Disney/ABC Television Group has announced a new Disney Channel for preschoolers and their families called “Disney Junior.” The channel is set to debut in the United States in 2012 and is branded towards children ages 2-7.
Some shows that have already been announced for the channel include:
- “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”
- “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”
- “Handy Manny”
- “Special Agent Oso”
- “Imagination Movers”
- “Jungle Junction”
It has also been announced that the channel will play a number of Disney movies.
In the United States the new channel Disney Junior will take the place of the SOAPnet channel. Also, before it’s launch, Disney Junior will be introduced to kids on the Disney Channel during the Playhouse Disney programming block.
Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, said:
The launch of Disney Junior in the U.S. is the next step in our global preschool strategy, which began 10 years ago with the premiere of our first dedicated preschool channel in the UK. The decision to ultimately transition SOAPnet to accomplish this was not arrived at lightly. SOAPnet was created in 2000 to give daytime viewers the ability to watch time-shifted soaps, before multiplatform viewing and DVRs were part of our vocabulary. But today, as technology and our businesses evolve, it makes more sense to align this distribution with a preschool channel that builds on the core strengths of our company.
Carolina Lightcap, president, Disney Channels Worldwide, said:
Around the world, our Disney-branded channels are burgeoning, distinguished by the special place Disney has in the hearts of kids — who delight in our characters and stories — and parents who trust our commitment to entertaining and helping their preschoolers, kids and tweens grow through engaging, relevant programming. By adding a dedicated U.S. channel for preschoolers to our global portfolio, we look forward to enhancing that sense of magical storytelling and parental trust, and expanding our offerings, locally and globally, from morning to night, to deliver more Disney-quality content that will resonate with generations to come.
Outside of the United States 22 Playhouse Disney channels and time blocks will be rebranded as Disney Junior in 2011.
Source: Disney/ABC Television Group
Related News:
- The Disney Junior TV Channel Launches March 23, 2012
- Disney Junior “Doc McStuffins”
- Disney Junior To Debut On The Disney Channel In February 2011
- Disney Junior “Be Part Of The Magic” Contest
- New Disney Channel Show “Timmy Time”
- The Jonas Brothers TV Show JONAS Is Coming To The UK
- Mandy Moore Stars In New Disney Junior Animated Series “Oki’s Oasis”
disney junior eew! why? that should stay on play house disney!no way i’m going vto watch that..i only watch disney channel. you better not put that on disney channel. i refuse to watch it
It will be a disney channel except from my understanding it will be dedicated to playschoolers just like nick did with nick jr. I for one will be excited when this happens due to my child not watching anything but shows dedicated for his age and by the afternoon he is limited to show on tv if he wants to watch tv that is
I’m excited for the channel. I grew up with the Disney Channel (Silly Symphonies, Dumbo’s Circus, Mousercise, MMC, classic Disney movies) and always wanted a channel to bring those back. This channel might not do that, but it will show a lot of quality shows that my son will enjoy as he grows up. Can’t wait!
The dream of a lot of fans is that they will sometimes show classics like “Bear in the Big Blue House,” “PB&J Otter” or “The Book of Pooh.” Unfortunately, it’s sounding like that’s probably not going to happen.
my soon to be 3 year old is very excited for this to take place. although we have 3 disney ch, at this time I have not been able to find any of the new shows they are talking about starting on mon. I hope it just have not put them into the system yet. I love the fact that i grew up watching Disney, and know there will be an all day deal for my son to do the same.
I think this is long overdue. Too many of these shows on disney simply show ill behaving teens with no positive adult guidance in the picture at all – if there are adults in the show they are portrayed to be idiots with the ill behaving teens settling all the problems. This is horrible agendas to put out there for preschoolers as well as older children to be growing up watching. Not to mention the real life records of most of “stars” that grow up on disney -I see them on the major news for ill behavior as much as on the shows. Up to this point I allow my preschooler to watch a few shows on disney and then the channel is changed. Good luck with this new network – if handled right this will be a positive change.
Your new schedule for Disney Junior missed the mark. Our 2 year old granddaughter misses Timmy Time and Tinga Tinga, and her favorite Imagination Movers. We very seldom watch Disney Channel. She would now watch Nick Jr & PBS. We do watch some of her favorites on the internet or DVD. Sorry Disney, I grew up with you, but I do believe you took a wrong turn. This family no longer watches you.
My son love Disney Junior so much, it is just disappointing that sometimes it was dubbed in foreign language that we cannot understand, please refrain from doing it. It is the best venue to teach toddlers at home since it is an advance exposure to school.
Please please please bring back Imagination Movers, Tinga Tinga, and Timmy time to your block of shows. As I do love Mickey Mouse and Little Einsteins, but its on ALL THE TIME. My boys miss timmy time and the others. Really hope that the new channel won’t become the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse channel