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Playhouse Disney

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Playhouse Disney
Playhouse-disney.png
NetworkDisney Channel
LaunchedApril 6, 1997; 24 years ago (1997-04-06) (prelaunch, as Disney Channel Preschool Block)
February 1, 1999; 22 years ago (1999-02-01) (official, as Playhouse Disney)
ClosedFebruary 13, 2011; 10 years ago (2011-02-13)
(later became Disney Junior)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerDisney Channels Worldwide
(The Walt Disney Company)
HeadquartersBurbank, California, United States
Formerly known asDisney Channel Preschool Block (1997-99)
Sister networkDisney Channel
Disney XD
Format720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Original language(s)English
Official websitehttp://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse

Playhouse Disney is a former brand for a slate of programming blocks and international cable and satellite television channels that were owned by the Disney Channels Worldwide unit of The Walt Disney Company's Disney–ABC Television Group. It originated in the United States as a morning program block on the Disney Channel. Aimed mainly at children aged two to seven years old, its programming featured a mix of live-action and animated series.

The Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel was rebranded as the Disney Junior block on Disney Channel on February 14, 2011. The remaining channels and blocks using the Playhouse Disney brand outside the US relaunched under the Disney Junior brand over the next 2.5 years 18 days, concluding with the rebranding of the Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel Russia on September 1, 2013.

History[]

Prior to Playhouse Disney's launch, Disney Channel had aired a lineup of preschool-targeted programs (which were mixed alongside animated series aimed at older children) during the morning hours since its debut in April 1983. On April 6, 1997, Disney Channel underwent a relaunch that signified the beginning of its full conversion into a commercial-free basic cable channel, and its morning program block now utilized a similar graphics package for its promotions as that used for the channel's afternoon children's programs. After Disney Channel's preschool block premiered three new original series in 1998 (PB&J Otter, Rolie Polie Olie (produced by Canadian animation studio Nelvana), and the live-action series Out of the Box), the block rebranded as Playhouse Disney on February 1, 1999.

One of the Playhouse Disney block's most popular series was Bear in the Big Blue House, an educational puppetry series from Jim Henson Productions that debuted in October 1997, focusing on the adventures of Bear (performed by Noel MacNeal); the series was named by TV Guide as one of the "top 10 new shows for kids" that year.[1] For the first three years of its run, the Playhouse Disney block originally aired each weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and weekends from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Following each program, which usually ran 23 minutes (most of which, with the exception of films, aired without promotional interruption), the remainder of the time period was filled by either short segments and music videos (the latter of which were originally aired under the banner "Feet Beat") or an episode of an acquired short series.

On April 16, 2001, Playhouse Disney introduced a new on-air graphics package produced by motion graphics company Beehive;[2] actress Allyce Beasley began serving as the U.S. block's promo announcer at this time, a capacity she would hold until March 30, 2007. Radio Disney cross-promoted the block by rebranding its "Mickey and Minnie's Tune Time" block as "Playhouse Disney", and in 2002, the TV block's "Feet Beat" interstitials were renamed "BB's Music Time" to promote the Radio Disney block. On June 25, 2001, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group (now Disney-ABC Television Group) announced plans to launch Playhouse Disney Channel, a companion digital cable and satellite channel that would have served the same target audience as the Disney Channel block;[3][4] plans for the network were later scrapped, although Disney-ABC International Television would launch dedicated Playhouse Disney channels and blocks in international markets (including Canada, Afro-Eurasia and Latin America) between 2002 and 2007. The Walt Disney Company acquired the broadcast rights to The Wiggles as part of their purchase of the Fox Family Channel in 2001; The Wiggles moved to Playhouse Disney in June 2002 and became one of the block's most watched shows during its run.

Like Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney was a commercial-free service, but it did show short "promotional spots" (structured as short-form segments for Disney products targeted at the block's demographics) alongside – beginning in 2002 – underwriter sponsorships (with companies such as McDonald's[5]) within breaks between programs[6] (preschool-targeted programs that aired between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. Central Time outside of the Playhouse Disney banner, included the promotional shorts for Disney entertainment products that were seen during Disney Channel's afternoon and nighttime schedule). On September 30, 2002, Playhouse Disney changed its logo to reflect Disney Channel's on-air rebranding. As part of the block's effort to phase out its older interstitial material, it introduced a mascot that month named Clay (voiced by Debi Derryberry), an anthropomorphic clay figure who often used the catchphrases "It's true!" and "Are you with me?".

