Disney Channel (British and Irish TV channel)

Disney Channel UK would've been the first Disney Channel internationally to launch with the help of Sky Television in 1989. As planned, the channel featured much of the promotional material surrounding the launch of Sky Television and the Astra satellite. However, the partnership and a proposed joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Sky Television went into a lawsuit after the discussion regarding the joint venture took place in November 1988, but The Walt Disney Channel felt that it was no longer on equal footing on "decision-making responsibility" in a 50-50 partnership. The Walt Disney Company was supposed to launch two new channels in the UK, but when the talks broke down, Sky filed a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, claiming ₤1.5 billion in damages. The Walt Disney Company claimed that it wanted to get more influence over decision-making in the partnership and change the terms of the partnership. The Walt Disney Company was also reluctant to provide its share of funding for The Disney Channel.[3]

The lawsuit was later settled, and then The Walt Disney Company sold its joint-venture interest to Sky Television, and Sky went on to access the Walt Disney Pictures' movie library for 5 years.[4][5] However, with these 5 years having expired, The Walt Disney Company went on to launch The Disney Channel in the United Kingdom without any interest in Sky, but formed a distribution deal with Sky, offering The Disney Channel for free to cable and satellite subscribers if they had subscribed to Sky's movie package. The Disney Channel was also available as a standalone package without having to subscribe to Sky's movie package.

On 7 December 1994, The Walt Disney Company had announced that it had reached an agreement with the British Sky Broadcasting to launch The Disney Channel in the United Kingdom, as a subscription service in Autumn 1995. It was also announced that the channel will be available for free on Sky and cable operators which have already subscribed to the Sky Movies package. The Disney Channel UK will be the first brand with that name. Back in January 1994, The Walt Disney Company also announced its joint-venture with CLT Multi Media to launch Super RTL in Germany.[6] The new 50-50 partnership went well in Germany and Super RTL was launched in April 1995, broadcasting throughout Germany and portions of Austria and Luxembourg.

On 25 August 1995, it was announced that The Disney Channel was set to launch in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 1 October 1995, broadcasting everyday from 6am to 10pm on channel 26, timesharing with Sky Movies Gold on the Astra 1B satellite service. It was also announced that the channel will be a subscription-only channel and not be carry advertising. The channel will deliver family entertainment, will all programming aimed to be suitable for all members of the family. The programming schedule features dramas, comedies, cartoons, documentaries and feature films from the Disney archives, including the TV premieres of The Jungle Book, and Cool Runnings. During the channel's launch, the advertising agency will be Mellors Reay & Partners, while media service was being handled by BBJ Media Services Ltd.[7] The Disney Channel eventually launched in the UK on Sky on 1 October 1995, being the second Disney Channel to be launched outside the United States,[8] next to Taiwan began on March 29, 1995. Its first broadcast was the UKTV premier of the 1967 film The Jungle Book.[9]

Disney Channel UK's studios and broadcast playout facilities were mainly in Teddington Studios (where the defunct ITV franchisee Thames Television was based, which was ended its broadcast in 1992, losing their franchise to Carlton), for its first year of broadcasting. Then in late-1996, they had been moved to Stephen Street (where Thames Television had its original headquarters).[10] In 1994, the year before Disney Channel UK launched, Pearson had acquired Thames Television's business. In the early years, Pearson also offered playout and transmission services for The Disney Channel.[11]

Within two weeks after the launch of the channel, The Disney Channel had talks with the ITC (Independent Television Commission, now Ofcom) on how Disney's products, attractions and services are promoted on the channel. The channel said that it does not carry advertising at the time, but it has been talked by the ITC about establishing clearly defined breaks for self-promoting its products and services. However, as Disney and ITC agreed, the breaks was signified by the appearance of the on-screen Disney Consumer Arcade motif.[12]

