Disney Junior (Southeast Asian TV channel)

Disney Junior (formerly known as Playhouse Disney from 2004 to 2011) was a Southeast Asian pay television channel owned and operated by Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific, and The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte. Ltd.

This article is about Disney Junior in Asia. For the original American version, see Disney Junior. For other international versions, see List of Disney Junior TV channels.
Disney Junior
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)Chinese
Indonesian
Tamil
Thai
English
Vietnamese (continuity and bumpers in English)
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 / 4:3 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner
ParentBuena Vista International
Sister channels
History
Launched
  • 24 May 2004 (2004-05-24) (as Playhouse Disney as a block),
  • 2 April 2004 (2004-04-02) (in Hong Kong)
  • 8 June 2004 (2004-06-08) (in Malaysia, Singapore, & Indonesia),[1] 25 January 2005 (2005-01-25) (in Thailand),[2]

20 June 2005 (2005-06-20) (in Cambodia),[3] 1 August 2005 (2005-08-01) (in Vietnam),[4] 14 December 2005 (2005-12-14) (in Philippines),[5]

  • 11 July 2011 (2011-07-11) (launch as Disney Junior)
Closed1 June 2020 (2020-06-01) (Singapore)
1 January 2021 (2021-01-01) (Malaysia, Astro)
September 1, 2021 (2021-09-01) (Now TV feed, Hong Kong)
1 October 2021 (2021-10-01) (Southeast Asia)[6][7]
31 December 2021 (2021-12-31) (Taiwan)
Replaced byNick Jr. (Malaysia, Astro & Thailand, TrueVisions)
Former namesPlayhouse Disney (2004–2011)
Links
Websitetv.disney.asia

Aimed mainly at children between ages 2 to 7 years old,[8] its programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically released and made-for-DVD movies and other select third-party programming, which is mostly from PBS Kids.

Disney Junior also lent its name to an early morning program block seen on sister network Disney Channel, branded as Disney Junior on Disney Channel until it discontinued since July 31, 2018, using the Disney Channel moniker.

History

Disney Junior Asia was first broadcast in Hong Kong as Playhouse Disney on April 2004,[9] then the morning block on Disney Channel was launched on May 24, 2004. From 2004 to 2005, Disney launched Playhouse Disney in several countries in Southeast Asia.

On June 30, 2011, Laura Wendt, vice president and managing director of Disney Channels Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Korea announced that Playhouse Disney will be rebranded as Disney Junior in Southeast Asia & Hong Kong on July 11, 2011. Laura said that Disney Junior will feature the hallmarks of the Disney brand, story, and character. They'll take classic Disney characters, beloved, through generations, and bring them to life on TV with elements that encourage early childhood learning.[10]

On March 1, 2016, Disney Junior changed to its widescreen format in some countries, while launching its high-definition channel.

On July 31, 2018, the Disney Junior on Disney Channel block was discontinued for no reason.

Closure

On June 1, 2020, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior ceased transmission in Singapore on both Singtel and StarHub after failing the contract renewal with both service providers in the country.[11] Select programs from these 3 channels were moved to, replaced by and made it available via Disney+ on February 23, 2021.

On August 5, 2020, Disney Junior upgraded to HD on Astro alongside Disney Channel. On January 1, 2021, the channels ceased operations across Astro and Astro-owned TV providers (including NJOI and Kristal-Astro) in Malaysia due to the launch of Astro's Refreshed Kids Pack, while airing PJ Masks,[12] that announced back on December 14, 2020.

While its shows moved to Disney+ Hotstar in the said country on June 1, 2021.

After 17 years of broadcasting, Disney Junior Asia, Disney Junior Hong Kong, Disney Channel Asia, Disney Channel Hong Kong along with Disney channels and many other Fox channels in Southeast Asia have closed on October 1, 2021,[6][13] at exactly 1:00 am (UTC+08:00)/12:00 am (UTC+07:00), concluding with Mira, Royal Detective.[14]

However, Disney Junior shows will be shown instead on Disney+ Hotstar and Disney+ depends on its countries.[15] Nevertheless, Disney Junior Taiwan block on Disney Channel, along with the Nat Geo channels, will continue to operate after this date.[7] But the block ended at New Year's Eve (December 31, 2021).

Final Feeds
  • Main: Available in Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Vietnam (excluding and formerly included in Singapore & Malaysia)*
  • Hong Kong: Available in Hong Kong and Macau with its own TV schedule. Broadcast language in Cantonese and English.*
  • Taiwan: Available in Taiwan with its own TV block on Disney Channel, runs from 6 am to 1 pm (UTC+08:00). Broadcast language in Taiwanese Mandarin and English, it also aired continuities and promos. It ended last December 31, 2021, due to the launch of Disney+ on November 12, 2021.

(*) Ceased operations on October 1, 2021.

Disney Junior Magazine Philippines

Disney Junior Magazine Philippines (known as Disney Junior Magazine and formerly known as Playhouse Disney Magazine Philippines) is an educational magazine published in the Philippines by Summit Media in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.

    References
    1. "Disney launches Playhouse in Singapore". C21Media.
    2. "Disney, Playhouse bow in Thailand". Variety. Retrieved 25 January 2005.
    3. "Disney Channels Swim to Cambodia". Animation Magazine. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2005.
    4. "Mickey follows Ho Chi Minh trail". C21Media.
    5. "Mouse opens Philippine Playhouse". Variety. 14 December 2005. Retrieved 14 December 2005.
    6. Multiple sources:
    7. "Disney Group set to close five cable channels in Taiwan - Taipei Times". taipeitimes.com. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
    8. "Disney Channels – About Us". Retrieved 26 April 2020.
    9. "Disney, Playhouse hit Hong Kong". Multichannel. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2004.
    10. "Magical, musical stories on all new Disney Junior". Philstar.com. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
    11. "Disney+ Singapore Incoming: Disney Channels dropped from StarHub & Singtel". Asiaone.com. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
    12. MaxDex. "All Disney Channels Closedown (Malaysia & Brunei Feed) - 1 January 2021". YouTube.
    13. "Disney to shut down most of its TV channels in Southeast Asia, eyes growth in streaming services". CNA. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
    14. Bebas, Jenis (1 October 2021). "Disney Junior Southeast Asia Feed Closing/Shut Down". YouTube. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
    15. "Disney+Hotstar expected to end 2022 with over 50 million subscribers". Indian Television Dot Com. 2021-02-24. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
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