Launched October 16, 1999 Language German | Country Germany Headquarters Munich, Germany | |
Owned by The Walt Disney Company (Germany) GmbH
(The Walt Disney Company) Broadcast area Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Liechtenstein | ||
Disney Channel is a German language television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company (Germany) GmbH, a subsidiary of Disney Channels Worldwide, which itself is a unit of Disney-ABC Television Group that manages all of The Walt Disney Company's Disney and ABC-branded television properties. The channel is based in Munich.
Aimed at all ages, its programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically-released and original made-for-cable movies and select other third-party programming. The original programming is mainly brought by the American flagship Disney Channel.
The channel – which formerly operated as a premium service – was originally launched on October 16, 1999 and a subscription television channel of Sky Deutschland. As of January 17, 2014, the German Disney Channel has become a basic cable and satellite television channel.
The network competes with Super RTL (50% owned by Disney-ABC Television Group), KiKa and Nickelodeon Germany similarly-formatted networks whose primary sources of programming is children focused.
History
Disney Channel Germany opened their offices near Munich by March 1, 1999. It was launched on October 16, 1999 by Walt Disney Television International.
Disney purchased Disney Channel (Germany) TV station by December 2012. In April 2013, Disney announced that Das Vierte would become a Disney Channel in January 2014 as a 24-hour family entertainment network.
Initial daytime programming included standard Disney channel fare Jessie, Austin & Ally, Phineas and Ferb and Gravity Falls while prime time saw Pixar films and older drawing shows like ABC Family shows plus Hallmark Channel's Cedar Cove.
Disney formed an in-house ad sales company, Disney Media +, for the channel given that two competitors control most ad sales companies.
The channel will also be offered on two online platforms: live-stream and a catch-up service. The channel launched over the air on January 17, 2014.
It debuted at 6 AM with Mickey Mouse's first cartoon, the classic animated short film Steamboat Willie.
Disney reported that its launch weekend pushed them past Nick into third place amongst kid broadcast channels.