Disney Channel Southeast Asia (formerly known as The Disney Channel from 1996 to 1997) was a defunct basic cable and satellite television channel that broadcasts in Southeast Asia as the flagship property of owner Disney Channels Worldwide unit of the United States-based Disney–ABC Television Group, managed by The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia. Most of its original programming is aimed at all ages while its Disney Junior programs are targeted at younger children ages 3–6, although certain programs are aimed at audiences of all ages. The channel's programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically-released and original made-for-cable movies and select other third-party programming. Some countries—with either a lack of capacity or due to government restrictions—do not carry the network.
History[]
Disney Channel Asia was launched in January 2000 with a single video feed and two audio tracks in English and Mandarin, as well as subtitles in Mandarin too. The channel became available in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. On June 1, 2002, the channel was launched in the South Korean market with a Korean language feed. 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.
On September 12, 2017, Walt Disney International announced a restructuring of its business in Asia, and that Mahesh Samat is to lead the new Disney South Asia division, combining India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, while Luke Kang will be leading the North Asia division, combining Mainland China, South Korea and Japan.[4]
On October 1, 2021, Disney Channel and Disney Junior along with some Fox Networks Asia channels (except National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Star Chinese and Star Chinese Movies, which will continue to broadcast after the closure) has ceased its transmission in the rest of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong except Taiwan (which will later ceased its transmission on January 1, 2022) to focus on streaming strategy for Disney+ (or Disney+ Hotstar outside of Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan).[1][2] The network has shutdown at exactly 1:00AM (Philippine Time) with Star vs. the Forces of Evil being the last program to air.[3]
HD channel[]
On May 1, 2015, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia launched a high-definition simulcast feed of Disney Channel in the Philippines, available on SkyCable and Destiny Cable distributed by Asian Cable Communications, Inc. (ACCION) in that country. Just like its SD counterpart, the HD simulcast of the channel airs the same shows shown in the SD feed. On November 22, 2019, Astro launched the HD simulcast of Disney Channel in Malaysia.
Feeds[]
Singapore[]
Same schedule as Asia feed, plus new episodes of live-action shows and local advertisements. This feed is shut down on May 31, 2020, in favor Disney+ which was launched on February 23, 2021.[4][5]
Malaysia[]
Same schedule as the Asia feed, plus local advertisements. It is available in four languages: English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese. This channel is only available on Astro in Malaysia and Kristal-Astro in Brunei. The feed was shut down on 31 December 2020, along with its sister channels on Astro due to the launch of Disney+ Hotstar on June 1, 2021.[6][7]
Asia[]
Main feed available in Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Palau and Cambodia. These feeds are officially ceased all operations on October 1, 2021.
Indonesia[]
Schedule is very similar to the main feed, with the exclusions of movies. It separated from the main feed since September 1, 2020 due to Disney+ Hotstar, which launched in the country on September 5, 2020. The channel was ceased operations on October 1, 2021, with content moving over to Disney+ Hotstar.
Philippines[]
Same schedule as the Asia feed, plus selected live-action sitcoms & local advertisements. The channel has ceased operations on October 1, 2021, in favor Disney+ which was launched on November 17, 2022.[8][9][10]
Vietnam[]
1-hour timeshifted version of the main Asia feed with local advertisements, Vietnamese translations in promos and subtitles. The channel will cease operations on October 1, 2021.
Hong Kong[]
Own schedule with local advertisements; separated from Asia feed on April 2, 2004. Broadcast in English and Cantonese. Disney XD shows were featured to their line-up. The channel has ceased operations on October 1, 2021, in favor Disney+ which was launched on November 16, 2021.
Taiwan[]
Own schedule with local advertisements; the first overseas feed of Disney Channel; began operations in March 1995; broadcast in Taiwanese Mandarin, English, Hokkien, and Japanese. This feed has shut down on January 1, 2022, with content moving over to Disney+, which was launched on November 12, 2021.[2]
Programming[]
Programming blocks[]
- Disney Channel Movie - Daily 8pm (except Indonesia, as of September 1, 2020)
- Break Out Fridays - Friday nights (from April-June 2020)
- Monstober – Every October
- Dis the Season (formerly known as Fa-la-la-lidays) – every November–December (cancelled)
- 25 Days of Christmas (2017-18) - Every December which ran until December 25.
- School's Out! - Every March–August (2019-2020)
- All New Fridays (formerly known as Fab Fridays) - Every Friday (November 22, 2019-2021)
Presentation and Logos[]
With the launch of the channel in 1995, 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 late 2003, when the US logo (and design package by CA Square) became the channel's on-air presentation format. Two more redesigns were made in 2012, then in 2014 with the current wordmark logo.
Disney Channel Asia started using parts of the US rebrand from 1 December 2017, and rebranded fully on 1 January 2018 at 6am. In December 2018, the channel partially used the Item Age elements for its 25 Days of Christmas, then started using again in August 2019 for Wizards of Warna Walk promos and recycled promos from the US itself (including Amphibia and Bunk'd), and again on December 2019 in a promo of Pokémon Sun & Moon: Ultra Adventures.
Gallery[]
Lineups[]
For more information see Disney Channel Asia Lineups (archive)
References[]
- ↑ https://deadline.com/2021/04/disney-closes-asia-tv-channels-1234744754/amp/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://whatsondisneyplus.com/disney-channel-to-close-in-taiwan-following-disney-launch/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuFaxmOTQFQ
- ↑ Baroness, The (1 June 2020). "Disney+ Singapore Incoming: Disney Channels Dropped From Starhub & Singtel". Geek Culture. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/DisneyPlusSG/status/1337211685589766145
- ↑ https://astroulagam.com.my/entertainment/article/173920/astro-s-kids-entertainment-gets-a-makeover-with-exciting-new-channels-and-content
- ↑ https://variety.com/2021/streaming/asia/disney-plus-hotstar-malaysia-launch-1234965831/
- ↑ https://www.spin.ph/life/guide/cignal-also-announces-shutdown-of-fox-disney-channels-a795-20210916
- ↑ Disney Plus unveils lineup for APAC region, streaming service coming to the Philippines soon?
- ↑ Disney+ to be available in PH starting November 17