It is available using four different feeds, each with various programming schedules and timings. It is mostly marketed to children; however, in recent years the range of viewers has expanded to include an older audience. Disney Channel is operated by Disney Media Networks Latin America and owned by The Walt Disney Company Latin America, both of which are originally from The Walt Disney Company.
History
In July 2000, while Disney Channel in the United States changed its premium television label to basic subscription TV network, the channel was launched in Latin America using the same graphical branding as Disney Channel in Europe, created by GÉDÉON, but with most of the same programming as the US version (some differences were abound). In the beginning, the network's broadcast was divided in two feeds: North feed, aimed towards Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and South feed, aimed towards South America (excluding Brazil), each with different programming schedules. Disney Channel also launched its first original production, Zapping Zone, with hosts bringing news and introducing the Disney Channel Original Series to the audience.
On April 5, 2001, a Brazilian feed was also launched, replacing Disney Weekend, a weekend-only broadcast channel; it began at around 8:00pm, coinciding the premiere of The Lion King,[2] as it now broadcasts every single day.[3][4]
In 2004, Anne Sweeney, a veteran cable executive, took control of Disney–ABC Television Group and changed the design from the channels worldwide. On that same year, Disney Channel became a basic cable channel and used the 2002 look of Disney Channel U.S. Along with the new look the channel started to air new series, mainly focused on teenagers and placing the original animated cartoons in earlier schedules. In the morning schedule, Playhouse Disney was aired with programming for children aged 2–7.
A fourth feed, known as the Central feed, was created and was broadcast on Colombia, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean, broadcasting from Colombia and using the Colombian time zone.
On July 1, 2007, the channel rebranded its graphical package to a more "hip" look, using the "Ribbon" branding of the US Disney Channel.
On June 1, 2008, The Walt Disney Company Latin America launched Playhouse Disney (currently Disney Junior, a preschool-oriented channel focused solely on programming for young children aged 2 to 7.[5] A few months later, Playhouse Disney was also launched in Brazil, exclusively for TVA & Telefónica TV Digital subscribers.[6]
The Disney Junior-branded block in the morning was still broadcast in the same schedule until 2012. In 2008, Disney Mobile was re-branded as Disney Mobile Studios, which created content for cellphones.
On November 1, 2009, Disney Channel launched its fifth feed, the Pacific feed, aimed at Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia and employed the Chilean time zone. In that same date, the network renewed schedules, idents and promos in all of its feeds. On August 20, 2010, a new logo was introduced. On December 2, 2012, Disney Channel Latin America launched its own HD channel, simulcasting the Central feed.
On July 28, 2014, Disney Channel rebranded its graphical package with the new look unveiled in Germany on January 17, 2014, and in the US on May 23, 2014.
In 2016, Disney Channel HD turns into an independent channel with its own schedules, with promos now using three time zones (Mexico, Colombia and Argentina times). However, in 2019, all feeds launch their HD simulcasts, with the original HD channel turning into a high-definition simulcast of the Central feed again.
On May 1, 2021, the South +1 signal ceases its transmissions at 6:00 am, and is replaced by the original South signal in Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador without delay. Argentina continues to be the head of the South signal and the programming continues to be broadcast based on its time zone, but the times shown on the screen correspond to those of Argentina and Chile.[7]
On April 1, 2022, its sister channel Disney XD was shut down in the region;[8] as well as Disney Junior in Brazil,[9] due to the company's restructuring policy.
On December 2, 2024, The Walt Disney Company announced that Disney Channel would end in Brazil along with its sister channels (except for its ESPN channels) on February 28, 2025.[10][11][12] In Hispanic America, the channel will continue to operate like Disney Jr. since its closure of operations in Brazil in 2022.[13]
Feeds
Disney Channel has three different feeds for each region, which are called North, Center and South; these are broadcast in high definition natively simultaneously with the standard resolution signal. Until July 2014, the North, Center and HD feeds received the locution of the Mexican voice actors Noé Velásquez and Pedro de la Llata (until 2014), with a neutral accent, while the South feed received the narration of the Argentine Leandro Dugatkin with a River Plate accent. After the rebrand package that occurred on July 28, 2014, all the feeds receive the locution of Noé Velázquez and Lion Ollivier. After the premiere of new graphics on October 30, 2020, all the feeds receive the locution of Emilio Treviño..