In July 1997, the ITC revealed that Disney Channel's marketing methods are improper, because the channel was supplied 'free' to cable customers which already paying for a minimum two premium film channels, including Sky Movies and The Movie Channel. Cable companies wanted to be able to supply the channel to subscribers as a standalone channel, and as a bonus promotional channel for premium channel subscribers.[13] In September 1997, Disney Channel decided to make more of the continuity links between programmes. However, Corinthian Television had permission to let Disney Channel make them at St John's Wood Studios. After each run of interstitials, this resulted in the creation of the new live block Disney Channel UK Live.[10] During the same month, Disney Channel began to air more programmes than movies, although the latter was still the main focus. Around this time, a pre-school block called the "Under-Fives block" began airing, featuring mostly acquired preschool programming.

Following the ITC investigation, Disney Channel became available on Sky and cable operators as a separate premium channel on 2 March 1998. To promote the channel's new availablity to cable operators, Disney Channel offered 3 days of unencrypted programming from 21 to 23 March 1998 as part of its 'Big Free For All' campaign.[14] On 6 December 1998, Disney Channel UK announced that it has appointed Paul Robinson, the former managing director of Talk Radio, as it's new managing director and vice president. He was responsible for the channel's day-to-day operations, including all programming and marketing. Paul Robinson takes over Tom Wszalek's place, which the later became the senior vice president for Walt Disney Television International's digital TV development.[15]

On 15 February 1999, Disney Channel introduced an evening movie slot, which airs different family movies every night, at 7pm. The first movie to air on this new movie slot was The Sword in the Stone.[16] To promote the slot, Disney Channel hired Creative Forager, to set-up an special build site at London's Cromwell Road, featuring an lounge set, includes an sofa with Mickey Mouse head-shaped pillows, a lamp, and a TV. At 7pm every weeknight, a real family would sit on the sofa together to watch the movie. This resulted in 300% increase of viewing figures for the Disney Channel's new movie slot.[17] On 1 September 1999, Disney Channel was relaunched, and had rolled out an daily schedule structure, which includes the pre-school zone (which was also known as Playhouse Disney) from 9am to 2pm, the Children's Zone from 2pm to 7pm, and the Family Zone (which was also known as The Wonderful World of Disney) from 7pm to 12am the next day.[18] With the changes, the Playhouse Disney-branded programming block in the UK was being the first Playhouse Disney to launch outside the United States.

The lineup for the preschool zone between 9am to 2pm will include Winnie the Pooh, and a cookery series Bite Size, which was produced by Walt Disney Television International UK. The lineup for the Children's Zone include an animated version of an live-action kids series featuring Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which was entitled Sabrina: The Animated Series. Furthermore, Buena Vista Productions continued to supply more shows on the Disney Channel UK Live block, which was launched back in September 1997. Among those programs are also produced and distributed by BVP and aired on the Disney Channel's live block were Microsoap and Crash Zone, which was also being produced by the BBC and the Australian Children's Television Foundation (which in-credit was the Seven Network) respectively. The lineup for the Family Zone will also include the evening movie slot, which already premiered on 15th February of that year, at 7pm.[18]

In 2000, Corinthian became the part of Thomson Multimedia and were simply known as Corthinian Television Facilities. However, Corthinian had quickly noticed that their company would make a lot more money if they have to look after all the requirements of the channel, including its post production and playout, but not just the live studio links.[10] In September 2000, Disney Channel UK launched three additional sister channels on the BSkyB Digital satellite TV service, three new channels were an separate Playhouse Disney channel — broadcast 15 hours of preschool content from the 5-hour preschool block of the same name, Toon Disney — focused on cartoons and behind-the-scenes documentaries, and Disney Channel +1 — which was the one-hour timeshift of Disney Channel.[19][20] Until 2002 and 2003 respectively, these networks were not available on NTL or Telewest, both of which at the time could still only receive Disney Channel. Likely due to this, the Playhouse Disney block remained airing until July 2004. Paul Robinson also stated that the new structure also helps Disney to address a problem that it had being "different channels in one". A channel consisting cartoons, preschool programmes and family entertainment in one schedule meant "someone were always upset". Within the launch of these two dedicated channels, Disney should throw its whole weight behind each segment, while simultaneously meeting the needs of each different age groups. Toon Disney was also crucial for Disney's own marketing strategy as it was known for providing a dedicated outlet for the world's best-known animation factory. Before Toon Disney UK's launch in September 2000, Paul Robinson also stated that they were only had a third of Disney Channel's broadcast time to be focused on cartoons. However, a 24-hour cartoon channel was an obvious decision. While a lot more time to play in with the schedule, Disney had to fit in original animations over its cartoon classics that it has been best-known for. Before the launch of these two sister channels in September, Disney Channel at the time had 4 million subscribers; which had a million more than 1998. However, Disney Channel UK's rivals at the time, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon had around 7 million subscribers, but these channels were in basic cable/satellite packages, while Disney Channel was being an premium channel.[20]

