Disney Channel is an Indian pay television channel operated by Star India, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India. The channel was launched on 17 December 2004. Disney Channel is available as a pay-TV channel on most subscription TV providers. The channel is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is the first kids' and teens' channel to cross 200+ GRPs for five years.
History
Before the launch of the channel, a Disney-branded programming block used to air on Sony TV, known as "Disney Hour" and "Disney Mornings". An HD version of Disney Channel India was planned to launch on 1 March 2020, however it has been postponed and no new launch date was given.
Disney International HD
Disney Channel before 2011 used to air international live action series and movies but stopped them due to creating local adaptations of international series, such as Best of Luck Nikki. After 2015, Disney Channel completely stopped all forms of live action series and decided to bring back the international shows through an HD only channel. On 5 October 2017 The Walt Disney Company India officially announced the launch of Disney International HD on 29 October 2017. The channel is the exclusive home to live action Disney Channel original content such as K.C. Undercover, Liv and Maddie, Hannah Montana as well as Disney Channel Original Movies such as Teen Beach, Descendants.
Playhouse Disney started airing in 2006, as a block on Disney Channel. On 4 July 2011, it was replaced by Disney Junior, which eventually became available as 24-hour channel. The block on Disney Channel has now been discontinued.
Programming
At first, the programming of the channel consisted of Disney's original shows imported from the US, such as Lizzie McGuire, That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, Sonny with a Chance, The Suite Life on Deck, Jonas LA and Phineas and Ferb. In 2006, the channel launched its first locally produced series called Vicky Aur Vetaal. Since then, the network's programming consisted of even more local productions such as Agadam Bagdam Tigdam, Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, Break Time Masti Time, Kya Mast Hai Life, and Ishaan. In 2010, an Indian version of Art Attack was produced and broadcast. Doraemon, a show that airs on sister channel Hungama TV, started to be aired on the channel in 2010. Many Doraemon movies have also been aired on the channel. In 2011, Disney Channel encountered a major programming change, with new international live action series and movies not premiering on the channel. Doraemon slowly took up most of the channel's time slots, and Disney Channel would produce local adaptations of international live action series. The first local adaptation, Best of Luck Nikki premiered on 3 April 2011. The Disney Channel Original Movie, premiered on the channel on 25th September 2011. 2012 saw the 2nd local adaptation, The Suite Life of Karan and Kabir to air on the channel as well as the first Disney Channel India Original Movie, Luck Luck Ki Baat. Doraemon in Nobita and the Steel Troops: The New Age also aired on the channel during the summer period. In June 2014, Disney Channel India launched their first local animated series, Arjun Prince of Bali. The channel rebranded in December 2014 with the new logo used internationally, with the exception of the logo colour being purple instead of blue, and had a strategy of showing family oriented shows in the weekend. The weekend strategy was called "Shanivaar, Ravivaar only for Parivaar". The family shows started airing on 31 January 2015. In early 2016 the channel stopped producing local live action shows, and decided to focus on local animation instead. In May 2018, it changed its logo colour to blue, as used internationally. In Summer 2020, Disney Channel launched new shows such as Mira, Royal Detective, Bapu and Guddu, along with new episodes of shows like Chacha Choudhury, Doraemon, Selfie with Bajrangi and Miraculous Ladybug.
Controversy
The Government of Bangladesh banned the Indian feeds of Disney Channel and Disney XD in February 2013 as the show Doraemon was being broadcast continuously throughout the day in Hindi. A lawmaker in Pakistan demanded a ban on the cartoon as a whole over fears that it might have a negative impact on children. Similar concerns were raised in India by the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council of IBF. In Bhutan, the channel was removed due to most of its programming being aired in Hindi rather than in English. This was part of a uniformity plan.