In January 2010, a new channel signal was launched based in Santiago and aimed at Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. It was divided into 2 sub-signals, with the same programming: One for Chile and Bolivia, with Chilean hours and commercials; and another for Peru and Ecuador, with local commercials and with one or two hours of delay in programming, depending on the time change in Chile in summer and winter. The deferred sub-signal for Peru and Ecuador was discontinued in March 2017 to make way for a new autonomous signal specifically for those two countries, called the Peru signal. On June 5 of the same year, the Pacific signal is suppressed to serve as a mirror channel to the South Atlantic Signal with a difference of one hour (Signal +1), based in Buenos Aires, while the Peru signal ceases to broadcast autonomously. and retransmits the same content as the South Atlantic signal (currently, South Signal) with a difference of two hours (signal +2). Both services broadcast advertising according to the countries of coverage. In April 2019, Signal +2 is eliminated and is replaced by Signal +1 in Peru and Ecuador.
In Peru, Movistar TV used to offer the Pacific signal without delay in the satellite service, while in the digital and analog cable service it had the signal deferred for two hours (Pacific Signal +2). From March to June 2017, the cable channel becomes Peru Signal. As of June of that same year, due to the changes made by Disney, Movistar began to offer the South Signal +2 by cable, while the South Signal +1 continued to be available in the satellite service. Since April 2019, after the elimination of the South Signal +2, the cable service replaced it with the Signal +1.
In Chile, Peru and Ecuador you could see the original Sur signal through DirecTV and TuVes HD, since May 2021 these countries geographically receive the Sur signal.
In Colombia, Movistar TV used to broadcast the Pacific signal until February 2017, when it was replaced by the North Atlantic Signal (currently Central Signal) due to the division of the Pacific signal in two.
In Venezuela, Movistar TV distributes the South Signal +1. From March to June 2017, it continued to distribute the Chile signal despite the division of the Pacific signal.
In Argentina, Disney Channel issued Advertising Space identifiers, as a result of the legal provisions established by Law 26,522 on Audiovisual Communication Services and Modifications. This practice was reversed in 2016.
In Mexico, Disney Channel displays age rating identifiers at the beginning of each program or movie available under media laws in the country.
From its launch in December 2012 until its closure in August 2018, Disney Channel HD was broadcast simultaneously throughout Latin America in high definition, but does not make a simultaneous connection with local signals. It had independent programming. On August 14, 2018, the channel was replaced by the HD versions of the local signals depending on the country. In itself, its programming began to broadcast the Disney Channel's Central signal.
In Argentina, Movistar TV distributed the North Signal from 2018 to 2020, when it was replaced by the channel's South signal.
In Honduras, the operator Mayavisión distributes Disney Channel's North signal and not the channel's Central Signal.
In Central America and the Dominican Republic, the Sky satellite operator broadcasts the North Signal instead of the Center signal.
In Colombia and Paraguay, Claro TV offered the South Signal +1 in its satellite service, since May 1, 2021 it offers the original South signal after the elimination of the South Signal +1.
In Panama, Tigo in its satellite version broadcasts the South +1 signal instead of the Center Signal. From May 1, 2021, it broadcasts the original South signal after the elimination of the South +1 signal.
On May 1, 2021, after 11 years, the South +1 signal is discontinued and is replaced by the original South signal without delay in Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.
Sabatón (Portuguese: Sabatona) (lit.'Saturday Marathon') is a programming block that originated on Disney XD, broadcast every Saturday. A different marathon of some animation series aired 3 hours each week. It began back on April 2, 2022,[14] 2 days after Disney XD was shut down in the region.[15]
Cartoon Block
The space between the ending of Disney Junior is mainly used as a cartoon block with animated Disney Channel original series and series from Disney Television Animation. The series that are aired and their schedules are varied depending on the zone.
