Disney Channel is a German free-to-air television channel based in Munich and centered on kids programming. It started on pay-TV on October 16, 1999 and switched to free-to-air TV on January 17, 2014 after a break in broadcasting of around two months.[2] As announced at the turn of the year 2020/21, Disney Channel introduced a new on-air design for the evening program in January 2021.[3]
History[]
Pay-TV (1999-2013)[]
On May 6, 1999, Buena Vista (Germany) GmbH applied to the Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM) for a nationwide entertainment program called Disney Channel. This was finally approved by the BLM on July 22, 1999.
The German offshoot of the Disney Channel thus started on October 16, 1999 with the slogan "Dein Ideensender" (Your ideas channel), initially only on air at Premiere World as part of the Family World package via cable and Astra.[4] Before pay-TV distribution was discontinued, it could be received via cable or satellite via the digital pay-TV platform Sky, the digital pay-TV platform Teleclub, and via Deutsche Telekom's IPTV offer Telekom Entertain.
Disney Channel Germany broadcast Disney series and films before their free TV premiere.
In the end of 2008, Disney Channel wanted to switch its programming to 16:9 format, but did not do so. When this should be the case was still unclear at the time. With the introduction of the new logo (which became known a few months earlier through commercials) on December 8, 2011, the broadcaster switched to the 16:9 format.
On March 21, 2009, Disney Channel aired only one series for 24 hours for the first time: Hannah Montana. Other marathons later followed with Wizards of Waverly Place and Vicky the Viking. For the 10th anniversary of the channel, the series Jonas L.A. was broadcast for the first time in Germany.
Disney Channel ceased distribution on pay television on November 29, 2013.
Free-to-air (since 2014)[]
In September 2012, The Walt Disney Company acquired the channel Das Vierte from Mini Movie International, but initially refrained from making publicly perceptible changes to the program. However, in April 2013, Disney announced it would replace Das Vierte with a free-to-air Disney Channel.[5][6]
On January 1, 2014 at midnight, Das Vierte ceased broadcasting with a farewell trailer; This was followed by the activation of a trailer that informed about the content of the new Disney Channel. On January 17, 2014 at 6:00 a.m., Disney Channel resumed its full-service program with the first audio-visual cartoon starring Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie.[2][7] Transmissions are generally between 5:45 a.m. and around 1:00 a.m., with various teleshopping spots being broadcast between around 1:00 a.m. and 5:45 a.m.
The channel's slogan has been "Disney für uns alle" (Disney for all of us) since it was restarted on free-to-air television.
As of July 14, 2014, there was a Disney Channel app for devices running Android or iOS operating systems. In addition to the program schedule and the broadcaster's live stream, you could also watch videos from the past 7 days in the media library. As announced, the app was retired on March 6, 2020.[8] The same applies to the live stream and the media library, but the official YouTube channel remains. Many of the Disney Channel series can also be found on Disney+.
The Disney Channel was first officially broadcast as a full program, since the former broadcasting license was taken over from Das Vierte. Due to the lack of a news broadcast, however, an application was made to switch to a special-interest program. With the expiry of the broadcasting license, the station has been continued as a special interest program since October 2014.[9] In 2022, the broadcaster had a market share of 1.0% among 14 to 49 year olds in Germany. With a total audience of three years and older, Disney Channel is the second children's channel with 0.7%, behind Super RTL.[10]
Programmes[]
During the day from 6:00 a.m. the program is aimed at children, teenagers and young adults. In the evening from 8:15 p.m. on, a female target group should be addressed, but programs for the whole family are also broadcast. The program of the new Disney Channel not only includes current Disney productions, but also classics such as Aristocats, Cinderella and Home Improvement. In addition, programs from ABC and ABC Family as well as PIXAR productions find their place and round off the program together with German-language in-house productions. The aim of the new channel is to make the Disney brand better known in Germany.
Current[]
Animated[]
- Alice's Wonderland Bakery
- Amphibia
- Big City Greens
- Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life
- DuckTales
- The Ghost and Molly McGee
- Gravity Falls
- Hamster and Gretel (Coming Soon)
- Mickey Mouse
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Mickey Mouse Funhouse
- Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures
- Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Coming Soon)
- The Owl House
- Phineas and Ferb
- PJ Masks
- Milo Murphy's Law
- Puppy Dog Pals
- Spidey and his Amazing Friends
- Tiny Ones Transport Service
Live-Action[]
- Art Attack
- Die Beni Challenge*
- Disney Magic Moments
- Gag Attack*
- Home Improvement
- Saturdays (Coming Soon)
* Original Disney Channel shows produced and made in Germany
Acquired Programming[]
- 50/50 Heroes
- The Boss Baby: Back in Business
- Ghostforce
- Go Away, Unicorn!
- Gus, the Itsy Bitsy Knight
- Mère et Fille
- My Little Pony: Pony Life
- Rainbow High
- Remington Steele
- Taffy
- The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti
- Viking Skool
References[]
- ↑ Nitro baut Führung aus, ProSieben Maxx überholt DMAX - DWDL.de
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Disney: Ein Datum, ein Vermarkter und etwas Programm - DWDL.de
- ↑ 2020: Erfolgreiches TV-Jahr für Disney | Presseportal
- ↑ Kidscreen » Archive » Disney Channel gets digital in Germany
- ↑ Walt Disney to Launch Free-TV Channel in Germany – The Hollywood Reporter
- ↑ Neuer Disney Channel ersetzt ab Januar Das Vierte - DWDL.de
- ↑ Wagner: "Im Zweifelsfall haben wir einen langen Atem" - DWDL.de
- ↑ https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/image_4bd69e81.jpeg
- ↑ Disney als Vollprogramm: Lizenzverstoß, na und? - DWDL.de
- ↑ Nitro baut Führung aus, ProSieben Maxx überholt DMAX - DWDL.de