Launched April 5, 2001 Language Portuguese | Country Brazil Broadcast area Brazil | |
Owned by The Walt Disney Company Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV) | ||
Disney Channel is a cable television channel and is an edition of The Walt Disney Company-owned Disney Channel, broadcasting to Brazil. It is marketed mostly to children; however, in recent years the diversity of viewers has increased with an older audience. Disney Channel Latin America is operated by Disney & ESPN Media Networks Latin America and The Walt Disney Company Latin America Inc., which are owned by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). It started broadcasting in 2001 as a premium channel, and became a basic cable channel in 2004.
Contents
Chris Ross, president of Disney Channel Worldwide, has stated that the channel might be launched on Digital Terrestrial Television soon.
Programming
Series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel Original Series take most of the schedule. Some non-original series are also aired. As of January 2009 the non-original productions aired are Mortified, Life with Derek and The Fairly OddParents, Floribella, A Kind of Magic, George of the Jungle and Um menino muito maluquinho.
The Disney Junior no Disney Channel block airs daily from very early in the morning until 8:30am. On weekends, it ends at 10:00am. After the Disney Junior block, the cartoon block is aired, with cartoon series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation (including House of Mouse) and Disney Channel Original Series (including Lilo & Stitch: The Series, American Dragon: Jake Long, Kim Possible, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, The Replacements, The Emperor's New School, and Phineas and Ferb).
Once the cartoon block has ended, the Zapping Zone starts. This is an original production of Disney Channel Latin America, and its programming, hosts and schedules vary depending of the feed. The Zapping Zone can be considered the primetime of the channel. In the commercial pauses, some video clips from Disney Channel stars are aired.
Zapping Zone
Disney Channel Brazil produces an original show called Zapping Zone, in which hosts interact with viewers with games and trivia. It is aired only on weekdays. They also give news about Disney Channel, the channel's series, upcoming Walt Disney Pictures films and new Disney Channel Original Movies. Its transmission is not live, and viewers can call to participate in games, all of them containing questions and trivia about Disney films and series. Just for participating they can win T-shirts and caps; however, if they win, the awards include DVDs, soundtracks and video games of different Disney films and characters. This show was first aired on July 27, 2000, and ended on October 26, 2012.
The hosts of Zapping Zone present Disney Channel Original Series, which are aired in the block as a primetime. New episodes of animated and live-action series are often aired on weekdays. New music videos or trailers also premiere in this block, introduced by the hosts. There are also blocks such as Contratempo, Metidas de Pata (Bloopers), and Sextas Xtremas (Xtreme Friday).
Movies
O Maravilhoso Mundo de Disney (Wonderful World of Disney) is the block after the Zapping Zone, in which different Walt Disney Pictures are aired. This block airs on weekdays. The early-afternoon weekday film block is named Cool After School. On weekends it's replaced with a Disney Cinemagic block. Movies are occasionally aired on Disney Junior.
This is followed by Filme Disney Channel (Disney Channel Movies), which airs Disney Channel Original Movies. It airs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after Zapping Zone and sometimes any other weekday after Wonderful World of Disney. Some of the movies air on Rede Telecine before airing on Disney Channel.
Holidays
The summer special 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 airs an original production. 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. This replaced the previous block, Popcorn.
Mouse, Câmera, Ação!
Mouse, Câmera, Ação! (Mouse, Camera, Action!) is an event aired once a month in which viewers can vote between three different movies, and the winner is aired at the end of the month. Viewers vote via the website, on mobile services, or on social media.
Mobile
In July 2008 Disney updated Disney Mobile to Disney Mobile Studios, where different services are available in the whole country. The users can download content from Disney Channel, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney Channel, Radio Disney and content from movies.
HD
In 2009, Disney Channel was launched in HD. The schedule is the same as the original. However, there are no ads and all programs are shown in widescreen.
Disney XD
Disney XD is a children's television channel brand owned by the Walt Disney Company broadcast in Brazil. It was previously known as Fox Kids and Jetix. The website launched on May 15, 2009, and the channel launched on July 3, 2009.
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is a cable television channel and is a version of the Walt Disney Company-owned Disney Junior, broadcasting in Brazil. It is marketed to preschoolers. Disney Junior is operated by Disney & ESPN Media Networks Latin America and the Walt Disney Company Latin America, both of the Walt Disney Company. It was launched on June 1, 2008 as Playhouse Disney. On April 1, 2011 it was rebranded as Disney Junior.