On March 31, 2007, Ooh and Aah, two puppet monkeys (who served as the main characters for one of the short series featured on the Playhouse Disney lineup, Ooh, Aah & You) became the official hosts of the block, replacing Clay. Every summer since 2007, Playhouse Disney's end time was truncated to four hours on weekdays (from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time). Episodes from Disney Channel's original series were aired during the late morning and early afternoon hours. However, the weekend schedule continued to air seven hours. By this point, the Playhouse Disney block had expanded to air from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays, and 4:00 to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on weekends, each running a different schedule.

Disney Junior[]

See also: Disney Junior

On May 26, 2010, Disney-ABC Television Group announced the launch of Disney Junior, a relaunching of Playhouse Disney that would serve as the brand for the Disney Channel block and a new standalone digital cable and satellite channel in the United States, as well as the new brand for the existing Playhouse Disney-branded cable channels and program blocks outside the US.[7][8] The Playhouse Disney block ended its 14-year run on February 13, 2011, with the last program to air being an episode of the short series Handy Manny's School for Tools at 1:55 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Disney Junior block debuted on February 14, 2011,[9] with the Little Einsteins episode “Fire Truck Rocket” as its first program.[10][11][12][failed verification] Several former Playhouse Disney series were carried over to the relaunched block including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Special Agent Oso, Imagination Movers, Handy Manny, and Little Einsteins. With the relaunch of the block, the block's mascots Ooh and Aah were retired and several of its older programs were entirely discontinued (however, Ooh and Aah & You was later briefly available on the Disney Junior website as a part of the Fan Favorites week of July 18, 2011 and was also later carried in reruns on the Disney Junior cable channel). Additionally, its episodes are available on Disney Junior’s YouTube channel as of January 6, 2011.

The 24-hour Disney Junior cable channel debuted on March 23, 2012 with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode "Mickey's Big Surprise" as its first program, mainly featuring a mix of original series and programs held over from the Playhouse Disney library (which largely aired as part of the channel's overnight schedule until mid-2014 when overtime, more Playhouse Disney shows were taken off the air air completely after premiering it’s series finales and ceasing to air in reruns).[8][13] Disney Junior took over the channel space held by the Disney-owned soap opera-focused channel Soapnet, largely due to that channel's existing subscriber reach (being carried in 75 million households with pay television). An automated Soapnet feed remained in operation for providers that did not yet reach agreements to carry the Disney Junior channel or providers that were required to continue carrying Soapnet in addition to Disney Junior[14][15] until Soapnet fully ceased operations by going quietly dark on December 31, 2013 at 11:59 pm, following the last program to air being an episode of General Hospital.[16]

Programming[]

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Playhouse Disney
See also: List of Playhouse Disney original series

International[]

On September 28, 1999, the Playhouse Disney brand was extended internationally with the launch of a self-branded block on Disney Channel in the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland. On September 29, 2000, Disney Television International expanded the block with the launch of a channel in the country alongside the launch of Toon Disney and Disney Channel +1 on the Sky Digital platform.[17] On April 4, 2009, Egmont Group launched a companion Playhouse Disney magazine in the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland that focused on the channel's four most popular shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins. Each issue included "to do" pages and suggested activities for parents and children based on an educational theme. The Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel UK & Republic of Ireland was eventually disposed of in July 2004 after reducing hours of programming.[18] The Playhouse Disney channel available there, however, continued to air until it was replaced by Disney Junior on May 7, 2011.[19]

On November 30, 2007, Astral Media launched a Canadian version of Playhouse Disney Channel under a brand licensing agreement with Disney-ABC Television Group; the channel operated as a multiplex channel of Family Channel, which had long maintained a programming distribution agreement with Disney Channel for the domestic rights to the U.S. channel's series until January 2016. A Canadian-French version of Playhouse Disney was launched on July 5, 2010, also by Astral Media. The English & Canadian-French channels were both replaced by Disney Junior on May 6, 2011.[20]

