Disney Junior (Southeast Asian TV channel)

Disney Junior (formerly Playhouse Disney) was a Southeast Asian pay television preschool channel owned by The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia. Aimed mainly at children between ages 2 to 7 years old,[1] its programming consisted of original first-run television series and theatrically released and made-for-DVD movies, as well as other select third-party programming, some of which originally having aired on PBS Kids in the United States.

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
Broadcast area
  • Singapore
    (until 31 May 2020)
  • Malaysia
    (until 31 December 2020)
  • Rest of Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and parts of Oceania
    (until 30 September 2021)
  • Taiwan
    (block; until 31 December 2021)
Headquarters1 Fusionopolis View, #06-01 Sandcrawler Building, Singapore 138577
Programming
Language(s)
Picture format
    • HDTV 1080i
    • (downscaled to 480i/576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte. Ltd.
Sister channels
History
Founded2000 (as a programming block on Disney Channel)
Launched
  • 2 April 2004 (2004-04-02) (first broadcast in Hong Kong and Indonesia)
  • 11 July 2011 (2011-07-11) (as Disney Junior)
Closed
  • 1 June 2020 (2020-06-01) (Singapore)
  • 1 January 2021 (2021-01-01) (Malaysian)
  • 1 October 2021 (2021-10-01) (Pan-Asian feed and Hong Kong)
  • 31 December 2021 (2021-12-31) (Taiwan)
Replaced by
  • Disney+ (Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan)
  • Disney+ Hotstar (Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand)
Former namesPlayhouse Disney (2000–2011)

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 31 July 2018. The preschool channel ceased operations at the end of 2021.

History

Negotiations for an Asian version of Playhouse Disney started in 2000 as a block on Disney Channel.[2] It was later launched as a channel for Hong Kong and Indonesia on 2 April 2004.[3][4] From 2004 to 2005, it later expanded in several Southeast Asian countries.[5][6][7][8][9] In the Philippines, the channel was broadcast in English language[10] without the usage of native Tagalog.

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

Due to increasing localization of the Indian feeds of Disney Channel and Disney XD, they were banned from broadcasting in Bangladesh in 2013. Later, in 2016, the Southeast Asian feeds of the Disney channels, including Disney Junior Asia, became available on certain cable operators in Bangladesh.

On 1 March 2016, Disney Junior started broadcasting on widescreen (16:9).

On 31 July 2018, the Disney Junior on Disney Channel block was discontinued with no explanation given.

Closure

On 1 June 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.[12] Select programs from these 3 channels were moved to, replaced by and made it available via Disney+ on 23 February 2021.

On 5 August 2020, Disney Junior upgraded to HD on Astro alongside Disney Channel. On 1 January 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,[13] that announced back on 14 December 2020. While its shows moved to Disney+ Hotstar in the said country on 1 June 2021.

After 17 years of broadcasting, Disney Junior, along with Disney Channel, and most of its Fox channels in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong ceased on 1 October 2021,[14][15] at exactly 1:00 am (UTC+08:00)/12:00 am (UTC+07:00), concluding with Mira, Royal Detective,[16] thus the channel space originally created by Playhouse Disney Channel in 2004 folded and ceased to exist.

Most Disney Junior shows will be shown instead on Disney+ Hotstar and Disney+ depending on their countries. Nevertheless, the Disney Junior Taiwan block on Disney Channel will continue to operate after this date. But the block ended on New Year's Eve (31 December 2021).

Final Feeds
  • Main: Available in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It was formerly provided in Southeast Asia, Singapore and Malaysia. It ceased operations on October 1, 2021.
  • Hong Kong: Available in Hong Kong with its own schedule differing from the main pan-Asian feed. It broadcast in both Cantonese and English language. Along with the pan-Asian feed, it ceased operations on October 1, 2021, due to the launch of Disney+ on November 16 of that year.
  • Taiwan: Available in Taiwan with its own TV block on Disney Channel, runs from 6 am to 1 pm (UTC+08:00). It broadcast in Taiwanese Mandarin and English, and it also aired continuities and promos. It ceased operations on December 31, 2021, due to the launch of Disney+ on November 12 of that year.

Disney Junior Magazine Philippines

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

References
  1. "Disney Channels – About Us". Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  2. Osborne, Magz (5 April 2004). "Mouse net gets Asia bows". Variety. Retrieved 8 December 2022. Playhouse Disney was initially launched in Asia back in 2000 as a program block on the flagship Disney Channel
  3. "Disney, Playhouse hit Hong Kong". Multichannel. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2004.
  4. "Disney readies bow". Variety. 8 March 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  5. Waller, Ed (5 May 2004). "Disney launches Playhouse in Singapore". C21Media. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  6. Davidson, Jenny (2 July 2004). "Disney adds Malaysia to Playhouse mix". C21Media. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  7. "Playhouse Disney Channel Launches in Brunei". Animation World Network. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  8. Ball, Ryan (20 June 2005). "Disney Channels Swim to Cambodia". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  9. Whiteman, Bobbie (17 May 2005). "Vietnam tunes in Disney TV". Variety. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  10. "Playhouse gets dedicated Philippines feed". C21media. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  11. "Magical, musical stories on all new Disney Junior". Philstar.com. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  12. "Disney+ Singapore Incoming: Disney Channels dropped from StarHub & Singtel". Asiaone.com. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  13. MaxDex. "All Disney Channels Closedown (Malaysia & Brunei Feed) - 1 January 2021". YouTube.
  14. Multiple sources:
  15. "Disney to shut down most of its TV channels in Southeast Asia, eyes growth in streaming services". CNA. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  16. Bebas, Jenis (1 October 2021). "Disney Junior Southeast Asia Feed Closing/Shut Down". YouTube. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
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