History
The channel launched on 22 March 1997 at 6:00pm (Paris Time), [6] at its inception, was available as an option on Canal Satellite. [7] The channel used to be ad-free when it launched. [8]
On 2 November 2002, the portfolio of Disney-branded channels in France expanded from one to four channel with the launch of Toon Disney, Playhouse Disney, and Disney Channel +1. The movie channel Disney Cinemagic (later Disney Cinéma) was launched in September 2007 replacing Toon Disney. [9]
After an announcement at the end of November 2006, four Disney channels were available in the Belgian television offer via ADSL Belgacom TV from 1 December 2006. [10] [11]
On 23 October 2007, the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (lit. 'Superior Audiovisual Council') pinned the various of channels of Disney in France for their programming in 2006. [12] The CSA alerts Playhouse Disney to the lack of investment in French and independent audiovisual production. For Disney Channel, the CSA warns the channel for its lack of investment in independent individual production and puts it on notice regarding its prime-time broadcasting quotas. [13]
On 13 July 2009, Walt Disney Television and NRJ 12 announced an agreement to broadcast Disney Channel exclusives on the NRJ12 channel from 24 August 2009. [14] NRJ 12 will broadcast exclusively over-the-air series produced by Walt Disney Television and will be able to re-broadcast existing series after broadcast on Disney Channel [15] such as The Suite Life of Zack & Cody , Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny with a Chance .
On 1 April 2011, the channel was launched on IPTV platforms as a basic channel, inspired by its Spanish counterpart. [16] On 19 April 2011, Disney and Free ISP launched a VOD service on Freebox called Disneytek. [17] On 1 May 2011 the channel rebranded its graphical package. On 24 August 2011, Disney Channel and Disney Channel +1 switched to 16:9 format, taking the opportunity to put on a new logo. On 20 September 2011, Disney Channel started broadcasting in high-definition. [18]
In January 2012, it has been the most watched cable/satellite channel with 1.1% (including Disney Channel +1). It is the most watched youth channel. [19]
On 29 June 2015, the channel ceased to be offered to Belgians, replaced by a new Belgian version, which have a French and Dutch speaking version.
The channel had a programming block, Les Grandes histoires de Disney Junior (lit. The Great Stories of Disney Junior), and from 2015 of the Disney XD Zone. The programs of these two channels were only diffused there in their block. The programming blocks disappeared in June 2016.
Disney Channel celebrated its 20th anniversary in France from January to March 2017, notably with the film, Mère et Fille: California Dream , which is the first and only French Disney Channel Original Movie. [20]
In parallel with the French launch of Disney+ scheduled for 24 March 2020, [21] but postponed to 7 April, [22] Disney XD, Disney Cinema and three services (Disney Channel Pop Pick, Disney English and Hola Disney) were shut down, and Disney Channel returned to being a Canal+ exclusive, being removed of Bouygues Telecom on 30 March, Free on 2 April, [23] Orange on 9 April and finally SFR on 30 June. [24] [25] [26]
On 5 November 2024, it was announced that the channel, along with Disney Jr., National Geographic and National Geographic Wild, and Disney+ would no longer be available on Canal+ starting 1 January 2025 after failing to renew its exclusive distribution deal. [27] [28] Media outlets called about the closure of the channels, [29] [30] [31] but Disney had not communicated about their fate, and programming had already been scheduled after 1 January 2025, denying its immediate closure. [32] On 20 December 2024, it was announced that the channel would return to the ISP basic offers of Orange along with National Geographic by 2 January after inking its distribution, [33] and Free on 1 January 2025. [34] However, Disney Jr. and National Geographic Wild would cease broadcasts in France, remaining available in Belgium and Switzerland.