Disney Channel TBT
Block released in May 2020 that consists of the broadcast of original old series and movies that were very successful and popular on the channel such as Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, American Dragon: Jake Long, The Suite Life on Deck, Jonas, That's So Raven, Kim Possible, Phineas and Ferb, Sonny with a Chance among other series. It is broadcast only on Thursdays. In June 2020, the block was removed from the channel, but in October 2020 it returned to the channel's programming, this time airing Monday through Friday. Currently the block broadcasts only the channel's classic Live Action series, the block returned at the beginning of 2021 to broadcast a marathon of classic Live Action series on Thursdays with one series per month, this block disappeared at the end of 2022, to make way for broadcasting a greater variety of series on Thursdays like the other days.
Disney Jr. nas manhãs do Disney Channel
Following the closure of the Disney Junior channel in Brazil on 31 March 2022, a Disney Junior branded block is broadcast on the Brazilian feed of Disney Channel at mornings from 6am to 11am.
Movie Block
Following the elimination of the Wonderful World of Disney block, only Disney Channel Original Movies and films acquired are currently broadcast.
As of 1 October 2020, all films from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures library were removed permanently from the Disney Channels programming due the launch of Disney+ in Latin America on 17 November 2020. Not only this affect Disney Channel and its sister networks, but also the WarnerMedia networks that were still airing Disney movies at the time.[16]
Former programming blocks
Zapping Zone
Disney Channel Latin America produced an original series titled Zapping Zone, on which different hosts interact with the viewers with games and trivia. It was aired only on weekdays from July 27, 2000,[1] to October 26, 2012. They also give news about Disney Channel, the channel's series, upcoming Disney films and new Disney Channel Original Movies. It is transmission is not live, and viewers can call to participate in different games, all of them containing questions and trivia about Disney films and series. Just for participating, they can win T-shirts and caps, and if they win, the awards include DVDs, soundtracks and video games of other Disney films and characters.
The hosts of the Zapping Zone presented the series, Disney Channel Original Series that are aired in the block as a primetime. New episodes of animated and live-action series were often aired every weekday. New music videos or trailers also premiered in the block, introduced by the hosts. There were also blocks such as Stop, Bloopers, and Xtreme Friday.
Wonderful World of Disney was the block after the Zapping Zone where different Walt Disney Pictures were aired. The block aired on weekdays. The early-afternoon weekday film block is named Cool After School. On weekends it is replaced with a Disney Cinemagic block. Movies were occasionally aired on Disney Junior.
It was followed by another film block, but this one airs Disney Channel Original Movies. It aired on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after Zapping Zone and sometimes any other weekday after The Wonderful World of Disney. Some of the films premiered on Rede Telecine or HBO Family before they premiered here. The highest-rated film in this block was High School Musical 2, with 3.3 million viewers.[17]
Holidays
Due to the season differences in Latin America, the timing of the summer special varies by region. It starts in late June and ends in early September in the North and Central feeds. In the South and Pacific feeds it begins in December and ends in late February. It includes premieres of new films and television series episodes. For Halloween and Christmas the channel airs themed films and episodes.
The channel does not air the New Year events of Disney Channel of the United States. Its New year Event is an original production of the channel, named Celebratón. Viewers vote on the website for their favorite movies, episodes, and specials. The most voted ones are aired December 31. It is hosted by the cast of Zapping Zone. There is a countdown and previews of new programs coming in the next year. It replaced the previous block "Popcorn".
It is a pay television channel broadcasting in all Latin America using four feeds. It is directly marketed to preschoolers. It was launched on 1 June 2008 as Playhouse Disney Channel. Formerly it was only a programming block that aired on Disney Channel during mornings. Its programming is very similar to the US channel; however, it also airs non-original programming. On December 23, 2010 The Walt Disney Company Latin America announced that the channel would be rebranded as Disney Junior sometime in 2011,[18] and the relaunched eventually happened on April 1, 2011. It was closed in Brazil on March 31, 2022,[9] while this channel continues to operate in the Hispanic America countries.
It was a pay television channel broadcasting throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. It was launched on November 8, 1996, as Fox Kids, rebranded on August 1, 2004, as Jetix, and took on its current branding on July 3, 2009. It is broadcast using four feeds. It features male-focused series along with action, comedy and animated series.[19] It is marketed to children from 6 to 14. It is operated by Disney Media Networks and The Walt Disney Company Latin America, which are owned by The Walt Disney Company. The channel was closed on April 1, 2022.[8][20]
Disney Channel is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company.
