Disney Channel is a Brazilian pay televisionchannel aimed at kids. It is operated by The Walt Disney Company Brazil. It was launched in 2001 as a premium channel, and became a basic-tier network in 2004. The channel will shut down on February 28, 2025, alongside other non-sports channels owned by Disney in Brazil. It's a Brazilian localized version of US channel of the same name.
History
The Walt Disney Company was preparing the channel for Latin America as early as 1997, which also included the production of a dedicated Brazilian feed, initially scheduled to launch in 1998. As with the extant international versions of the channel, it had to adapt to local cultures and find local productions for each market.[1]
In the midst of a war for the exclusive rights of certain channels on DTH operators (DirecTV and SKY Brasil), Disney Channel was eyeing in on potential negotiations, after SKY's exclusive launch of PSN following the arrival of the HBO channels on DirecTV.[2] As of April, no agreement had been oficially reached between Disney and DirecTV, as well as localization problems, since Disney hadn't finished localization efforts for the channel yet.[3] For cable, exclusivity chances were minimal.[4] In February 2001, it was announced that the channel would launch its Brazilian feed on April 5.[5] The channel positioned itself as a family channel at launch and planned to include more local content, which initially was set to three hours a day, planning to increase to eight or ten to maximize usage of local talent.[6]
The network had a reciprocal agreement with SBT. In November 4, 2001, a version of Zapping Zone premiered on the OTA network, airing on Sundays.[7] The reverse happened with Muito Mais Popstars, an extension of the Brazilian adaptation of the format that aired on SBT, with Disney Channel airing the program two days after the initial showing on SBT.[8] On July 1, 2002, a localized Playhouse Disney block launched, with the studio segments being filmed in Buenos Aires to optimize resources.[9] On September 1, 2002, the channel aired a Rouge concert, the band that won the first edition of SBT's Popstars.[10]
Disney Channel left DirecTV in March 2003, after Galaxy Latin America entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy status.[11] In order to become a basic cable channel, it was announced in December 2003 that Disney Channel would start carrying commercial advertising, at an event held in Buenos Aires by ESPN's regional marketing team for Brazil and the Southern Cone.[12] On January 15, 2004, Disney Channel was reinstated on DirecTV; in line with its plans to become a basic cable channel, the channel was promoted to basic tiers.[13]
On August 4, 2005, it was announced in São Paulo that Disney Channel would begin broadcasting on Net, reaching 800,000 subscribers.[14] In December, it started broadcasting on Vivax.[15] On September 14, 2006, it launched on SKY, alongside seven other channels that were previously carried by DirecTV and entered the provider as a result of the merger.[16]Shortly afterwards it started airing a raft of new local productions: the first season of Floribella from Band and Um Menino Muito Maluquinho, adapted from Ziraldo, which was produced for TVE Brasil. The former was distributed by RGB, which had collaborated with Disney Channel in the past when it had an agreement with SBT.[17]
The success of High School Musical, which had been picked up by TV Globo for its over-the-air broadcast at the end of 2006, gave the channel unprecedentedly high ratings, as well as an increase in advertising sales worth 200%.[18]Record aired the local musical (HSM: O Show) at the Morumbi stadium on June 24, 2007, one week after airing on Disney Channel.[19]
Disney Channel Brazil produced an original show called Zapping Zone, in which hosts interacted with viewers with games and trivia. It is aired only on weekdays. They also give news about Disney Channel, the channel's series, upcoming Walt Disney Pictures films and new Disney Channel Original Movies. Its transmission was not live, and viewers can call to participate in games, all of them containing questions and trivia about Disney films and series. Just for participating they can win T-shirts and caps; however, if they win, the awards include DVDs, soundtracks and video games of different Disney films and characters. This show was first aired on July 27, 2000, and ended on October 26, 2012.
The hosts of Zapping Zone presented Disney Channel Original Series, which were aired in the block as a primetime. New episodes of animated and live-action series were often aired on weekdays. New music videos or trailers also premiered in this block, introduced by the hosts. There were also blocks such as Contratempo, Metidas de Pata (Bloopers), and Sextas Xtremas (Xtreme Friday).
Movies
O Maravilhoso Mundo de Disney (Wonderful World of Disney) is the block after the Zapping Zone, in which different Walt Disney Pictures are aired. This block airs on weekdays. The early-afternoon weekday film block is named Cool After School. On weekends it's replaced with a Disney Cinemagic block. Movies are occasionally aired on Disney Junior.
This is followed by Filme Disney Channel (Disney Channel Movies), which airs Disney Channel Original Movies. It airs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after Zapping Zone and sometimes any other weekday after Wonderful World of Disney. Some of the movies air on Rede Telecine before airing on Disney Channel.
Holidays
The summer special begins in December and ends in late February. It includes premieres of new films and television series episodes. For Halloween and Christmas the channel airs themed films and episodes.
The channel airs an original production. Viewers vote on the website for their favorite movies, episodes, and specials. The most voted ones are aired December 31. It is hosted by the cast of Zapping Zone. There is a countdown and previews of new programs coming in the next year. This replaced the previous block, Popcorn.
Mouse, Câmera, Ação!
Mouse, Câmera, Ação! (Mouse, Camera, Action!) was an event aired once a month in which viewers can vote between three different movies, and the winner is aired at the end of the month. Viewers can vote via the website, on mobile services, or on social media. This block was discontinued by mid of 2017.
Disney Jr. nas manhãs do Disney Channel
Is Disney Junior branded block where Disney Junior series is broadcast at mornings from 6am to 11am.
Sabatona
Sabatona (lit. 'Saturday Marathon') is a programming block that originated on Disney XD, broadcast every Saturday. A different marathon of some animation series aired 3 hours each week.
Other services
Mobile
In July 2008 Disney updated Disney Mobile to Disney Mobile Studios, where different services are available in the whole country. The users can download content from Disney Channel, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney Channel, Radio Disney and content from movies.
HD
On December 15, 2009, Disney Channel was launched in HD. The schedule is the same as the original. However, there are no ads and all programs are shown in widescreen.[26] On June 9, 2017, the HD feed was renamed as Disney Channel + (Disney Channel Plus), as its programming is different from the original channel including Disney XD and Disney Junior series.
Disney XD was a children's television channel brand owned by the Walt Disney Company broadcast in Brazil. It was previously known as Fox Kids and Jetix. The website launched on May 15, 2009, and the channel launched on July 3, 2009. It closed down on April 1, 2022.
Disney Junior was a cable television channel and is a version of the Walt Disney Company-owned Disney Junior, broadcasting in Brazil. It is marketed to preschoolers. Disney Junior is operated by Disney & ESPN Media Networks Latin America and the Walt Disney Company Latin America, both of the Walt Disney Company. It was launched on June 1, 2008 as Playhouse Disney. On April 1, 2011 it was rebranded as Disney Junior.
It closed down on April 1, 2022.
