Disney Jr.

Launched

February 14, 2011 (as a programming block on Disney Channel)
March 23, 2012 (as a television channel)

Network

Walt Disney Television

Owned by

The Walt Disney Company

Picture format

720p HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)

Country

United States

Language

English
Spanish Via SAP

Headquarters

Burbank, California, US

Formerly called

Playhouse Disney (1997-2011)
Disney Junior (2011-2024)

Replaced

Playhouse Disney (as a programming block)
Soapnet (as a TV channel by certain television providers)

Website

www.disneynow.com

Disney Jr. (originally stylized as Disney Junior) is an American pay television network that is owned by the Walt Disney Company through Disney Branded Television. Aimed mainly at children ages two to seven, its programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically-released and home media-exclusive movies and select other third-party programming.

Until January 2017, Disney Jr. also lent its name to a morning and early afternoon program block seen on sister network Disney Channel, branded as "Disney Junior on Disney Channel", airing weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (6:00 to 10:00 a.m. during the summer months and designated school break periods) and weekends from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time. The morning block was later renamed to "Mickey Mornings" in June 2020, now hosted by Mickey Mouse with segments starring him playing in between programs.

As of January 2017, the channel is available to 74.0 million households in the U.S.

History[]

Former logo used from February 14, 2011 to June 1, 2024.

Disney Jr.'s development began on May 26, 2010 when Disney-ABC Television Group announced the launch of Disney Jr. (originally "Disney Kids" before being reworked) as a relaunching of Playhouse Disney that would serve as the brand for the Disney Chanel block & a new digital cable & satellite television channel in the US, as well as the brand for the blocks & channels bearing the Playhouse Disney brand outside the US.

Disney Jr. first launched as a programming block on Valentine's Day, 2011, (February 14) replacing the Playhouse Disney block. On the day before the launch, Playhouse Disney's Ooh and Aah mascots and its programs (such as My Friends Tigger and Pooh and Captain Carlos) were retired completely during the process of the transition from Playhouse Disney to Disney Jr. The first program that aired on its first day was Jake and the Never Land Pirates. In its first week since its debut, Disney Jr. delivered Disney Channel’s best ratings ever in the daypart among Kids 2-5(474,000/2.8 rating).

By June 1, 2024, the network was rebranded as "Disney Jr."

Cable and satellite channel[]

A 24-hour basic cable and satellite channel for Disney Jr. launched on March 23, 2012, replacing the soap opera channel, SOAPnet.

The brand new channel was originally set to debut in January 2012, but on July 28, 2011, soap opera-focused websites listed the launch date as moving from January to a more non-specific date in late-spring 2012, and later in 2011, to February 2012. Soapnet's definite closing date (March 23, 2012) was announced by Disney-ABC on January 9, 2012. However, like the transitions from Nick GAS to TeenNick and Fox Reality to Nat Geo Wild, an automated version of Soapnet's program schedule will continue on some cable and satellite services, as deals for Disney Jr. are finalized.

The channel is expected its original TV Series (Jake and the Never Land Pirates, 3rd & Bird, etc.), shows from the Playhouse Disney library (that are currently airing on the block) (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, etc.), a programming block titled The Magical World of Disney Jr. (which broadcasts movies) and short-form series in its lineup. On June 17, 2011, it was confirmed that the Disney Jr. channel would include previously discontinued Playhouse Disney series, in reruns, in its lineup when the channel launches. Five such Playhouse Disney series was confirmed on January 9, 2012: Stanley, JoJo's Circus, Rolie Polie Olie, The Koala Brothers, and Higglytown Heroes.

It also provides video on demand, a high-definition version (Disney Jr. HD) and a Spanish language SAP audio track.

Programming[]

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Disney Jr. (United States)

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Chuggington, Imagination Movers, Jungle Junction, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso, and Timmy Time, all popular Playhouse Disney series, were moved to the block and continue to broadcast.

Disney Jr. broadcasts from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm ET/PT (6:00 am to 10:30 am ET/PT during the summer months and designated school break periods) on weekdays, and from 6:00 am to 9:00 am ET/PT on weekends, each running a different schedule. They feature 24-minute standard length shows, interspersed with short 3-5 minute shorts and music videos. Amongst these shorts are A Poem Is..., The Bite-Sized Adventures of Sam Sandwich, Choo Choo Soul, Small Potatoes, and several others. Like Disney Channel, Disney Jr. is a commercial-free service, but it does short "promotional spots", which runs every so often, such as often seen on PBS. Between 4:00 and 6:00, when Disney Channel animated programs air under the regular Disney Channel branding, there are commercials for Disney properties as there are for other Disney Channel programs. Although Disney Jr. does not air standard ads, it utilizes underwriter sponsorship by companies such as ABCmouse.com and Huggies, for its programs.

