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Disney Junior
Disney-Junior-1-
Launched February 14, 2011 (as a programming block)
March 23, 2012 (as a 24-hour TV channel by some television providers)
Network Walt Disney Television
Owned by The Walt Disney Company
Picture format 480i (SD)
720p (HD)
Slogan "Where The Magic Begins!" (2011-2016)
"The Party’s Right Here!" (2016-2021)
"Jump into WOW!" (2021-present)
Country United States
Language English
Spanish (available through a separate SAP audio track by certain television providers)
Headquarters Burbank, California, U.S.
Formerly called Playhouse Disney
Replaced Playhouse Disney (as a programming block)
SOAPNet (as a TV channel by certain television providers)
Sister channel(s) Disney Channel
Disney XD

Disney Junior (formerly Playhouse Disney) is an American pay television network that is owned by the Walt Disney Company through Disney Channels Worldwide. Aimed mainly at children ages two to seven, its programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically-released and home media-exclusive movies and select other third-party programming.

Until January 2017, Disney Junior also lent its name to a morning and early afternoon program block seen on sister network Disney Channel, branded as "Disney Junior on Disney Channel", airing weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (6:00 to 10:00 a.m. during the summer months and designated school break periods) and weekends from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time. The morning block was later renamed to "Mickey Mornings" in June 2020, now hosted by Mickey Mouse with segments starring him playing in between programs.

As of January 2017, the channel is available to 74.0 million households in the U.S.

History[]

Disney Junior's development began on May 26, 2010 when Disney-ABC Television Group announced the launch of Disney Junior (originally "Disney Kids" before being reworked) as a relaunching of Playhouse Disney that would serve as the brand for the Disney Chanel block & a new digital cable & satellite television channel in the US, as well as the brand for the blocks & channels bearing the Playhouse Disney brand outside the US.

Disney Junior first launched as a programming block on Valentine's Day, 2011, (February 14) replacing the Playhouse Disney block. On the day before the launch, Playhouse Disney's Ooh and Aah mascots and its programs (such as My Friends Tigger and Pooh and Captain Carlos) were retired completely during the process of the transition from Playhouse Disney to Disney Junior. The first program that aired on its first day was Jake and the Never Land Pirates. In its first week since its debut, Disney Junior delivered Disney Channel’s best ratings ever in the daypart among Kids 2-5(474,000/2.8 rating).

Cable and satellite channel[]

A 24-hour basic cable and satellite channel for Disney Junior launched on March 23, 2012, replacing the soap opera channel, SOAPnet.

The brand new channel was originally set to debut in January 2012, but on July 28, 2011, soap opera-focused websites listed the launch date as moving from January to a more non-specific date in late-spring 2012, and later in 2011, to February 2012. Soapnet's definite closing date (March 23, 2012) was announced by Disney-ABC on January 9, 2012. However, like the transitions from Nick GAS to TeenNick and Fox Reality to Nat Geo Wild, an automated version of Soapnet's program schedule will continue on some cable and satellite services, as deals for Disney Junior are finalized.

The channel is expected its original TV Series (Jake and the Never Land Pirates, 3rd & Bird, etc.), shows from the Playhouse Disney library (that are currently airing on the block) (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, etc.), a programming block titled The Magical World of Disney Junior (which broadcasts movies) and short-form series in its lineup. On June 17, 2011, it was confirmed that the Disney Junior channel would include previously discontinued Playhouse Disney series, in reruns, in its lineup when the channel launches. Five such Playhouse Disney series was confirmed on January 9, 2012: Stanley, JoJo's Circus, Rolie Polie Olie, The Koala Brothers, and Higglytown Heroes.

It also provides video on demand, a high-definition version (Disney Junior HD) and a Spanish language SAP audio track.

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