Disney Channel

For the Disney Channel in other countries, see Disney Channel around the world.

Disney Channel

Ownership
Owner	The Walt Disney Company

Disney Channel is a 24-hour general entertainment television network in the United States that taps into the world of children through original series and movies, plus contemporary acquired programming. It is marketed to mostly young children, however in recent years more diversity in viewers has increased. Currently available on basic cable and satellite, Disney Channel is part of Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is based in Burbank, California, a short distance from Disney's headquarters. Disney Channel is slated to begin broadcasting in High-definition starting in early 2008.

Disney Channel's first broadcasting day aired on April 18, 1983. At this time, Disney Channel only airs 18 hours. The first produced Disney Channel original series shown on the network included Good Morning, Mickey!, Donald Duck Presents, Contraption, Dumbo's Circus, You and Me Kid, Welcome to Pooh Corner, and the late night series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Disney Channel received a special citation from the United States president Ronald Reagan in 1984. From the inception, Disney Channel only aired from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Until December 1986, Disney Channel started airing 24 hours. During the early years, Disney Channel aired several foreign animated series and movies including Asterix, The Raccoons, and Paddington Bear.

In 1997, Disney Channel took on a revamped look and dropped the The network's name. Disney Channel also splits the network into three blocks: Playhouse Disney feautures series aimed at toddlers and young kids, Vault Disney features classic series, and the most distinct one, Zoog Disney features series aimed at preteens and young teenagers. Playhouse Disney includes Breakfast With Bear, Charlie and Lola, and The Doodlebops. Vault Disney includes Zorro, The Mickey Mouse Club, and Disney Anthology Television Series. Zoog Disney includes Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, and That's So Raven. Zoog Disney connected Disney Channel viewers and the computer, applying it a MySpace environment by allowing viewers to interact with games and see their names on television. Zoog Disney also featured anthropomorphic characters called Zoogs. The Zoogs started to carry promos from Disney Channel. Around this time, Disney Channel started running music specials, which showcased acts by 'NSync, Backstreet Boys, Steps, and B*Witched. As the three blocks introduced in 1997, only Playhouse Disney continues this day.

While Disney Channel switched from premium cable to basic cable on January 1997, most of the design elements changed three years later. The Zoogs were redesigned and a new channel logo which featured a 1930s Mickey Mouse on a black Mickey ear-shaped TV was introduced in 1997. In 1998, Zoog Disney was introduced to Disney Channel meaning that the channel would have two logos: the Disney Channel Logo introduced in 1997 and the Zoog Disney Logo introduced in 1998. The two logos lasted from 1998-2002, when Zoog Disney was removed and Disney Channel introduced its current logo. The vintage material under the Vault Disney banner was also removed as of September 2002. From 2000-2003, ratings grew higher with shows such as That's So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, and Even Stevens. Lizzie McGuire became the highest-rated series on Disney Channel. Reruns of Lizzie McGuire continued to out rate competing shows, including Disney Channel Original Series itself. This led to the termination of Vault Disney and all other classic Disney Channel series on September 2002. To complement the change, Disney Channel changed their logo to celebrate its 20th Anniversary.

In 2002, Disney Channel remodeled itself once again including a new logo and graphics as well as program identification during programs. The Zoogs were dropped and the Zoog Disney website was folded into Disney Channel's principal website. The channel has become well known in recent years for its Disney Channel Original Series. Today, Disney Channel runs original programming such as That's So Raven, which is Disney Channel's highest rated series as of right now. That's So Raven made history as the first Disney Channel Original Series to pass the 65 episode limit and have 100 episodes. Other shows that have 65 episodes or over are: Lizzie McGuire, Kim Possible, and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

The Adventures In Comedy Disney Channel block was added in 2006. The block airs every day at 12:00 - 2:00. The block consists of Lilo & Stitch: The Series, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. The block was later canceled because of time slot changes on May 28, 2007.

• @ 12:00 - Lilo & Stitch: The Series
• @ 12:30 - The Little Mermaid
• @ 1:00 - The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa
• @ 1:30 - Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

The Disney Channel Diner Disney Channel block was added in 2007. The block airs weekdays at 6:00. The block consists of That's So Raven, Phil of the Future, Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and Life With Derek. The block was later canceled because of time slot changes on May 28, 2007.

• @ Monday 6:00 - That's So Raven
• @ Tuesday 6:00 - Phil of the Future
• @ Wednesday 6:00 - Hannah Montana
• @ Thursday 6:00 - The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
• @ Friday 6:00 - Life With Derek

The Hauntoberfest Disney Channel block was added in 2005. The block consists of new Halloween themed episodes and movies.

The Magnetude Disney Channel block was added in 2004. The block aired on Fridays. The block consists of Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Kim Possible, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, etc. The block was later canceled.

Additionally, a movie is broadcast almost every night, but not necessarily a theatrically released feature film. Disney Channel airs new made-for-TV movies, called Disney Channel Original Movies (or DCOMs), about 8 to 10 times a year, and those are frequently broadcast during that timeslot. Circa 2000, Disney Channel claimed to produce a new movie each month; this only lasted throughout that same year.

Recently as of 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 is the most successful DCOM in popularity and awards, with an Emmy Award win for Outstanding Children's Series; its soundtrack reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 twice (on March 1 and March 22, 2006), and had shipped over 3.5 million copies. Out of those copies, more than 3 million have been sold by September 2006; it was certified Triple Platinum by the RIAA. High School Musical also sold over 2 million DVDs and its novelization went to the top of New York Times Children Book Bestseller list. The Cheetah Girls soundtrack was certified Double Platinum with more than 2 million copies sold and the soundtrack to its sequel debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA with 1.3 million copies sold. The Cheetah Girls DVD was the first DCOM on DVD to sell over 1 million copies (certified Platinum). Both movies had multiple songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and iTunes charts.

Occasionally, the channel will secure the rights to air a picture released by a non-Disney studio, most notably Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (along with its sequels, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Universal Studios's Beethoven, Columbia-TriStar's Stuart Little and the same studio's Little Secrets which was owned by Samuel Goldwyn Films. They've also just released another non-Disney Christmas themed movie, The Polar Express.

During the 1980s and 1990s, movies made up most Disney'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 the same night during 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 movie:

• 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 or two, along with Disney Channel promos, will air, or an episode of Shorty McShorts' Shorts may run.

In November 2006, the Disney Channel Original Movie opener was remixed.

Disney Channel has aired promotions for General Mills cereals, Yoplait, McDonald's, and (Playhouse Disney) and Kellogg's. Though they are not regular commercials, they are tailored to Disney Channel as sponsors of Disney Channel. Other than these sponsors, Disney Channel's program breaks remain, for the most part, to consist mostly of promos for the Channel's programming as well as occasional promos for other Disney-ABC Television Group networks (except SOAPnet), music videos and public service announcements promoting physical activity.

• List of Disney Channel Series

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