Cinecanal is a Latin American pan-regional cable television channel launched on April 1, 1993. It is owned by a group of Hollywood studios and Latin American cable companies. It is owned by the Fox Networks Group, a subsidiary of Disney International Operations, which is itself a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
Jetix was a children's entertainment brand owned by The Walt Disney Company. The brand was for a slate of action/adventure-related programming blocks and television channels. Jetix programming mainly originated from the Saban Entertainment library, airing live-action and animated series with some original programming. The channel's target audience was older children and adolescents aged 8–15.
Star Channel is a Latin American pay television channel operated by Disney Media Networks Latin America, a part of The Walt Disney Company Latin America. The channel is mainly oriented towards family audiences, unlike its sister channel FX which is aimed at young males. Most shows retain their original English-language titles.
FX is a Latin American pay television channel. It is intended as a counterpart to Fox Life, the first being produced for the Young and Adult audience, while the latter is almost entirely programmed for the female viewers. It was launched in May 1, 2005.
Disney Branded Television is an American television production company and a unit of Disney General Entertainment Content which oversees development, production and acquisition of content geared towards children, teenagers and families for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney Jr. and Disney XD. The unit also oversees Disney-branded unscripted series, documentaries and specials for Disney+ and the Disney channels.
Disney Channel is a Scandinavian children's television channel owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company Limited. On 5 June 2023, it was shut down and merged into Disney Channel EMEA, but was relaunched on 1 April 2024.
Disney Channel is a defunct pan-Asian pay television kids channel owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.
Nickelodeon is a Hispanic/Latin American pay television channel, counterpart of the American network of the same name. It is owned by Paramount Networks Americas and was launched on 20 December 1996. Aside from airing Nick and Nick Jr. content, it has produced original programming for the channel and has been sold to local distributors worldwide except for Cuba as cable television is banned in that country.
Disney Channel is a children's pay television channel owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company Limited, the international business division of the Walt Disney Company serving television markets across the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Greece, Cyprus, the Baltics, and most of the Balkans.
Disney XD was a Latin American pay television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company and one of the channels of Disney Branded Television which operated across Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean region. It is based on namesake American television channel.
Cartoon Network is a Latin American pay television channel distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery for the Latin American audience, and the Caribbean. It is the Latin American version of the original Cartoon Network television channel in the United States. It is divided into five feeds, all originating from the Turner headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, United States; four are in Spanish, and the other is in Portuguese for Brazil. The feeds have different schedules.
Disney Channel is a British-managed Polish television kids' channel, owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company and a localized version of the U.S. channel of the same name.
Disney Jr. is a cable and satellite television channel in Hispanic America. It is the local variant of the American channel of the same name. It is broadcast in two feeds: North Zone and South Zone. It is marketed to preschoolers. Disney Jr. is operated by Disney Media Networks Latin America; part of The Walt Disney Company Latin America.
Disney Channel is a British-managed Hungarian pay television channel, owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. It is aimed at children and teens. It was previously known as Fox Kids, and later as Jetix.
Disney Jr. is a brand of children's television channels owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company, aimed at young children between two and seven years old. Since its American debut on February 14, 2011, the brand was launched worldwide. In most countries the channel was formerly known as Playhouse Disney.
Disney Channel is a French television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company France. It is a localized version of the U.S. cable television channel of the same name.
The Walt Disney Company Latin America is one of The Walt Disney Company's international divisions. It is responsible for the Disney brand and its businesses throughout the region. It has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Miami.
Disney XD is an American pay television channel owned by the Disney Branded Television and Disney Entertainment units of The Walt Disney Company. The channel is aimed primarily at older children ages six to eleven years old.
Fox Sports was a group of sports television channels available in Latin America. Several years after acquiring 20th Century Fox in 2019, The Walt Disney Company announced its decision to unify its sports broadcasting operations in Latin America exclusively under the ESPN brand. As a result, all Fox Sports channels were rebranded as ESPN by February 2024.
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