In May 2001, Disney Channel UK introduced a new live block slot entitled Studio Disney UK, airing from 3pm to 7pm on weekdays. The programming block features live links between programmes, such as cartoons, dramas, and comedies. Disney Channel UK had an live block before the launch of Studio Disney brand, but they decided to rebrand it into "a proper name and identity", and to make the feel of the show "more pacey and quirky". Static Design, the production design arm of Static 2358 (now-defunct), has designed the identity of Disney Channel UK's new live block, in addition with an on-screen package, including 10 idents, stings, on-screen bugs, programme menus, and a style guide.[21] Studio Disney UK also featured a team of two to six presenters which did the live links in between programmes, and also to give viewers the opportunity to phone in and win prizes or appear as part of the small studio audience.[10] On 30 June 2001, Disney Channel ceased broadcasting on Sky's analogue satellite service, at the time Disney Channel stated that only 99% of its viewers were digital customers. Switching their services to digital had more values of money for their customers to receive new channels, such as Disney's new sister channels, Disney Channel's +1 timeshift service, and viewers who already received Disney Channel get their new additional Sky Movie channels through Sky Digital.[22]

In 2002, Disney Channel's operations was significantly expanded, because of an insufficient room at St John's Wood Studios, so they should have a contract to fulfill, Corinthian took out a lease on a £15m purpose built facility at West London's Chiswick Park (which was 85,000 ft in size), and the Disney Channel's relocated their European operations hub there, with Corinthian responsible for everything in terms of providing broadcasting facilities for the Disney Channel.[10]

Disney Channel's new studio facilities in Chiswick featured 2 new studios (with control rooms), 10 non-linear editing suites, 2 3D graphic origination suites, and a multi-control transmission/playout facilities (which has 6 transmission master control facilities and 4 multi-language audio dubbing suites). The operation was one of the first-ever fully file-based automated environments involving a digital robotic archive storage, digital asset management services, and a server-based automated transmission playout.[23] 2 studios, which was not particularly large, were fully utilised, with one being the base for Studio Disney and the other one used regularly for kids gameshows and other shows. this included the talent show Star Ticket.[1]

On 17 August 2004, BSkyB has announced its deal with The Walt Disney Company to launch a Disney Channel branded games service on Sky Gamestar, which is in the Games section of Sky's interactive services on its digital platform. The new service was entitled Disney Channel Play, and was available to Sky Digital's 7 million customers, also available through all four Disney channels (including Disney Channel, Disney Channel +1, Playhouse Disney, and Toon Disney). All games had free demos, which viewers must have to pay to extend their playing for longer or on a per-play/per-day basis.[24] On 1 September 2004, Disney Channel expanded its hours to be airing overnight temporary.[25] However, the channel returned to being a 24-hour service permanently on 11 September 2017 until the closure, with the night schedule airing reruns of German children's TV series Binny and the Ghost (known as Billie and the Ghost in the United Kingdom), Argentine soap opera Violetta, and their in-house production The Evermoor Chronicles. In November 2004, Corinthian's parent company Thomson Multimedia was rebranded as Technicolor after the purchase of the American film technology company of the same name. However, Corinthian became the part of Technicolor Network Services.[26] However, Technicolor continued to provide playout services for the Disney Channel, until its contract expired in 2012.[27]

