Disney Junior in Asia was a 24-hour commercial-free television channel that was launch on July 11, 2011, replaced Playhouse Disney Asia since April 2004. The programs are similar to Disney Junior in the United States. However, the channel may also carry some non-Disney programming, like from PBS Kids. Programming on the channel is uninterrupted by commercials (except in movies). Disney Junior is available in Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Disney Junior is available on Disney Channel in Taiwan, Japan, and TV5 (Philippines only).
History[]
Negotiations for an Asian version of Playhouse Disney started in 2000 as a block on Disney Channel. It later launched as a channel for Hong Kong and Indonesia on April 2, 2004. From 2004 to 2005, it expanded in several Southeast Asian countries in several different languages. In the Philippines, the channel was broadcast in English rather than Filipino.
On June 30, 2011, Laura Wendt, announced that Playhouse Disney will be rebranded as Disney Junior in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong on July 11, 2011. Laura said that Disney Junior will feature the hallmarks of the Disney brand, story, and character. They will take classic Disney characters, beloved, through generations, and bring them to life on TV with elements that encourage early childhood learning.
Due to increasing localization of the Indian feeds of Disney Channel and Disney XD, they were banned from broadcasting in Bangladesh in 2013. Later, in 2016, the Southeast Asian feeds of the Disney channels, including Disney Junior Asia, became available on certain cable operators in Bangladesh. On July 31, 2018, the Disney Junior on Disney Channel block was discontinued.
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. Select programs from these three channels were moved to, replaced by and made it available via Disney+ on February 23, 2021.
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 that announced back on December 14, 2020. While its shows moved to Disney+ Hotstar in the said country on June 1, 2021.
After over 17 years of broadcasting, Disney Junior, along with Disney Channel, and most of its Fox channels in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong officially closed on October 1, 2021 by Disney+ at exactly 1:00 am (UTC+08:00)/12:00 am (UTC+07:00), concluding with Mira, Royal Detective, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. thus the channel space originally created by Playhouse Disney Channel in 2004 folded and ceased to exist.
Most Disney Junior shows will be shown instead on Disney+ Hotstar and Disney+ depending on their countries. Nevertheless, the Disney Junior Taiwan block on Disney Channel will continue to operate after this date. But the block ended on New Year's Eve (December 31, 2021).
Programming[]
Final Programming[]
Original Programming[]
- Doc McStuffins (July 1, 2012 – September 30, 2021)
- Fancy Nancy (February 14, 2019 – September 29, 2021)
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (July 17, 2006 – October 1, 2021)
- Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (March 24, 2017 – September 30, 2021)
- Mickey Mouse Funhouse (September 30, 2021)
- Mira, Royal Detective (July 3, 2020 – October 1, 2021)
- Muppet Babies (June 25, 2018 – September 30, 2021)
- Puppy Dog Pals (August 21, 2017 – September 30, 2021)
- Sofia the First (May 1, 2013 – September 30, 2021)
- Spidey and His Amazing Friends (September 11–30, 2021)
- T.O.T.S. (September 21, 2019 – September 29, 2021)
- The Chicken Squad (July 26 – September 28, 2021)
- The Rocketeer (February 17, 2020 – September 29, 2021)
- Vampirina (October 27, 2017 – September 29, 2021)
Acquired programming from Disney Channel[]
- Elena of Avalor (June 12, 2017 – September 29, 2021)
Acquired programming from Disney Junior USA[]
- Bluey (August 1, 2020 – September 29, 2021)
- Gigantosaurus (June 3, 2019 – September 29, 2021)
- PJ Masks (August 29, 2016 – September 29, 2021)
