Disney Jr. (UK & Ireland)

Last updated

Disney Jr.
2024 Disney Jr. Logo.svg
Logo used since 13 November 2025
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom, Ireland, Malta[ citation needed ]
Headquarters3 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9PE, United Kingdom
Programming
Picture format 1080i HDTV
Timeshift serviceDisney Junior +1 (closed)
Ownership
Owner The Walt Disney Company Limited
Disney Channels Worldwide
(Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International)
Sister channels
History
Launched29 September 2000;25 years ago (2000-09-29) (original, as Playhouse Disney)
7 May 2011;14 years ago (2011-05-07) (original, as Disney Junior)
13 November 2025;3 months ago (2025-11-13) (relaunch, as Disney Jr.)
Closed1 October 2020;5 years ago (2020-10-01) (original)
Replaced by Disney+ (original)
Former namesPlayhouse Disney (2000–2011)
Disney Junior (2011–2020)

Disney Jr., previously known as Playhouse Disney, is a British and Irish preschool pay television channel that initially ran from 29 September 2000 to 1 October 2020 and restarted on 13 November 2025. Owned by the Walt Disney Company Limited, with branding obtained from Disney Channels Worldwide unit of Disney's Disney–ABC Television Group division, the channel focuses on preschool programming. The channel was rebranded as Disney Junior on 7 May 2011. It originally closed on 30 September 2020 due to the launch and refocus of Disney+ in the region. It relaunched on Sky's television platforms on 13 November 2025.

Contents

History

Early programming efforts

Disney Channel changed its programming focus in 1997, and a preschool block titled "Disney Channel Underfives" was launched to fill its morning schedule.

On 1 September 1999, the time slot was given its own distinct identity and live-action continuity to match Disney Channel's rebranding. Initially, this branding still used standard Disney Channel branding. It was rebranded as Playhouse Disney in 2000, which was first time the brand expanded outside the United States. The presenter-led links, fronted by Dave Benson Phillips and Alex Lovell (referred to as Big Dave and Little Alex), featured the two presenting links through "the Playhouse" during continuity.

Launch as a dedicated channel (2000)

On 30 May 2000, it was announced by a Disney Television International representative that three new channels would launch on Sky Digital later on in the year: Disney Channel +1 (a timeshift channel), Toon Disney, and a standalone Playhouse Disney network. [1] The three channels launched on 29 September 2000 as add-ons to the standard Disney Channel, being available as a single multiplex package or included with the Sky Movies pack. [2] [3] With the channel being exclusive to Sky at the time, the Playhouse Disney block continued to broadcast on Disney Channel during school-term weekdays.

Playhouse Disney, alongside the other two multiplex networks, were added to NTL from 7 December 2001, [4] and eventually launched on Telewest on 3 December 2003. [5] Following these launches, the Playhouse Disney block reduced its hours of featured programming and was eventually removed altogether in July 2004.

In April 2004, a nighttime block called "PJ's Bedtime" was added to the channel, [6] to supplement the Playhouse presentation strand.

Transition to standard network (2006-2011)

On 28 February 2006, Disney Media Networks and BSkyB announced that Playhouse Disney, along with its sister channel Disney Channel, would transition from premium add-ons to basic television packages such as Sky's "Kids Mix" beginning on 16 March, and that a new sister channel, Disney Cinemagic, would take over Disney's premium offerings, replacing Toon Disney. [7] The transition of Playhouse Disney to a basic network led to a significant broadcast share increase of 83% by July. [8] The Playhouse presentation format hosted by Big Dave and Little Alex remained until late August 2006, [9] while the PJ's Bedtime strand remained until late November 2007.

In June 2006, a Playhouse Disney block was added to the morning schedule of ABC1. [10] It was removed after Disney shut down ABC1 in September 2007. ABC1's slot itself on Sky would be used to launch a 25-minute timeshift of Playhouse Disney, which was added on 30 October and launched on 3 November. [11]

Rebrand as Disney Junior (2011)

On 29 January 2011, it was announced that Playhouse Disney would rebrand as Disney Junior on 7 May, as part of a worldwide rebranding. [12] On the date of the rebrand, the channel transitioned to airing in a 16:9 widescreen ratio.

On 21 February 2013, Sky and Disney Channels Worldwide announced that a high-definition simulcast of Disney Junior would launch on Sky in May. [13]

In September 2017, Disney XD +1 was temporarily rebranded as a pop-up channel titled Mickey and Pals, which aired various programming from Disney Junior.

Closure (2020)

Disney Junior, along with its sister channels Disney XD and Disney Channel, closed in the UK on 30 September 2020, after 20 years on-air. The closure was previously announced on 25 June that year; all of the channels' content was transferred to Disney's streaming service, Disney+. [14] Virgin Media removed the channels a day before their closure on 29 September, with CBBC and CBeebies taking over the network's former Sky EPG slots on 1 October.

Relaunch (2025)

Disney Jr. UK started testing on the Astra 2F Satellite on 20 October 2025. [15] Disney Jr. relaunched in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 13 November 2025 on Sky Q and Sky Stream. [16]

Logos

References

  1. ↑ "Update: New Disney Channels". Digital Spy. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "Disney Channels: More revealed". Digital Spy. 26 September 2000. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "Disney launches new channels". Brand Republic. Haymarket Media Group Ltd. MediaWeek. 13 September 2000. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 21 July 2014. Alt URL Archived 11 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: New channels on NTL next week". Digital Spy . 2 December 2001. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "More Disney channels launch on Telewest". Digital Spy . 3 December 2003. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Guardian Unlimited: TV Listings". 13 April 2004. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Sky, Disney Media Networks and the Walt Disney Studios Team up for More Family Entertainment, HDTV and Legal Broadband Movie Downloads". 28 February 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  8. ↑ ""Record ratings" for Disney Channel". Digital Spy . 9 July 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Guardian Unlimited: TV Listings". 22 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Stewart, Lianne (1 April 2006). "New kid on the U.K. Freeview block". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Playhouse Disney timeshift joins Sky EPG". Digital Spy . 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Disney preps Playhouse UK rebrand". Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Disney, Sky bow co-branded movie net". C21Media. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Kanter, Jake (25 June 2020). "Disney To Close Kids Channels In The UK Following Launch Of Disney+". Deadline. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "Disney Junior UK – LyngSat". LyngSat. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  16. ↑ Sheena, Jasmine (23 September 2025). "Disney says it's committed to linear TV amid declines in ad revenue at A+E". Marketing Brew.
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