Disney Channel (European, Middle Eastern, and African TV channel) facts for kids
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| Country | United Kingdom |
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| Headquarters | 3 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9PE |
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Disney Channel is a fun TV channel for kids and teens. It is managed from Europe by The Walt Disney Company. You can watch it in many places like the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Greece, Cyprus, Scandinavia, the Baltics, and parts of the Balkans.
The channel first started broadcasting on April 2, 1997, in the Middle East and North Africa. Back then, you could only watch it if you were an Orbit TV subscriber. Later, in 2006, Disney Channel began to reach more countries in Africa and the Balkans. It used to be available in Poland and Turkey too. But those countries now have their own special Disney Channels. Many Disney Channel shows are also available on Disney+ in these regions.
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History of Disney Channel
Disney Channel started broadcasting in the Middle East & North Africa on April 2, 1997. At first, it was only in English. But on April 1, 1998, an Arabic version was added. This meant cartoons were dubbed (their voices changed to Arabic). Live-action shows had Arabic subtitles (words on the screen).
In 2001, Showtime also started offering Disney Channel Middle East. The channel changed its logo in June 2003 to match the one used in the US. Around 2005, the Arabic and English versions of the channel joined together. It also started showing programs like Disney Channel Scandinavia.
Over time, the Middle East channel and the Scandinavian channel became separate again. In 2006, the Middle East channel started reaching more places. It launched in Sub-Saharan Africa in September 2006, Poland in December 2006, Turkey in April 2007, and Greece and Cyprus in November 2009.
In 2009, the Middle East channel became a big channel for most of the EMEA region. It started sharing promotions with the Central and Eastern Europe Disney Channel. Later, in 2010, Poland got its own Disney Channel. In 2012, Turkey also got its own Disney Channel.
Between 2009 and 2012, Disney Channel EMEA also started broadcasting in countries that used to be part of former Yugoslavia. These included Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia, and Slovenia. It also reached Albania.
The channel got a new look and logo on July 21, 2014. In 2015, it changed its screen size to a wider 16:9 format. In 2017, a high-definition (HD) version of the channel was launched. It also got new graphics. In August 2018, the channel stopped broadcasting in Albania. On June 24, 2022, Disney Channel EMEA got another new look and logo.
Where You Can Watch Disney Channel
Middle East and North Africa
This part of the channel is the oldest. It started broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa on April 2, 1997. You can watch it in both English and Arabic. Most cartoons have Arabic voices. But live-action shows usually have English voices with Arabic subtitles. The channel also has its own website in both English and Arabic.
Sub-Saharan Africa
This version of the channel launched on September 25, 2006. It is available on Multichoice's DStv. Since 2007, it broadcasts 24 hours a day. This channel is mostly in English only.
Greece & Cyprus
This channel launched in Greece and Cyprus on November 8, 2009. It is available in both English and Greek. Most shows, both cartoons and live-action, have Greek voices. Some shows also have Greek subtitles. It has a Greek website too.
Other Countries
Between 2009 and 2012, the channel expanded to countries like Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. All shows here are in English with Serbian, Croatian, and Slovene subtitles. On February 28, 2023, the channel also launched in the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania).
Other Disney Channels
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is a channel for younger kids, usually aged 2 to 6. It started on September 1, 2010, as Playhouse Disney. Then, on June 1, 2011, it changed its name to Disney Junior. It is available in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Greece, and Cyprus. In 2016, an Arabic version of Disney Junior also launched.
Disney XD (closed)
Disney XD was a channel for older kids and teenagers, especially boys. It launched in the Middle East, Greece, and the Balkans in 2009. It came to Sub-Saharan Africa in May 2011. An Arabic version of Disney XD also launched in 2018. This channel is no longer available. It closed in Sub-Saharan Africa on October 1, 2020. It closed in the Middle East and Balkans on December 31, 2020. And it closed in Greece on January 31, 2021.
Shows on Disney Channel
Current programming
- Alex & Co.
- Amphibia
- Avengers Assemble
- Big City Greens
- Binny and the Ghost
- Chip n Dale: Park Life
- Descendants: Wicked World
- Bunk'd
- Disney 11
- DuckTales
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- The Ghost and Molly McGee
- Ghostforce
- Gabby Duran & the Unsittables
- Jessie
- Hannah Montana
- Lab Rats
- LoliRock
- Marvel's Spider-Man
- Mickey Mouse
- Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
- Phineas and Ferb
- Raven's Home
- The Rocketeer
- Rolling with the Ronks!
- Secrets of Sulphur Springs
- Shake It Up
- Star Wars Forces of Destiny
- Stuck in the Middle
- Sydney to the Max
- Team Sayari
- The Evermoor Chronicles
- The Owl House
- The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti
- The Villains of Valley View
- Vikingskool
- Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion
- Violetta
- Walk the Prank
- Wizards of Waverly Place
Note: Some of these shows can also be watched on Disney+.
Former programming
- Adventures of the Gummi Bears
- A Kind of Magic
- A.N.T. Farm
- Art Attack
- American Dragon: Jake Long
- Aladdin
- Austin & Ally
- Brandy and Mr. Whiskers
- Best Friends Whenever
- Bizaardvark
- Darkwing Duck
- Dog with a Blog
- Cookabout
- Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers
- Coop & Cami Ask the World
- Cory in the House
- Disney Fam Jam
- Disney Tsum Tsum
- Doug
- DuckTales (1987)
- Elena of Avalor
- Even Stevens
- Fish Hooks
- Gargoyles
- Gigantosaurus
- Girl Meets World
- Go Away, Unicorn!
- Goof Troop
- Good Luck Charlie
- Gravity Falls
- Hank Zipzer
- H2O: Just Add Water
- Home Improvement
- House of Mouse
- Hotel Transylvania: The Series
- Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
- I Didn't Do It
- Jonas
- Just Roll with It
- K.C. Undercover
- Kim Possible
- Kitty is Not a Cat
- Legend of the Three Caballeros
- Lilo and Stitch: The Series
- Liv and Maddie
- Lizzie McGuire
- Lloyd in Space
- Mako Mermaids
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors
- My Babysitter’s a Vampire
- Penny on M.A.R.S
- Phil of the Future
- Quack Pack
- Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure
- The Legend of Tarzan
- Recess
- Sabrina: The Animated Series
- Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch
- Sadie Sparks
- Sofia the First
- Soy Luna
- Supa Strikas
- Sonny with a Chance
- So Random!
- So Weird
- Teacher’s Pet
- The Next Step
- Timon and Pumbaa
- That's So Raven
- The Fairly OddParents
- The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
- The Suite Life on Deck
- The Weekenders
- The ZhuZhus
- Totally Spies!
- Ultimate Spider-Man
- Win, Lose or Draw
Upcoming programming
- Kiff (Starts August 21, 2023)
Disney Channel Original Movie premieres
2015
- Teen Beach Movie (June 26, 2015)
- Descendants (September 18, 2015)
2016
- Adventures in Babysitting (September 23, 2016)
2017
- Descendants 2 (October 6, 2017)
2018
- Zombies (May 12, 2018)
- Freaky Friday (November 9, 2018)
2019
- Kim Possible (May 3, 2019)
- Descendants 3 (October 11, 2019)
2020
- Zombies 2 (May 8, 2020)
2021
- Upside-Down Magic (January 29, 2021)
- Under Wraps (October 29, 2021)
- Spin (November 12, 2021)
- Christmas... Again?! (December 24, 2021)
2022
- Zombies 3 (October 14, 2022)
See also
In Spanish: Disney Channel (Europa, Medio Oriente y África) para niños
