Malaysia on 15 November 2019 for satellite subscribers. The HD channels also ceased transmission on 1 October 2021.

Presentation and logos

With the launch of the channel in 1996, Disney Channel Asia adopted the UK network's presentation designed by Lambie-Nairn. It then used the splat logo in 1997 with the opening of Disney Channel France. Later in 1999, Disney Channel Asia began to use the "Circles" presentation package until the end of April 2003, when the US logo (and design package by CA Square) as the "Bounce" graphics, it became the channel's on-air presentation format, then later rebranded using the "Ribbon" graphics from 2007 until 2011. Two more redesigns were made in 2012, then on 1 August 2014, with the current wordmark logo.

Disney Channel Asia started using parts of the US "Social Media" rebrand from 1 December 2017 and rebranded fully on 1 January 2018 at 6 am. As of 2020, it has also used elements of the US "Item Age" graphics, while Hong Kong & Taiwan keep its old branding before the closure.

Final feeds

Singapore

The schedule was similar to the main feed, plus local advertisements. Some programming was replaced by sitcoms. This feed was ceased operations on 1 June 2020, after failing to renew their contracts on both StarHub & Singtel[6] due to the launch of Disney+ on 23 February 2021.

Malaysia and Brunei

Same schedule as the Asia feed, plus local advertisements; began early in October 1995, and co-owned by The Walt Disney Company (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

It was available in four languages: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. This channel was only available on Astro in Malaysia and Kristal-Astro in Brunei. Because of Astro's Refreshed Kids Pack on 14 December 2020 and the arrival of Disney+ Hotstar, Disney Channel, along with Disney Junior, they will not be available on Astro and Astro-owned TV providers (including NJOI and Kristal-Astro).

Therefore, there's the only impact that The Walt Disney Company will be shutting down Disney XD in Southeast Asia on the same date and time by following the review of Disney's business in this region, just before Astro has already confirmed with this statement before Astro shutting down both Disney Channel and Disney Junior on the same date and time. However, The Walt Disney Company didn't announce that Astro will be shutting down Disney Channel and Disney Junior on New Year's Day 2021 at midnight. This feed ceased operations on 1 January 2021[16] along with Disney Junior and Disney XD, on Astro due to the TV provider's Refreshed Kids Pack and the launch of Disney+ Hotstar on 1 June 2021.[17]

Asia

The main feed was available in Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

This feed stopped airing movies and started sharing the same schedule with the Indonesian feed on 1 February 2021. This feed officially ceased all operations on 1 October 2021.

Indonesia

The schedule was very similar to the main feed, with the exclusions of movies at launch. It was separated from the main feed from 1 September 2020, during the launch of Disney+ Hotstar on 5 September 2020.

This feed later started sharing the same schedule with the main feed on 1 February 2021. There are also Disney+ Hotstar idents on this feed. The channel completely closed on October 1, 2021, leaving the streaming platform behind.

Philippines

Began in June 1, 1998 and co-owned by The Walt Disney Company (Philippines), Inc. It had the same schedule as the Asia feed, plus local advertisements. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2021.[18]

Vietnam

Launched in May 2005. A one-hour time-shifted version of the main Asia feed with local advertisements, Vietnamese translations in promos, and subtitles. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2021.

Hong Kong

Launched last 2 April 2004. The schedule of this feed was shared with the Taiwan feed and was separated from the main feed on 2 April 2004. It was broadcast in English and Cantonese languages. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2021, due to the launch of Disney+ on 16 November 2021.

Taiwan

It was the first overseas feed launched by Disney Channel worldwide. It began operations on 29 March 1995.[5] It had its own schedule with local advertisements and broadcasts in English and Taiwanese Mandarin.[19] The feed ceased operations on 1 January 2022, after 26 years of broadcasting, due to the launch of Disney+ on 12 November 2021.[12][13]

Programming
Main article: List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel (Asian TV channel)

References
  1. Multiple sources:
  2. "Disney Group set to close five cable channels in Taiwan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  3. "Disney Channel comes to Manila". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. 4 January 2000. p. 24. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  4. Godfrey, Leigh (30 May 2002). "Disney Channel Asia Launches In Korea". Animation World Network. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  5. "Disney launches two channels in Cambodia". Indiantelevision.com. Mumbai. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  6. Baroness, The (1 June 2020). "Disney+ Singapore Incoming: Disney Channels Dropped From Starhub & Singtel". Geek Culture. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  7. Frater, Patrick (3 May 2021). "Disney Plus Hotstar to Launch in Malaysia With Local Content Component". Variety. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  8. "Disney to shut down most of its TV channels in Southeast Asia, eyes growth in streaming services". CNA. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  9. San Pedro, Jan Lawrence (1 October 2021). "DISNEY CHANNEL ASIA FINAL SIGN OFF [01-OCTOBER 2021]". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  10. "DISNEY CHANNEL HONG KONG SHUTDOWN FOOTAGE (10/01/2021)香港迪士尼頻道關台 頻道錄像（2021年10月1日）". YouTube. Asia: H CZ. 1 January 2022. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  11. "Disney Group set to close five cable channels in Taiwan - Taipei Times". taipeitimes.com. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  12. Strong, Matthew (27 August 2021). "Disney Channel ends after 26 years in Taiwan to make way for Disney+". Taiwan News. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  13. "Disney Channel To Close In Taiwan Following Disney+ Launch". What's On Disney Plus. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  14. "20220101 台灣迪士尼頻道收播". YouTube (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taiwan. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. "Disney+Hotstar expected to end 2021 with over 50 million subscribers". Indian Television Dot Com. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  16. "Astro Will Discontinue Disney Channel In December 2021 So Watch Your Favourite, Nostalgic Shows Quick!". Astro. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  17. "Disney+ Hotstar comes to Malaysia on June 1, RM54.90 for three months". The Malay Mail. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  18. "Disney and Fox Channels End of Broadcast". Sky PH. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  19. "台灣迪士尼官方網站" (in Chinese). 27 August 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
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