Disney Channel (Germany)

Disney Channel
Logo used from 1 February 2023 to 1 December 2026
CountryGermany
Broadcast areaGermany
Austria
Switzerland
HeadquartersLilli-Palmer-Str. 2 80636, Munich, Germany
Programming
Languages
Picture format
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company (Germany) GmbH
Sister channels
History
Launched
  • 16 October 1999; 27 years ago (1999-10-16) (pay TV)
  • 17 January 2014; 12 years ago (2014-01-17) (free TV)
ReplacedDas Vierte (relaunch)
Closed30 November 2013; 12 years ago (2013-11-30) (pay TV)
Links
WebsiteOfficial website
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial television (Germany)Various; region dependent (HD / encrypted)
Streaming media
Disney+

Disney Channel is a German free-to-air television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company Germany. The channel is based in Munich and is targeted towards children during the daytime; during primetime, programmes are intended for families and adults.

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 supplied by its American counterpart.

The channel was originally launched on 16 October 1999 as a subscription television channel on the Sky Deutschland platform. However, it was later closed down on 30 November 2013. It was transformed into a free-TV channel on 17 January 2014, replacing Das Vierte.[citation needed]

The network competes with other channels primarily aimed at children, such as Super RTL (50% owned by Disney Television until March 2021), KiKa and Nickelodeon Germany.

History

Walt Disney Television International opened their German offices near Munich on 1 March 1999. Disney Channel Germany was launched on 16 October 1999 as a subscription channel.

Disney purchased Das Vierte (lit. The Fourth), a free-to-air TV station, in December 2012 from Dmitry Lesnevsky, a Russian media mogul, and former owner of Russia's REN-TV. In April 2013, Disney announced that Das Vierte would become Disney Channel in January 2014 as a 24-hour family entertainment network under Disney Channel's German head Lars Wagner.

Evening Logo, used from 20:15 (Primetime) daily, it was used until 1 February 2024.

Initial daytime programming included standard Disney Channel fare including Jessie, Austin & Ally, Phineas and Ferb and Gravity Falls while prime time saw Pixar films and older drawing shows including those from ABC Family as well as 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 suspended transmission on 30 November 2013 and launched over the air on 17 January 2014 at 6 AM with the classic animated short film Steamboat Willie. Disney reported that its launch weekend pushed them past Nick in to third place among kid broadcast channels.

On April 20, 2026, it was announced that a livestream of Disney Channel would be added to Disney+ at no additional cost in May. [1]

On 2 July 2026, it was announced that Disney Channel would be rebranded to Disney TV by the end of the year, with the aim of keep only one generalist linear free-to-air TV channel in the country, instead of owning linear pay TV channels. This is because, in the German market, free-to-air TV channels are viewed more than pay TV channels. In August, the rebrand was clarified to be taking place on 1 December.

Programming

Availability

Via the airwaves, the station had an availability to 93% of German TV households plus on two online platforms: live-stream and a catch-up service, as well as Europe wide on Astra digital satellite service.

Logos

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Brockmeyer, Dieter (1 March 1999). "Disney Channel gets digital in Germany". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 Roxborough, Scott (20 January 2014). "Disney Channel Germany Tops Nickelodeon in Ratings on Launch Weekend". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (17 April 2013). "Walt Disney to Launch Free-TV Channel in Germany". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Roxborough, Scott (14 November 2013). "Disney Betting on Pixar Movies, ABC Series in German Network Launch". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  5. 1 2 Lückerath, Thomas (26 September 2013). "Disney: Ein Datum, ein Vermarkter und etwas Programm". DWDL.de (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Krei, Alexander (15 January 2014). "Lars Wagner über den Disney Channel (German)". Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Rebranding & neuer Fokus: Aus Disney Channel wird Disney TV". DWDL.
  8. ↑ Krei, Alexander. "Disney TV statt Disney Channel: Der Rebranding-Fahrplan steht". DWDL.de (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2026.