Disney Channel (Latin America)

History

In 2000, while Disney Channel in the United States was changing from "premium" to "basic", the channel began broadcasting in Latin America with the same format as Disney Channel UK but with the same programming as the US version. In the beginning, the channel was transmitted in the North Zone Feed and the South Zone Feed, each with different schedules according to the countries. The channel also launched its first original production, Zapping Zone, with hosts bringing news and introducing the Disney Channel Original Series.

On April 5, 2001 a Brazilian feed was launched. During that time, Disney Channel Latin America adopted a new logo and idents created by GÉDÉON. In 2004, Anne Sweeney, a veteran cable executive, took control of Disney–ABC Television Group and changed the design from the channels worldwide. The same year, Disney Channel Latin America became a "basic" cable channel and used the 2002 look of Disney Channel US. Along with the new look, the channel started to air new series, mainly focused on teenagers and placing the original animated cartoons in earlier schedules. In the morning schedule, Playhouse Disney was aired with programming for children aged 2–6.

In 2005, the channel became one of the most viewed channels in the region, premiering Disney Channel Original Series such as That's So Raven and Phil of the Future.

A fourth feed, known as the Central Zone Feed, was created for Central America and the northern part of South America.

In 2006, very successful series and films such as Hannah Montana, The Cheetah Girls, High School Musical and Jump In! premiered.

In 2007, the channel changed once more to a more "hip" look, as it now uses the "Ribbon" branding of Disney Channel US.

On June 1, 2008, The Walt Disney Company Latin America launched Playhouse Disney, a 24-hour independent channel focused solely on programming for young children in age from 2 to 6. The Playhouse Disney block in the morning is still broadcast in the same schedule. In 2008, Disney Mobile was re-branded as Disney Mobile Studios, with content of the channel for cell phones. On October 1, 2008 the channel launched its fifth feed, the Pacific, and changed schedules, idents and promos in all the feeds. On August 30, 2010 a new logo was introduced. On December 3, 2012 an HD version was launched.

On July 28, 2014, it introduced the new logo that was first used in Germany since January 17, 2014, in the US since May 23, 2014, and all international Disney Channel feeds.

Feeds

Programming

Series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel Original Series takes most of the schedule. Some non-original series are also aired, such as Patito Feo, Casi Ángeles, Mortified, The Fairly OddParents, Floricienta, Chiquititas, A Kind of Magic, The Secret Show, The Next Step and George of the Jungle. There are also locally produced series, such as As the Bell Rings, Soy Luna and Violetta.

Disney Junior

This programming block is focused on children from 2 to 6 years old. It is aired every morning. Playhouse Disney Original Series are aired. Formerly, two hosts (different, depending on the feed) introduced the different series and told stories to the kids. On June 1, 2008, along with the launch of the independent channel Playhouse Disney Channel, those hosts were replaced by Ooh and Aah, two monkey hosts. The block was taken off of the Disney Channel's programming schedule in December 2012. It was reintroduced back in 2016 at first on the HD simulcast of the channel, being aired twice in 180 and 120 minutes programming slots in the early morning and in noon. Then, the "Disney Junior on Disney Channel" block got back to air exclusively on the Mexican feed.

Cartoon block

The space between the ending of Playhouse Disney and the beginning of the Zapping Zone is used as a cartoon block with animated Disney Channel Original Series and series from Walt Disney Television Animation. Some series aired in this block are Phineas and Ferb, Fish Hooks and Gravity Falls. The series that are aired and their schedules are different depending on the zone.

Zapping Zone

Disney Channel Latin America produces an original show called Zapping Zone, on which different hosts interact with the 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. It is transmission is not live, and viewers can call to participate in different games, all of them containing questions and trivia about Disney films and series. Just for participating, they can win T-shirts and caps, and if they win, the awards include DVDs, soundtracks and video games of different Disney films and characters. It was first aired on July 27, 2000, and ended on October 26, 2012.

The hosts of the Zapping Zone present the series, Disney Channel Original Series that are aired in the block as a primetime. New episodes of animated and live-action series are often aired every weekday. New music videos or trailers also premiere in this block, introduced by the hosts. There are also blocks such as Stop, Bloopers, and Xtreme Friday.

Movies

Wonderful World of Disney is the block after the Zapping Zone where different Walt Disney Pictures are aired. The block airs on weekdays. The early-afternoon weekday film block is named Cool After School. On weekends it is replaced with a Disney Cinemagic block. Movies are occasionally aired on Disney Junior.

It is followed by another film block, but this one 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 premier on Rede Telecine or HBO Family before they premiere here. The highest rated film in this block was High School Musical 2, with 3.3 million viewers.

Holidays

Due the season differences in Latin America, the timing of the summer special varies by region. It starts in late June and ends in early September in the North and Central feeds. In the South and Pacific feeds it 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 does not air the New Year events of Disney Channel of the United States. Its New year Event is an original production of the channel, named Celebratón. 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. It replaced the previous block "Popcorn".

Disney XD

Disney XD Latin America is a basic cable television and satellite channel and is the Latin American regional variant of The Walt Disney Company-owned Disney XD in the US, broadcasting throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. It was launched on November 8, 1996 as Fox Kids. On August 1, 2004, the channel was rebranded as Jetix, and took on its current branding on July 3, 2009. It is broadcast in five feeds, which are essentially the same as for the regional version of its sister channel. It features male-focused series along with action, comedy and animated series. It is marketed to boys, girl inclusive, from 6 to 14. It is operated by Disney & ESPN Media Networks and The Walt Disney Company Latin America, which are owned by The Walt Disney Company.

Disney Junior

Disney Junior Latin America is a cable television and satellite channel and is the Latin American regional variant of The Walt Disney Company-owned Disney Junior channel in the US, broadcasting in all Latin America. It is broadcast in five feeds: North Zone, Pacific Zone, South Atlantic Zone and Brazil. It is directly marketed to preschoolers. The channel 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 Channel. Formerly it only was a programming block in the mornings of Disney Channel Latin America, where it still is a programming block, as Disney Junior en/no Disney Channel. The programs are very similar to the Disney Junior channel and Disney Junior on Disney Channel block in the United States. However, the channel also airs non-original programming. On December 23, 2010 The Walt Disney Company Latin America announced that the channel would be replaced by Disney Junior sometime in 2011, and the relaunched eventually happened, on April 1, 2011.

Website

The Walt Disney Company Latin America has its own website for the Hispanic American audience, Disneylatino.com. There is also a site for Brazil, disney.com.br. It was created with Adobe Flash. It is divided into "Movies", with the pages and trailers of current and upcoming Walt Disney Pictures films. It had categories for the different channels, Disney Channel, Disney XD Latin America, and Playhouse Disney Channel. There are also sections for DVD releases, Radio Disney, Disney parks, live shows, and mobile content.

In September 2009 and August 2010 the websites were changed to be like the US one and because of new logos, respectively. On the Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior sections, users can see videos, play games, look at characters, and see the "homepages" of the shows and films. Disney has services available on mobile phones. Disney and its channels have pages on, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.