Other acquired programming[]
- Remy & Boo (April 12–September 29, 2021)
Past Programming[]
Original programming[]
- Bear in the Big Blue House (2004–2008)
- The Book of Pooh (2004–2008)
- Bunnytown (2008–July 2011)
- Goldie & Bear (January 18, 2016 – June 14, 2020)
- Handy Manny (2007–2020)
- Henry Hugglemonster (June 17, 2013 – 2020)
- Higglytown Heroes (2005 – May 1, 2017)
- Imagination Movers (2009 – December 31, 2016)
- Jake and the Never Land Pirates (July 11, 2011 – June 14, 2020)
- Johnny and the Sprites (2007–2014)
- JoJo's Circus (2004 – December 31, 2016)
- Jungle Junction (2010–2019)
- The Lion Guard (April 11, 2016 – September 30, 2020)
- Little Einsteins (2006 – December 31, 2016)
- Miles from Tomorrowland (August 17, 2015 – June 14, 2020)
- My Friends Tigger & Pooh (2008 – July 2011; October 1, 2016 – 2020)
- Out of the Box (2004–2008)
- PB&J Otter (2004–2008)
- Sheriff Callie's Wild West (February 24, 2014 – June 14, 2020)
- Special Agent Oso (2009–2019)
- Stanley (2004–2009)
Acquired programming from Disney Junior USA[]
- Chuggington (2008 – December 31, 2016)
- Gaspard and Lisa (February 2012 – September 2014)
- Guess How Much I Love You (January 2012 – December 31, 2016)
- The Hive (July 11, 2011–August 2013)
- Kate & Mim-Mim (2015–2019)
- The Koala Brothers (2004–2009)
- Madeline (2004–2007)
- Octonauts (July 11, 2011 – December 31, 2016)
- P. King Duckling (May 29, 2017 – 2019)
- Rolie Polie Olie (2004–2009)
- Timmy Time (May 3, 2009 – 2019)
- The Wiggles (Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles only) (2004–2007)
Acquired programming from Disney Channel[]
- The Little Mermaid (2004–2008; 2011 - December 31, 2016)
- The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (2004–2007)
Programming from PBS Kids[]
- Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps (June 21, 2010 – January 4, 2013)
- Barney and Friends (Seasons 4-12) (2005 – July 10, 2011)
- Bob the Builder (2004–2008)
- The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! (July 11, 2011 – 2015)
- Clifford the Big Red Dog (2004–2011)
- Clifford's Puppy Days (2005–2008)
- Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (2013–2015)
- Dragon Tales (Seasons 1 and 2) (2004 – May 15, 2009)
- Elmo's World (2005 – December 31, 2016)
- Esme and Roy (August 12, 2019 – 2021)
- Global Grover (2006–2011)
- Make Way for Noddy (2005–2010)
- Pocoyo (2007–2012)
- Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat (2004–2007)
- Thomas and Friends (Seasons 8-15) (2005–2012)
- WordWorld (2008–2015)
Other acquired programming[]
- The Adventures of Little Brown Bear (2004–2008)
- Animal Mechanicals (2008–2014)
- Bananas in Pyjamas (2004–2008: Classic series; 2012 – December 31, 2016: Animated revival series)
- Boo! (2004–2007)
- Chiro (December 2011-September 2013)
- Chloe's Closet (Series 1) (April 5, 2010–July 31, 2012)
- Connie the Cow (2005–2007)
- Dibo the Gift Dragon (2008–January 1, 2017)
- Digby Dragon (April 10, 2017 – 2020)
- Dive Olly Dive! (Series 1) (2010–2011)
- Fun Song Factory (CITV series) (August 2005–February 2008)
- The Furchester Hotel (September 7, 2015 – 2020)
- Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (Season 1) (2006-July 2011)
- Hi-5 (Series 13 and 17) (August 1, 2012–June 30, 2017; November 15, 2017–September 20, 2019)
- Hi-5 House (December 9, 2013–December 31, 2018)
- Honk, Toot and Swo-Swoosh (2005–2009)
- Let's Go Pocoyo (2012–2014)
- Little Red Tractor (2004–2008)
- Little Robots (US dub) (2006–2007)
- Maya the Bee (January 1, 2014–2015)
- The Mighty Jungle (2009–2011)
- Mike the Knight (February 18, 2013–December 31, 2016)
- Play with Me Sesame (2005 – July 8, 2011)
- Pororo the Little Penguin (July 26, 2010 – December 31, 2016)
- Rev & Roll (November 25, 2019 – 2020)
- Rob the Robot (November 2011-June 2014)
- The Save-Ums! (2004–2008)
- Strawberry Shortcake (2003 series) (August 1, 2008 – 2010)
- Tayo the Little Bus (April 23, 2012-January 2016)
- Zou (September 2012–September 2013)
