The three-year-old cable network Disney Junior doesn’t actually attract a lot of viewers, but it does generate a lot of money from toy sales. “Sales of products based on the network’s shows have more than tripled in two years, to an estimated $3 billion in… Read More »Disney Junior is a Toy Machine
Broadway and television stars Megan Hilty, Christian Borle, and Tom Cavanagh lead the voice cast of the animated “Lucky Duck,” the first Disney Junior Original Movie. The story introduces an unflappable rubber ducky with a broken squeaker named Lucky (voiced by Borle) and two kindred… Read More »Disney Junior to Air First Original Movie “Lucky Duck” in June 2014
When they opened Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage at Disney-MGM Studios, they may not have had in mind that it would update every time Disney Channel changed its slate, but if they did, good job. I still miss Bear in the Big Blue House,… Read More »Disney Junior – Live on Stage New Show
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is certainly the hot fairy tale of the day. Disney Television Animation has just announced a new show that will air on Disney’s pre-school oriented channel – Disney Jr. “The 7D” will provide a comedic take on the world… Read More »Disney Jr to get Seven Dwarfs Animated TV Show – The 7D
If there is one thing Portland, OR has become known for these days, it’s the diverse music scene that keeps 20 and 30 somethings moving there despite the lack of available jobs. The Oregonian has a look at two of those musicians who were discovered… Read More »Portland Pair Perform Pirate Pieces for Disney Jr
Your ESPN is safe. Time Warner and Disney has reached an agreement that will keep the Disney owned channels live on the cable system. Additional deals were struck to carry ESPN3.com on broadband and additional video on Demand services.
I can’t think of a single one of these negotiations that wasn’t resolved either before the deadline or shortly there after. Cable and content creators need to sit down with the FCC and members of congress and figure out a new model of content neutrality that still gives cable companies a reasonable profit.
The full press release of the announcement is below the cut:
As we attempt to raise our Disney Son, who turns 7 this summer, we continue to experience the challenge of finding television shows that are appropriate for a child his age (or younger). You would think that between Disney XD and the Disney Channel there would always be something, but often the options are either unacceptable or not aimed at his demographic.
Now that Disney has announced a new cable channel aimed squarely at pre-school aged kids, future generations won’t have that same issue. Disney Junior will start as a website and that new name of Playschool Disney and then will morph into a full cable channel when it replaces SOAPnet.
Disney Junior’s animated and live action programming will blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills.
“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,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group.
But why get rid of SOAPnet? “The decision to ultimately transition SOAPnet to accomplish this was not arrived at lightly,” said Sweeney. “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.”
I guess that means we can write off the return of ABC Soap Opera days at DHS.
I’m not sure Disney Junior is a stronger brand than Playhouse Disney. But it does convey that the channel will be more than just play, which I guess is a step in the right direction. I wonder if the yearly Playhouse Disney Live tours will be rebranded too.
For more details check out the press release below the jump;