Former shows on the former Playhouse Disney block, as well as previous Disney shows based on pre-existing franchises, will air reruns by popular demand on the Disney Jr. channel in its launch on March 23, 2012, replacing Soapnet.

Related services[]

Disney Jr. HD[]

Disney Jr. HD is the high definition simulcast version of the channel that broadcasts a moderate amount of Disney Jr.'s programming in 720p HD. It began broadcasting on March 23, 2012. Many cable providers carry the HD simulcast feed, along with DirecTV, AT&T U-verse, and Verizon FIOS. Currently, Dish Network doesn't carry Disney Jr. HD, but does carry other Disney-owned HD channels.

HD versions of Disney Jr. have also launched in Canada, Asia, France, and the Netherlands. Currently, Disney Jr. HD appears to be a block on the HD feed version on Disney Channel.

Disney Jr. On Demand[]

Disney Jr. On Demand is the video-on-demand service, which offers select episodes of Disney Jr.'s original series. It is available to most digital cable and IPTV providers.

Watch Disney Jr.[]

In June 2012, Disney introduced a new set of apps for Apple devices for three youth-oriented Disney channels (Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Jr.) - similar to their ESPN service. The service is also available online via select providers such as Comcast.

Announcers[]

Melanie Minichino (2011-present)

International versions[]

In Latin America, Disney Jr. and Disney Jr. on Disney Channel launched on April 1, 2011.
In the Middle East, Disney Jr. launched on May 5, 2011.
In Canada, Disney Jr. English and French launched on May 6, 2011, which replaced Playhouse Disney (Canada).
In the UK & Ireland, Disney Jr. launched on May 7, 2011, which replaced Playhouse Disney (UK & Ireland).
In Italy, Disney Jr. launched on May 14, 2011.
In France, Disney Jr. launched on May 28, 2011.
In Australia & New Zealand, Disney Jr. launched on May 29, 2011 which replaced Playhouse Disney (Australia and New Zealand).
In Brazil, Disney Jr. launched on April 9, 2011 and May 31, 2011.
In Portugal, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In Turkey, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In South Africa, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In Hungary, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In Poland, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In Czech Republic, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In Romania, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011. The channel replaced both Playhouse Disney block and Jetix Play.
In Bulgaria, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In Greece, Disney Jr. launched on June 1, 2011.
In India, Disney Jr. launched on July 4, 2011.
In Austria and Germany Disney Jr. launched on July 14, 2011.
In Japan, Disney Jr. launched on July 3, 2011.
In Asia, Disney Jr. launched on July 11, 2011 which replaced Playhouse Disney Asia.
In Southeast Asia, Disney Jr. launched on July 11, 2011.
In Taiwan, Disney Jr. launched in September 1, 2011 as a block on Disney Channel.
In Israel, Disney Jr. launched on July 18, 2011.
In Scandinavia/Nordic, Disney Jr. launched on September 10, 2011 and replaced Playhouse Disney Scandinavia.
In China, Disney Jr. (迪斯尼兒童, Dísīní Értóng) launched on February 6, 2013.
In South Korea, Disney Jr. launched on July 11, 2011 as a channel and as a block on Disney Channel.
In Zimbabwe, Disney Jr. launched on April 29, 2013.
In Hong Kong, Disney Jr. launched on July 11, 2011 as a channel and as a block on Disney Channel.
In the Philippines, Disney Jr. launched on July 11, 2011 as a channel and as a block on TV5.
In Vietnam, Disney Jr. launched on July 11, 2011 as a channel and as a block on Disney Channel.
In Belgium, Disney Jr. launched on September 1, 2011.
In Netherlands, Disney Jr. launched on September 10, 2011.
In Russia, Disney Jr. launched on September 1, 2013. (Being the last to switch).
In Malaysia, Disney Jr. launched on July 11, 2011 as a channel and as a block on RTM TV2.

All versions of Disney Jr. serve as the real replacement of Playhouse Disney.