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Disney Junior (Southeast Asia)

Disney Junior was a Southeast Asian preschool pay television channel owned by the Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia that was active from 2 April 2004 to 31 December 2021. Aimed mainly at children between ages 2 to 7 years old,[1][2] its programming consisted of original first-run television series and theatrically released and made-for-DVD movies, as well as other select third-party programming.

Launched in 2004 as Playhouse Disney, Disney Junior also lent its name to an early morning program block seen on Disney Channel, where it was branded as Disney Junior on Disney Channel until 31 July 2018. The channel itself ceased operations at the end of 2021 due to the launch of Disney+ in the region.

History

Launch

The Asian version of Playhouse Disney started in 2000 as a block on Disney Channel, with plans for the standalone channel on the cards since October 2002.[3] It later launched as a channel for Hong Kong and Indonesia on 2 April 2004, with the aim of reaching more territories (in South East Asia and Korea) in due course.[4][5] From 2004 to 2005, it expanded in several Southeast Asian countries. Singapore became the third country to receive the channel, launching on StarHub TV on 15 May 2004.[6] It was followed by Korea in June 2004, Malaysia in early July 2004,[7] Brunei in late August, in tandem with Disney Channel, on Kristal-Astro,[8] Cambodia in June 2005, in tandem with Disney Channel,[9] Vietnam in May 2005, also in tandem with Disney Channel, on Hanoi Cable and Ho Chi Minh Cable, entirely in English without Vietnamese dubbing, in a market that at the time had an under-14 population of 24 million;[10] and the Philippines in December 2005, with a separate feed. At the time, it was the first, and only preschool-oriented television network in Southeast Asia,[11] until Nick Jr., and Cartoonito was launched.

On 11 July 2011, Playhouse Disney later rebranded as Disney Junior.[12]

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.

Closure

On 1 June 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.[13]

On 5 August 2020, Disney Junior upgraded to HD on Astro alongside Disney Channel. On 1 January 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 14 December 2020.

After 17 years of broadcasting, Disney Junior, along with Disney Channel, and most of its Fox channels in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong ceased on 1 October 2021,[14][15] at midnight (UTC+07:00), thus the channel space originally created by Playhouse Disney Channel in 2004 folded and ceased to exist. The last program to air was Mira, Royal Detective.[16]

Nevertheless, the Disney Junior Taiwan block on Disney Channel will continue to air after this date. But the block ended on New Year's Eve (31 December 2021).

Most Disney Junior shows will be shown instead on Disney+ on selected territories.

Final feeds

Throughout the expansion, it was owned and operated by the former Walt Disney Television International.

Disney Junior Magazine Philippines

Disney Junior Magazine Philippines (known as Disney Junior Magazine and formerly known as Playhouse Disney Magazine Philippines) was an educational magazine published in the Philippines by Summit Media in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.[17]

Logos

References

  1. Disney Channels – About Us retrieved 26 April 2020^
  2. Christopher Toh. Don’t dumb down children’s shows Today Online, 2014-09-24, retrieved 2023-12-26^
  3. Magz Osborne. Mouse net gets Asia bows Variety, 2004-04-05, retrieved 2022-12-08^
  4. Disney, Playhouse hit Hong Kong Multichannel, 3 March 2004, retrieved 3 March 2004^
  5. Disney readies bow Variety, 2004-03-08, retrieved 2022-12-08^
  6. Ed Waller. Disney launches Playhouse in Singapore C21Media, 2004-05-05, retrieved 2022-12-08^
  7. Jenny Davidson. Disney adds Malaysia to Playhouse mix C21Media, 2004-07-02, retrieved 2022-12-08^
  8. Sarah Baisley. Playhouse Disney Channel Launches in Brunei Animation World Network, 2004-08-30, retrieved 2022-12-08^
  9. Ryan Ball. Disney Channels Swim to Cambodia Animation Magazine, 2005-06-20, retrieved 2022-12-16^
  10. Bobbie Whiteman. Vietnam tunes in Disney TV Variety, 2005-05-17, retrieved 2022-12-16^
  11. Playhouse gets dedicated Philippines feed C21media, 2005-12-12, retrieved 2022-12-08^
  12. Magical, musical stories on all new Disney Junior Philstar.com, 30 June 2011, retrieved 5 November 2021^
  13. Disney+ Singapore Incoming: Disney Channels dropped from StarHub & Singtel Asiaone.com, 2 June 2020, retrieved 5 November 2021^
  14. Multiple sources: Patrick Frater. Disney Slashes Linear TV in Asia With 18-Channel Closure, Shifts Focus to Disney Plus Variety, 27 April 2021, retrieved 21 September 2021 Jake Kanter. Disney Closes 18 Asia TV Channels As It Shifts Focus To Disney+ Deadline Hollywood, 27 April 2021, retrieved 21 September 2021 Adrian Lai. Disney To Shut Down 18 Channels In Southeast Asia IGN, 29 April 2021, retrieved 21 September 2021^
  15. Disney to shut down most of its TV channels in Southeast Asia, eyes growth in streaming services CNA, retrieved 2021-05-05^
  16. Jenis Bebas. Disney Junior Southeast Asia Feed Closing/Shut Down YouTube, 1 October 2021, retrieved 1 October 2021^
  17. Disney Junior Summit Media, retrieved 2026-02-17^