Disney Junior (Australian TV channel) facts for kids
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Australia New Zealand (2005–19) Pacific Islands |
| Slogan | Where the magic begins |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | The Walt Disney Company (Australia) Disney Channels Worldwide (Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International) |
| Sister channels | Disney Channel Disney XD (2014–19) |
| History | |
| Launched | 5 December 2005 |
| Closed | 30 April 2020 |
| Former names | Playhouse Disney (2005–11) |
Disney Junior was a TV channel in Australia that you had to pay to watch. It was owned by The Walt Disney Company in Australia. This channel was like a younger sibling to the main Disney Channel.
The channel first started in 2005. Back then, it was called Playhouse Disney. It showed programs for kids aged 2 to 7 and their families. This included new TV shows and movies. On May 29, 2011, the channel changed its name to Disney Junior.
Disney Junior mainly showed cartoons and series for kids. Many of these shows came from the main Disney Junior channel in the United States. It also played Disney movies that were shown in cinemas. Sometimes, it would show other programs bought from different companies.
In late 2019 and early 2020, there were talks about Disney Channel and Disney Junior closing down. This was because a new streaming service called Disney+ was starting. Also, their agreements with TV providers were ending. Sky, a TV provider in New Zealand, confirmed the channels would close there on November 30, 2019. Foxtel, an Australian TV provider, said the channels would leave their service by the end of February 2020. On Fetch TV, another provider, they closed on April 30, 2020.
What Shows Were On Disney Junior?
Disney Junior mostly showed animated series for children. These shows came from the main Disney Junior channel in the United States. Some popular shows in the 2010s included Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake and the Never Land Pirates.
The channel also showed series made in other countries. These were bought by Disney Channel Worldwide. Some of these shows were PJ Masks, Claude, Gigantosaurus, 101 Dalmatian Street, and Go Away, Unicorn!.
Disney Junior would also air special showings of Disney movies that were first seen in cinemas. An example is Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas.
The Australian Disney Junior channel also made some of its own shows. One was The Book of Once Upon a Time. In this show, Australian voices read classic and new Disney stories. Another show, Alphabet Street, started in 2019.