On 1 July 2005, Studio Disney and other associated spin-off shows, which was also produced by the studio or/and co-produced with other studios, was ended. However, with the changes, the studios (which are the home of the ended shows) were mothballed, the production crews that had been worked for these shows had been made redundant, and the cameras at these studios are removed, but some equipment from these same studios were moved into other various post-production suites around the building.[1] However, while Disney Channel being the final British children's TV channel to stop operating live studio links during the after-school hours, the free-to-air children's TV channel CBBC continued to produce these live-studio links, Disney Channel's rival pay-TV channel Nickelodeon already stopped doing these, and the children's block on ITV1, CITV also ended live-studio links a year ago.

On 16 March 2006, changes were made to the Disney services in the UK. Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney in the UK stopped being an premium add-on channels and instead operated as part of basic-level subscription packages, joining Jetix.[28] However, this resulted in the "premium" aspect of Disney Channel (which includes Walt Disney Pictures' movies, and a selection of Disney branded animation) was merged with Toon Disney to launch a new channel; Disney Cinemagic, which was a premium channel included as a standalone channel and as a bonus channel part of the Sky's movie packages. Toon Disney was replaced with Disney Cinemagic, Toon Disney closed at 6am and Disney Cinemagic launched at 10am. Disney Channel +1 closed and was replaced with Disney Cinemagic +1. However, Disney Channel +1 subsequently returned in June 2006. During the same month, Disney Channel had changed its focus to be airing more original sitcoms, and by changing its demographic mostly towards girls. However, Playhouse Disney was not affected by these changes and continued its usual preschool programming formula. However, an archival sports channel, ESPN Classic was also launched on 13 March, which were actually three days before the launch of Disney Cinemagic in the UK. In October 2006, Disney Channel was added to Top Up TV Anytime that downloads programming overnight from various channels to a Thomson DTI 6300-16. In 2007, Disney added more On Demand content to Virgin Media's service.

In late-2007, BSkyB had announced their plans to launch their own pay-TV service on DTT, as well as Freeview's offering, entitled as Picnic. However, the purpose of Picnic was to offer a cheaper but limited offering compared to the Sky Digital satellite package and for those without an satellite dish. Disney Channel became the part of the service, and the channel was supposed to be airing from 6am to 6pm only on the new service. After Disney Channel joins Sky's proposed service; Picnic, Rob Gilby, the managing director of Disney Channel UK, stated that "Our strategy is to make Disney channels available via as many potential as possible. Pay DTT is a natural next step for us, as Disney Channel is an advertising-free, subscription-only service."[29] However, Picnic was cleared by Ofcom by its proposed launch in 2008, but Sky already put Picnic on-hold in 2008 due to indecisiveness on Ofcom's part.[30] Picnic became Now TV, an OTT internet streaming service which was launched in July 2012. Before 2016, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD were also a part of the service.

In January 2009, Disney Channel UK has announced that it will launch an in-house sales team to forge commercial deals for the channel, both in online (disney.co.uk) and the on-air TV channel. It was opened up to allow brands to associate themselves with popular Disney Channel properties, including Hannah Montana and High School Musical for the first time, this also includes sponsorship around popular Disney Channel shows and movies, as well as sponsorship for special events and integrated campaigns across the online and mobile platforms. Despite this change to include sponsorship, Disney Channel UK remained free from advertising.[31]

The channel began broadcasting in 16:9 widescreen in May 2010. A new set of program mini-idents that would play before the program would start were launched in September 2010. In September 2011, a new logo was adopted. The same month, an HD version launched on Sky.[32]

In 2012, Technicolor's playout contract for the Disney Channel across the United Kingdom and Ireland has been expired, and Encompass became the new playout provider and continued to provide playout services for the Disney Channel until the channel's closure. During the channel's history, Disney has always outsourced its playout operations, thus it never had an internal in-house operation. However over-time, it made some media functions in-house such as production.[27]

