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Disney Junior (Southeast Asian TV channel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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
The 2011 Logo
CountrySingapore (until 31 May 2020)

Malaysia (until 31 December 2020) Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand & Vietnam (until 30 September 2021)

Taiwan (until 31 December 2021)
Broadcast areaSoutheast Asia
NetworkDisney
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
OwnerFox Networks Group Asia Pacific
Disney Branded Television
(Disney International Operations)
Sister channels
(September 2012 - December 31, 2020)
History
Launched24 May 2004; 17 years ago (2004-05-24) (as Playhouse Disney as a block),[1] 2 April 2004; 17 years ago (2004-04-02) (in Hong Kong),[2] 8 June 2004; 17 years ago (2004-06-08) (in Malaysia, Singapore, & Indonesia),[3] 25 January 2005; 17 years ago (2005-01-25) (in Thailand),[4] 20 June 2005; 16 years ago (2005-06-20) (in Cambodia),[5] 1 August 2005; 16 years ago (2005-08-01) (in Vietnam),[6] 14 December 2005; 16 years ago (2005-12-14) (in Philippines),[7]
11 July 2011; 10 years ago (2011-07-11) (as Disney Junior in Southeast Asia),[8] 1 September 2011; 10 years ago (2011-09-01) (Taiwan, block on Disney Channel)
Closed1 June 2020; 21 months ago (2020-06-01) (Singapore, Singtel & StarHub)
1 January 2021; 14 months ago (2021-01-01) (Malaysia, Astro)[9]
September 1, 2021; 6 months ago (2021-09-01) (Now TV feed, Hong Kong)
1 October 2021; 5 months ago (2021-10-01) (Southeast Asia)[10][11]
31 December 2021; 60 days ago (2021-12-31) (Taiwan)
Replaced byNick Jr. (Malaysia, Astro & Thailand, TrueVisions)
Former namesPlayhouse Disney (2004–2011)
Links
Websitewww.disney.asia

Disney Junior (formerly known as Playhouse Disney from 2004 to 2011) was a Southeast Asian pay television channel owned by Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific, and The Walt Disney Company Asia-Pacific. Aimed mainly at children between ages two to seven years old,[12] 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

Channel and block launch

Disney Junior Asia began broadcasting on April 2, 2004, in Hong Kong as Playhouse Disney,[2] then the morning block on Disney Channel was launched on May 24, 2004. From June 2004 to December 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.[8]

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 using the Disney Channel monicker.

Closure in Singapore

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

Closure In Malaysia

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 on December 14, 2020, and Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia on June 1, 2021, while airing PJ Masks.[14]

They were replaced by Nick Jr. and Boomerang which launched on the same date, on the same Astro package (Kids Pack).[15] The cessation message put characters, including those from Tom and Jerry, and Dora, in both Disney Channel and Disney Junior's channel slots delivering this message: "This channel is no longer available. Enjoy the refreshed Kids Pack with new channels Boomerang (CH 619) and Nick Jr. (CH 617) on TV & 10,000 episodes demand. We also have FAMtv (CH 100), a brand new pop-up channel."

This message relayed that both Disney Channel and Disney Junior would not appear again on Astro after the official cessation.[16]

Closure in Asia

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 ended their broadcasts in Asia effective October 1, 2021,[10] at exactly 1:00 am (UTC+08:00) and 12:00 am (UTC+07:00). Causing some employees to retire.

The last program that aired is the first episode of Mira, Royal Detective (The Case of the Missing Scarf) respectively, before showing a still image containing the logo, and the message "This channel is no longer available, thank you for watching." after the program.[17]

However, Disney Junior shows will be shown instead on Disney+ Hotstar (in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam) and Disney+ (in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore) instead.[18][19] Nevertheless, Disney Junior Taiwan block on Disney Channel, along with National Geographic Asia and National Geographic Wild Asia, will continue to operate after this date.[11] 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. ^ "Mouse picks up kidvid series, movies". Variety. 15 April 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2002.
  2. ^ a b "Disney, Playhouse hit Hong Kong". Multichannel. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2004.
  3. ^ "Disney launches Playhouse in Singapore". C21Media.
  4. ^ "Disney, Playhouse bow in Thailand". Variety. Retrieved 25 January 2005.
  5. ^ "Disney Channels Swim to Cambodia". Animation Magazine. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2005.
  6. ^ "Mickey follows Ho Chi Minh trail". C21Media.
  7. ^ "Mouse opens Philippine Playhouse". Variety. 14 December 2005. Retrieved 14 December 2005.
  8. ^ a b "Magical, musical stories on all new Disney Junior". Philstar.com. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Astro's kids offering gets a makeover!". Astro. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  10. ^ a b Multiple sources:
  11. ^ a b "Disney Group set to close five cable channels in Taiwan - Taipei Times". taipeitimes.com. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  12. ^ "Disney Channels – About Us". Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Disney+ Singapore Incoming: Disney Channels dropped from StarHub & Singtel". Asiaone.com. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  14. ^ MaxDex. "All Disney Channels Closedown (Malaysia & Brunei Feed) - 1 January 2021". YouTube.
  15. ^ Hass, Milad; ARVISH. "Astro refreshes kids pack with two exciting new channels, over 10,000 On-Demand episodes | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  16. ^ "Astro's kids entertainment gets a makeover". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  17. ^ Bebas, Jenis (1 October 2021). "Disney Junior Southeast Asia Feed Closing/Shut Down". YouTube. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Disney to shut down most of its TV channels in Southeast Asia, eyes growth in streaming services". CNA. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
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