List of international channels and blocks[]

Market Type Formerly Launch date Replaced by Replaced date
 United Kingdom[21] Channel Block on Disney Channel September 29, 2000 Disney Junior May 7, 2011[19]
+1 timeshift channel N/A November 3, 2007[22] Disney Junior +1
Block on ABC1 N/A Summer 2006[23] N/A September 26, 2007[24]
 United States Block on Disney Channel N/A February 1, 1999[4] Disney Junior February 14, 2011[25]
 Spain Channel N/A 2001 Disney Junior June 2011[21]
 Israel Channel N/A 2001 Disney Junior July 18, 2011
Middle East & North Africa Channel Jetix Play September 1, 2010 Disney Junior April 1, 2011
Block 2004 Disney Junior April 1, 2011
 South Africa Channel Jetix Play N/A Disney Junior June 1, 2011
 Russia Block on Disney Channel N/A August 10, 2010 Disney Junior September 1, 2013
 Romania Block[26] N/A September 19, 2009 Disney Junior June 1, 2011
Asia Block[27] N/A June 1, 2004 Disney Junior July 11, 2011[28]
 Australia Block on Seven Network N/A 2003[29] N/A N/A
Block on Disney Channel[26] N/A N/A N/A N/A
Channel N/A December 2005[26] Disney Junior May 29, 2011[30]
 France[21] Channel N/A November 2, 2002 Disney Junior 2011
HD simulcast channel N/A 2009 Disney Junior 2011
Block[27] N/A N/A N/A N/A
 Taiwan Block N/A 2004 Disney Junior September 1, 2011
 Japan Block N/A N/A Disney Junior July 3, 2011
 Hong Kong Channel N/A April 2, 2004[31] Disney Junior July 11, 2011[32]
 Malaysia Channel N/A 2004[33]
 Singapore Channel N/A 2004[33]
 Indonesia Channel N/A 2004[33]
 Germany Channel N/A November 10, 2004[34] Disney Junior July 14, 2011[21]
 Thailand Channel N/A January 2005[35] Junior July 11, 2011[28]
 Cambodia Channel N/A June 20, 2005[36]
 Vietnam Channel N/A 2005[37]
 Philippines Channel Block December 2005[38]
 South Korea Channel N/A May 2006[39]
 India Block on Disney Channel N/A 2006[40] Disney Junior block 2011
 Argentina Block on an Artear channel N/A 2007[41] N/A N/A
Scandinavia Channel N/A 2006 Disney Junior September 10, 2011
 Sweden Channel N/A 2006
 Norway Channel N/A 2006
 Denmark Channel N/A 2006
 Finland Channel N/A 2006
 Iceland Channel N/A 2006
 Canada
(operated by Astral Media)[42]		 Channel N/A November 30, 2007[20] Disney Junior[43] May 6, 2011
French language channel
(Playhouse Disney Télé)		 N/A July 5, 2010[44] Disney Junior N/A
Latin America Channel (three feeds) N/A June 1, 2008[45] Disney Junior April 1, 2011[46]
 Portugal Block on Disney Channel N/A November 28, 2001 Disney Junior June 1, 2011
Central & Eastern Europe Channel Jetix Play 2010[citation needed] Disney Junior June 2011
Block September 19, 2009 Disney Junior June 2011
 Poland Channel September 1, 2010[47] Disney Junior 2010[21]
 Czech Republic
 Slovakia		 Block[48] 2010 Disney Junior June 1, 2011
 Italy[21][49] Channel N/A 2005 Disney Junior 2011
+1 timeshift channel N/A 2009 Disney Junior +1 2011
 Turkey Channel Jetix Play September 1, 2010 Disney Junior 2011
 Netherlands
 Belgium		 Channel N/A May 3, 2010 [50] Disney Junior September 10, 2011[51]
Block on Disney Channel N/A

Slogans[]

  • "Learning is powered by Imagination" (February 1, 1999 – October 6, 2002)
  • "Imagine and Learn" (October 7, 2002 – March 30, 2007)
  • "Every day there’s something new!" (March 31, 2007 – February 13, 2011)

