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Disney Junior (Asian TV channel)

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Disney Junior
Broadcast area
  • Singapore
    (until 31 May 2020)
  • Malaysia
    (until 31 December 2020)
  • South Korea
    (until 30 September 2021)
  • 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
Languages
Picture format
    • HDTV 1080i
    • (downscaled to 480i/576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte. Ltd.
Sister channels
History
Founded2 July 2001 (2001-07-02) (as a programming block on Disney Channel)
Launched
  • 2 April 2004 (2004-04-02) (first broadcast in Hong Kong and Indonesia; as Playhouse Disney)
  • 11 July 2011 (2011-07-11) (as Disney Junior)
Closed
  • 1 June 2020 (2020-06-01) (Singapore)
  • 1 January 2021 (2021-01-01) (Malaysia)
  • 1 October 2021 (2021-10-01) (Pan-Asian, and Hong Kong feeds)
  • 31 December 2021 (2021-12-31) (Taiwan; programming block)
Replaced byDisney+ (de facto)
Former namesPlayhouse Disney (2004–2011)

Disney Junior was a Southeast Asian preschool pay television channel owned by the Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia that was broadcast from 2 April 2004 to 31 December 2021. Aimed mainly at children between ages 2 to 7 years old,[1][2] its programming consisted of original first-run television series and films (either theatrically or home video released, or made-for-television), as well as other select third-party programming.

Launched in 2004 as Playhouse Disney, Disney Junior also served as an early morning program block seen on Disney Channel, where it was branded as Disney Junior on Disney Channel until 31 July 2018. The channel closed in 2021, due to the launch of Disney+ in the region.

History

Launch

The Asian version of Playhouse Disney started in 2 July 2001, as a block on Disney Channel,[3] with plans for the standalone channel beginning in October 2002.[4] It was launched as a channel for Hong Kong and Indonesia on 2 April 2004, with an aim of reaching more territories in South East Asia and Korea.[5][6] From 2004 to 2005, it expanded in several Southeast Asian countries. Singapore became the third country to receive the channel, launching on StarHub TV on 15 May 2004.[7] It was followed by Korea in June 2004, Malaysia in early July 2004,[8] Brunei in late August, alongside Disney Channel, on Kristal-Astro,[9] Cambodia in June 2005, along with Disney Channel,[10] Vietnam in May 2005, also with Disney Channel, on Hanoi Cable and Ho Chi Minh Cable, entirely in English without Vietnamese dubbing, in a market that at the time had an under-14 population of 24 million;[11] and the Philippines in December 2005, with a separate feed. It was the first preschool-oriented television channel in Southeast Asia,[12] with Nick Jr. and Cartoonito launching years later.

On 11 July 2011, Playhouse Disney was rebranded as Disney Junior.[13]

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

Closure

On 1 June 2020, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior closed in Singapore on both Singtel and StarHub after failing the contract renewal with both service providers in the country.[14]

On 5 August 2020, Disney Junior upgraded to HD on Astro alongside Disney Channel. On 1 January 2021, the channels closed on Astro and Astro-owned television providers (including NJOI and Kristal-Astro) in Malaysia due to the launch of Astro's new children's offerings, which was announced on 14 December 2020, and excluded the Disney channels.

On 1 October 2021, Disney Junior, along with Disney Channel, and most of its Fox-branded channels in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong closed at midnight (UTC+07:00), due to the launch of Disney+ in the region.[15][16] The last program to air on the channel was Mira, Royal Detective episode "The Case of the Royal Scarf".[17]

The Disney Junior block in Taiwan on Disney Channel continued to air until 31 December 2021, when Disney Channel closed in Taiwan the following day.

Most Disney Junior shows were moved to Disney+ in selected territories.

Final feeds

Broadcast feed Availability Launched Type Broadcast language(s) Closed/replaced
Asia Indonesia 2 April 2004 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior) Television channel English, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese (voice over) 1 October 2021
Singapore 15 May 2004 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior) 1 June 2020
Malaysia 3 July 2004 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior) 1 January 2021
Brunei 8 August 2004 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior)
Thailand 20 January 2005 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior) 1 October 2021
Vietnam 3 May 2005 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior)
Cambodia 20 June 2005 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior)
Philippines 3 December 2005 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior)
Papua New Guinea 11 July 2011
Myanmar
Bangladesh 11 May 2016
Multiple Asian markets January 20, 2000 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior) Programming block on Disney Channel Multiple 31 July 2018
Hong Kong 2 April 2004 (Playhouse Disney); 11 July 2011 (Disney Junior) Television channel Cantonese, English 1 October 2021
Taiwan 3 September 2004 (Playhouse Disney); 1 September 2011 (Disney Junior) Programming block on Disney Channel Taiwan Taiwanese Mandarin, English 31 December 2021

Disney Junior Magazine Philippines

Disney Junior Magazine Philippines (known as Disney Junior Magazine and originally 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.[18]

Logos

References

  1. "Disney Channels – About Us". Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  2. Toh, Christopher (24 September 2014). "Don't dumb down children's shows". Today Online. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. "Playhouse Disney". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2 July 2001. p. 26.
  4. 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
  5. "Disney, Playhouse hit Hong Kong". Multichannel. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2004.
  6. "Disney readies bow". Variety. 8 March 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  7. Waller, Ed (5 May 2004). "Disney launches Playhouse in Singapore". C21Media. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  8. Davidson, Jenny (2 July 2004). "Disney adds Malaysia to Playhouse mix". C21Media. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  9. Baisley, Sarah (30 August 2004). "Playhouse Disney Channel Launches in Brunei". Animation World Network. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  10. Ball, Ryan (20 June 2005). "Disney Channels Swim to Cambodia". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  11. Whiteman, Bobbie (17 May 2005). "Vietnam tunes in Disney TV". Variety. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  12. "Playhouse gets dedicated Philippines feed". C21media. 12 December 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  13. "Magical, musical stories on all new Disney Junior". Philstar.com. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  14. "Disney+ Singapore Incoming: Disney Channels dropped from StarHub & Singtel". Asiaone.com. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  15. Multiple sources:
  16. "Disney to shut down most of its TV channels in Southeast Asia, eyes growth in streaming services". CNA. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  17. Bebas, Jenis (1 October 2021). "Disney Junior Southeast Asia Feed Closing/Shut Down". YouTube. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. "Disney Junior | Magazines | Summit Media". Summit Media. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2026.