On 1 July 2013, Disney Channel and Disney Junior (formerly Playhouse Disney) began to carry advertising.[33] During the same month, a new website was launched with On Demand services. However, on 28 March 2013, Disney UK fully exited the premium TV market (with the exception for ESPN) with the closure of Disney Cinemagic in the country, althrough with the changes, Disney has signed up with Sky for its movie content deal to launch Sky Movies Disney.[34][35] However, the deal led into Disney's premium offering became the part of Sky's movie channels and Sky's on-demand service, allowing viewers to access and watch movies from Disney in the same place as the other movies from other movie studios, Disney would never have the option to launch another premium movie channel anymore and focus on the basic pay-TV market. Sadly, this resulted in the loss of the children's TV animation programming Disney Cinemagic aired, that would mean Disney might be relinquishing control over to Sky (under strict branding rules as part of the licensing agreement), and the loss of the subscription standalone option. Althrough its totally not confirmed, it was likely that Disney's exit from the British premium pay-TV market (with revenue from Disney Cinemagic subscriptions, possibly subsidising both Disney Channel and Disney Junior) is connected to Disney's plan to introduce advertising on Disney Channel and its sister channel Disney Junior in July 2013.

Disney Channel left the Now TV streaming service in 2016, few months after the launch of DisneyLife (now Disney+) in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[36][37] Nat Geo Wild was launched on Disney Channel's original slot. At the time, the channel was not owned by Disney; the channel was acquired during the the 21st Century Fox acquisition.[37]

Before the relaunch of DisneyLife to Disney+ in March 2020, DisneyLife also offered internet streams of Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior in addition to showing programming on-demand as part of the service.[38] However, DisneyLife's replacement Disney+ didn't include these streams, it might had the sign that linear TV channels have such a future.

On 3 June 2020, It was announced that David Levine, Disney's vice president of kids programming for the British, European and African channels, and the general manager for Disney Channel UK will leave the company on 30 June.[39][40] On 25 June 2020, it was announced that Disney Channel UK will leave the airwaves in favor of Disney+.[41] Disney Channel, along with its sister channels Disney Junior UK and Disney XD UK, closed at midnight BST on 1 October 2020. The closure occurred exactly 25 years after the channel launched in 1995.

The channels were removed from Virgin Media and Sky, and its content were moved exclusively to Disney+. The final programme to be broadcast before its closure was the 2019 film Descendants 3. It then showed adverts and "I Want This" from Raven's Home, followed by an ident which froze for a few seconds and then cut to an image slide featuring the channel's logo, signalling the channel's closure.[42]

The channels were removed from Virgin Media on September 29, the day before the shutdown,[43] with CBBC and CBeebies taking the network's former Sky EPG slots on October 1. In November 2020, the broadcast licenses of Disney Channel UK, Disney XD UK and Disney Junior UK was handed back to Ofcom, along with other Disney-branded European children's TV channels' broadcasting licenses. Due to Brexit, a lot of these European feeds now had broadcast licenses handled in Spain, authorised by the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (also known as CMNC).[44][45] Sky Movies Disney closed 2 months later on 30 December 2020, which meant that Disney+ became the home of Disney movies in the UK & Ireland.[46] However, Fox UK closed down on 30 June 2021, leaving only National Geographic and BabyTV as the only Disney-owned pay TV channels in the UK.[47]

After the shutdown of Disney Channel UK, Disney vacated the building at Chiswick Park and the building was handed back to the property's landlord in June 2021.[48] Even during the end of Disney's occupancy, the building still had two attached studios that were installed when Disney moved there. However, the facility was no longer needed due to the move to digital streaming distribution via Disney's streaming platform; Disney+. Disney still has its EMEA headquarters in Queen Caroline Street in Hammersmith, London (which is 3 miles away from their original headquarters).