Disney Channel (Brazil)

Disney Channel was a Brazilian children's pay television channel owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company Latin America and a localized version of the eponymous American cable channel. Launched on 5 April 2001, as a premium channel, it became a basic-tier channel in 2004. The channel ended its broadcasts on 1 March 2025, along with other non-sports Disney channels in Brazil.

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.

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. As of April, no agreement had been officially reached between Disney and DirecTV, as well as localization problems, since Disney hadn't finished localization efforts for the channel yet. For cable, exclusivity chances were minimal. In February 2001, it was announced that the channel would launch its Brazilian feed on April 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.

The network had a reciprocal agreement with SBT. In 4 November 2001, a version of ''Zapping Zone'' premiered on the OTA network, airing on Sundays. The reverse happened with , 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. On 1 July 2002, a localized Playhouse Disney block launched, with the studio segments being filmed in Buenos Aires to optimize resources. On September 1, 2002, the channel aired a Rouge concert, the band that won the first edition of SBT's ''Popstars''.

Disney Channel left DirecTV in March 2003, after Galaxy Latin America entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy status. 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. 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.

On 4 August 2005, it was announced in São Paulo that Disney Channel would begin broadcasting on Net, reaching 800,000 subscribers. In December, it started broadcasting on Vivax. On 14 September 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.Shortly afterwards it started airing a raft of new local productions: the first season of from Band and , 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.

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%. Record aired the local musical () at the Morumbi stadium on 24 June 2007, one week after airing on Disney Channel.

In 2009, the channel premiered , adapted from the Italian format '' Quelli dell'intervallo'' which also made it to the United States. Local production was up to Cristal Líquido.

In November 2015, it announced a local version of the ''Pijama Party'' gameshow, with filming beginning in December.

In 2018 it announced the premiere of ''Z4'', simultaneously with SBT.

On 2 December 2024, The Walt Disney Company announced that Disney Channel would end their broadcasts in Brazil along with its sister channels (except for its ESPN channels) on 28 February 2025, due to high operational costs in the respective country, the dwindling pay TV ratings in Brazil and the Brazilian pay TV crisis.

On 1 March 2025, the channel ended its broadcasts along with other non-sports Disney channels in Brazil. The final program shown was the ''Phineas and Ferb'' episode "Crack That Whip"/"The Best Lazy Day Ever".

Programming

Series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel Original Series took most of the schedule. Some non-original series were also aired. As of January 2009 the non-original productions aired were '' Mortified'', '' Life with Derek'', '' The Fairly OddParents'', '' A Kind of Magic'', ''George of the Jungle'' and '' Um Menino Muito Maluquinho''.

The Disney Junior no Disney Channel block aired daily from very early in the morning until 8:30am. On weekends, it ended at 10:00am. After the Disney Junior block, the ''cartoon block'' was aired, with cartoon series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel Original Series.

Programming blocks

''Zapping Zone''

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 27 July 2000, and ended on 26 October 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 , (''Bloopers''), and (''Xtreme Friday'').

Movies

(''Wonderful World of Disney'') was the block after the ''Zapping Zone'', in which different Walt Disney Pictures were aired. This block aired on weekdays. The early-afternoon weekday film block was named ''Cool After School''. On weekends it was replaced with a Disney Cinemagic block. Movies were occasionally aired on Disney Junior.

This was followed by (''Disney Channel Movies''), which aired Disney Channel Original Movies. It aired on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after ''Zapping Zone'' and sometimes any other weekday after '' Wonderful World of Disney''. Some movies aired on Rede Telecine before airing on Disney Channel.

Holidays

The summer special began in December and ended in late February. It included premieres of new films and television series episodes. The channel aired themed films and episodes for Halloween and Christmas.

The channel aired an original production. Viewers vote on the website for their favorite movies, episodes, and specials. The most voted ones were aired on December 31. The show was hosted by the cast of "Zapping Zone." There was a countdown and previews of new programs coming next year. This replaced the previous block, "Popcorn."

(''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 social media. This block was discontinued by mid-2017.

Is the Disney Junior branded block where Disney Junior series was broadcast in the mornings from 6am to 11am.

Sabatona ''(lit. 'Saturday Marathon')'' was 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 15 December 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. 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.

Sister channels (Closed)

Disney XD

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 15 May 2009, and the channel launched on 3 July 2009. It closed down on 1 April 2022.

Disney Junior

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 1 June 2008 as Playhouse Disney. On 1 April 2011 it was rebranded as Disney Junior.
It closed down on 1 April 2022.

Logos

file: 1997 Disney Channel logo.jpg, 2001–2003
file:2002 Disney Channel logo.svg, 2003–2010
file:2010 Disney Channel logo.svg, 2010–2014
file:2014 Disney Channel logo.svg, 2014–2017
file:2017 Disney Channel logo.svg, 2017–2019
file:2019 Disney Channel logo.svg, 2019–2025

See also

* Disney Channel
* Disney Channel around the world

References

External links

*

{{Television in Brazil
Brazil
Children's television networks
Television channels and stations established in 2001
Television channels and stations disestablished in 2025
Portuguese-language television stations in Brazil
2001 establishments in Brazil
2025 disestablishments in Brazil
Defunct television channels in Brazil
The Walt Disney Company Latin America