See also[]

  • Nick Jr. – a preschool-targeted digital cable and satellite network that originated as a program block on Nickelodeon from 1988 to 2009 and a channel since 2009
  • Universal Kids – a digital cable and satellite network featuring preschool-oriented programs mainly sourced from the PBS library as well as original series; formerly Sprout
  • Disney Junior – a channel that is based on Playhouse Disney and has been airing since 2011 as a television block on Disney Channel and a channel since 2012

References[]

  1. ^ Kidscreen Staff (April 1, 1998). "A Salute to Disney Channel: Disney Channel time line". KidScreen.com. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  2. ^ Opens and Logos, Post Magazine, June 1, 2002.
  3. ^ Play nice now; Walt Disney Co. plans to introduce Playhouse Disney Channel, Broadcasting & Cable (via HighBeam Research), June 25, 2001.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Beatty, Sally (June 21, 2001). "Disney Plans to Launch New Cable Network, Aiming Programming at Preschool Audience". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  5. ^ Oei, Lily (January 7, 2004). "Nick's Noggin nabs sponsors". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  6. ^ "Playhouse Disney schedule". Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  7. ^ PreSchool Programs Replace SOAPnet, The New York Times, May 27, 2010.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b SOAPnet Will Go Dark to Make Way for Disney Junior Archived 2010-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, Entertainment Weekly, May 26, 2010.
  9. ^ Grosz, Christy (September 26, 2011). "Disney Junior acing frosh year". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
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  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Boehm, Erich (April 15, 2002). "Mouse picks up kidvid series, movies". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b "Magical, musical stories on all-new Disney Junior". philstar.com. June 30, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  29. ^ Waller, Ed (October 9, 2002). "Blocks and packages for Buena Vista Asia-Pacific". C21 Media. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  30. ^ Bulbeck, Pip (April 1, 2011). "Walt Disney Rebranding Preschool Channel as Disney Junior in Australia and New Zealand". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  31. ^ "Disney, Playhouse Hit Hong Kong". Multichannel. NewBay Media, LLC. March 3, 2004. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  32. ^ Chung, Barry (July 10, 2011). "A brand new home for Mickey and Co". South China Morning Post. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b c Esposito, Maria (June 8, 2004). "Korean debut for Disney Playhouse". C21 Media. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  34. ^ "Ready, willing 'n' cable". Variety. October 24, 2004. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  35. ^ Whiteman, Bobbie (January 25, 2005). "Disney, Playhouse bow in Thailand". Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  36. ^ Ball, Ryan (June 20, 2005). "Disney Channels Swim to Cambodia". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
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  38. ^ Osborne, Magz (December 14, 2005). "Mouse opens Philippine Playhouse". Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  39. ^ "Walt Disney Television Launches Playhouse Disney Channel". The Manila Times. May 13, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  40. ^ "Disney Junior to find biz model in digital India". Indiantelevision.com. November 21, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  41. ^ Newbery, Charles (April 25, 2007). "'High School' remake for Argentina". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  42. ^ Vlessing, Etan (July 25, 2014). "DHX Media approved for Family Channel takeover". KidScreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  43. ^ "Disney Junior Launches May 6 with new Programs and a Nod to Classic Disney Characters and Magic" (Press release). TORONTO: Astral Media. CNW Telbec. March 3, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  44. ^ "Astral launches French-language Playhouse Disney Channel with Bell TV" (Press release). TORONTO: Bell TV. May 31, 2010. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  45. ^ Ibarra, Sergio (April 2008). "Playhouse Disney Launches in Latin America". TV Week. Crain Communications Inc. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  46. ^ Sola, Bertha (April 1, 2011). "Disney Junior where the magic begins". Chronicle Today (in Spanish). Retrieved August 15, 2014. Google translation.
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  48. ^ Disney Channel Czech - Promo: Playhouse Afternoon Schedule. YouTube. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
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  50. ^ Robert Briel (23 April 2010). "UPC launches Playhouse Disney". Broadband TV News.
  51. ^ Jarco Kriek (18 August 2011). "Disney Junior neemt plaats Playhouse Disney in" (in Dutch). Totaal TV.

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