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List of Disney Junior TV channels facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Disney Junior is a special group of TV channels and shows made by The Walt Disney Company. It's designed for younger kids, usually between 2 and 7 years old. The first Disney Junior channel started in the United States on February 14, 2011. Before that, in many parts of the world, it was known as Playhouse Disney.

Over the past few years, especially since 2019, Disney Junior channels have started to close down in some countries, mainly in Europe and Asia. This is because many of its shows are now available on Disney+ or as special morning blocks on the main Disney Channel. However, Disney Junior channels still exist in many other places.

How Disney Junior Started

The idea for Disney Junior began with a TV block called Playhouse Disney. This block first appeared on the Disney Channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland on September 28, 1999. It was a big hit, so a whole Playhouse Disney channel was launched there on September 29, 2000. This channel showed popular cartoons like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny. There was even a Playhouse Disney magazine in the UK that helped kids learn through fun activities.

In Canada, a Playhouse Disney Channel also started on November 30, 2007. It even had a French version that launched later. Both of these Canadian channels eventually became Disney Junior on May 6, 2011.

The first Disney Junior channel outside the U.S. launched in Latin America on April 1, 2011. After that, many other countries around the world changed their Playhouse Disney channels or blocks to Disney Junior. This happened in places like the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Japan, India, and many parts of Europe throughout 2011 and 2012.

Where Disney Junior Is Now

Disney Junior is available in different ways around the world. In some countries, it's a full TV channel, while in others, its shows are part of a special morning block on the main Disney Channel.

  •      Available as a channel, with programs also aired as a programming block on Disney Channel
  •      Available only as a channel
  •      Available only as a programming block on Disney Channel, which is mostly during mornings.

Here are some of the places where Disney Junior is currently available:

  • United States: There is a Disney Junior channel and a "Mickey Mornings" block on Disney Channel.
  • Latin America: Disney Junior channels are available in many countries, and there's a block in Brazil.
  • France: A Disney Junior channel is available in France and surrounding French-speaking areas.
  • Europe, Middle East, and Africa: Channels are available in many countries across these regions.
  • Spain: A Disney Junior channel is available.
  • Japan and India: Both have Disney Junior channels and programming blocks.
  • Israel: A Disney Junior channel is available.
  • Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg): A channel is available in Belgium, and a block in the Netherlands.
  • Portugal: A Disney Junior channel is available.
  • Canada: There's an English Disney Junior channel and a French block on La Chaîne Disney.
  • Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Disney Junior shows are available as a "Mickey Mornings" block on Disney Channel.

Channels That Have Closed

Over the years, some Disney Junior channels and blocks have stopped broadcasting. This often happened as Disney focused more on its streaming service, Disney+, or moved the shows to the main Disney Channel.

Some notable closures include:

  • Canada: The original Disney Junior channels (English and French) closed in 2015. New versions launched later under a different company.
  • Hungary: The channel closed in 2017.
  • Asia: Many Disney Junior channels and blocks in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and South Korea closed in 2021.
  • Netherlands: The channel closed in 2019, but shows returned as a block on Disney Channel.
  • Australia & New Zealand: The channel closed in April 2020.
  • Italy: The channel closed in May 2020.
  • United Kingdom & Ireland: The channels closed in October 2020.
  • Malaysia: The channel closed at the end of 2020.
  • Germany: The channel closed in September 2021.
  • Brazil: The channel closed in April 2022.
  • Russia: The block stopped broadcasting in December 2022.
  • Scandinavia: The channel closed in early 2024, with content moving to Disney Channel.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Señales internacionales de Disney Junior para niños

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