Disney Channel (UK)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For Disney Channel in United States, see Disney Channel.


Disney Channel (UK)
Launched	1 October 1995
Owned by	Disney
Audience share	0.5% (June 2006, Source:[1])
Sister channel(s)	Playhouse Disney Disney Cinemagic Toon Disney (No Longer Airing)
Timeshift service	Disney Channel +1 Disney Cinemagic +1
Website	www.disneychannel.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Sky Digital	Channel 613 Channel 614 (+1)
Cable
NTL:Telewest	Channel 724 Channel 725 (+1)

Disney Channel is a British television channel. It was originally planned to launch in 1989 on the newly launched Sky satellite service, but due to an apparent dispute the launch was cancelled, and did not air until 1 October 1995. Disney Channel is also available in the Republic of Ireland. Like its American counterpart, it airs without adverts and commercials between shows, but does however have breaks in the programmes to air promos.

The UK Disney Channel also has a +1 hour timeshift channel (Disney Channel +1), a Playhouse Disney channel and a Disney Cinemagic channel (along with its +1 hour timeshift). In the reshuffle March 2006 reshuffle Toon Disney was axed to make room for Disney Cinemagic, and Disney Channel + 1 was temporarily axed to make room for Disney Cinemagic's own +1 hour timeshift channel. Disney Channel +1 returned 26 June 2006.

Sky and Disney had recently been locked in ongoing negotiations over a new contract for carriage on the former's digital service. However, this dispute seems to have been resolved with the new agreement.

The previous, ten-year deal — inked as Sky floated on the stock exchange in 1994 — was temporarily extended while both sides attempted to reach a resolution. Sky was understood to have been seeking a substantially reduced payment towards the kids broadcaster, which offers a portfolio of four channels either on a standalone basis or as a free bonus for subscribers to Sky's premium movie channels.

A new agreement, said to be worth £130 million a year, was reached on 27 February which will resulted in the Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney joining the Sky Kids package on 16 March. In addition, a new premium movie channel, Disney Cinemagic, officially launched on 19 March. However the channel itself launched on the same day that Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney joined the Sky Kids package.

The new contract also saw ESPN Classic become available on Sky Digital on 13 March.

In the past Disney Channel used to have a live segment called Studio Disney (weekdays from 4pm to 8pm) in which a live presenting team were on air between programmes giving views the chance to call in, interact and win prizes. Studio Disney also made many short shows which were aired in Studio Disney itself and at other times. Once a year they also held a music awards show voted for online called Disney Channel: Kids Awards. This was later ditched giving the channel a similar format to its American counterpart.

Disney Channel in the UK also two interactive television services on Sky Digital. The first can be accessed by pressing the red button from Disney Channel and Disney Channel +1 with the ability to put up messages for display and win prizes. The second is part of Sky Gamestar called Disney Channel Play which has games realted to some of Disney Channel's shows. It can also be accessed from the first interactive service. Along with the interactive television services both Disney Channel and Disney Channel +1 have a Teletext service consisting of about 200 pages called Disney Text.

The Disney Channel also plays Disney Channel Original Movie's on most days now.

Disney Channel sometimes carries sign language on its late evening programming. Many newer series are also Audio Described on Sky Digital.