Disney Channel is a Southeast Asian pay television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company. Most of its original programming is aimed at pre-teens and adolescents ages 10–16 while its Disney Junior programs are targeted at younger children, although certain programs are aimed at audiences of all ages. The channel's programming consists of original first-run television series, theatrically-released and original made-for-cablemovies and select other third-party programming. Some countries do not carry the channel, due to either a lack of capacity or government restrictions. Unlike most Disney Channels around the world, the Asian version mainly airs animated content, with live action shows only airing during Friday afternoons, Friday nights and weekend nights.
History
Disney Channel Asia was launched in January 2000 with a single video feed and two audio tracks in English and Mandarin, as well as subtitles in Mandarin too. The channel became available in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. On 1 June 2002, the channel was launched in the South Korean market with a Korean language feed. Over the first six months of 2005, Disney Channel Asia, along with sister channelPlayhouse Disney was launched in Vietnam, Palau and Thailand. It finished off with a launch of both in Cambodia, its 11th market, with Cambodia Entertainment Production Co. Ltd. as distributor. Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior ceased transmission in Singapore on 31 May 2020, on both Singtel and StarHub.
HD channel
On 1 May 2015, The Walt Disney CompanySoutheast Asia launched a high-definition simulcast feed of Disney Channel in the Philippines, available on SkyCable and Destiny Cable distributed by Asian Cable Communications, Inc. in that country. Just like its SD counterpart, the HD simulcast of the channel airs the same shows shown in the SD feed. The HD feed was also launched on TrueVisions in Thailand on 7 July 2016 as an exclusive for cable subscribers, and on Astro in Malaysia on 15 November 2019 for satellite subscribers.
Presentation and Logos
With the launch of the channel in 1996, Disney Channel Asia adopted the UK network's presentation designed by Lambie-Nairn. It then used the splat logo in 1997 with the opening of Disney Channel France. Later in 1999, Disney Channel Asia began to use the "Circles" presentation package until July 2003, when the US logo as the "Bounce" graphics, it became the channel's on-air presentation format, then later rebranded using the "Ribbons" looks from 2007 until 2011. Two more redesigns were made in 2012, then in 2014 with the current wordmark logo. Disney Channel Asia started using parts of the US rebrand from 1 December 2017, and rebranded fully on 1 January 2018 at 6am.
Feeds
Asia
Main feed available in Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Singapore
Schedule is similar to the main feed, plus local advertisements. Some programming are replaced by sitcoms. The feed was shut down on 31 May 2020.
Malaysia
Same schedule as the Asia feed, plus local advertisements. It is available in four languages: English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese. This channel is only available on Astro in Malaysia and Kristal-Astro in Brunei.
Philippines
Same schedule as the Asia feed, plus local advertisements.
Vietnam
1-hour timeshifted version of the main Asia feed with local advertisements, Vietnamese translations in promos and subtitles.
Hong Kong
Own schedule with local advertisements; separated from the main feed on 2 April 2004. It is broadcast in English and Cantonese.
Taiwan
It was the first overseas feed launched by Disney Channel worldwide. It began operations in March 1995. Currently, it has its own schedule with local advertisements and broadcasts solely in Taiwanese Mandarin.
Programming
Programming list not applicable for Hong Kong and Taiwan feeds, which have their own schedules.
