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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Disney Jr. say to the remote? You're mouse-ing with the wrong channel.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Playhouse Disney UK)

Disney Jr.
Logo used since 13 November 2025
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom, Ireland, Malta[citation needed]
HeadquartersHammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
Timeshift serviceDisney Junior +1 (original)
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company Limited
Disney Channels Worldwide (Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International)
Sister channels
History
Launched29 September 2000; 25 years ago (2000-09-29) (original, as Playhouse Disney)
7 May 2011; 15 years ago (2011-05-07) (original, as Disney Junior)
13 November 2025; 8 months ago (2025-11-13) (relaunch, as Disney Jr.)
Closed1 October 2020; 5 years ago (2020-10-01) (original)
Replaced byDisney+ (original)
Former namesPlayhouse Disney (2000–2011)
Disney Junior (2011–2020)

Disney Jr. (previously known as Playhouse Disney and Disney Junior) is a British and Irish preschool pay television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company Limited, primarily broadcasting preschool programming. The channel launched as Playhouse Disney on 29 September 2000 and rebranded as Disney Junior on 7 May 2011. It closed on 1 October 2020, following the launch and strategic refocus toward Disney+ in the region, before relaunching on Sky platforms on 13 November 2025.

History

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Early programming efforts

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In 1997, Disney Channel launched a block titled "Disney Channel Underfives" dedicated to content for preschoolers.

The block was rebranded as Playhouse Disney in 2000, marking the first time the brand expanded outside the United States. The presenter-led links, fronted by Dave Benson Phillips and Alex Lovell (referred to as Big Dave and Little Alex), featured the two presenting links in "the Playhouse" during continuity.

Launch as a dedicated channel (2000–2005)

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On 30 May 2000, it was announced by a Disney Television International representative that three new channels would launch on Sky Digital during that year: Disney Channel +1 (a timeshift channel), Toon Disney, and a standalone Playhouse Disney network.[1] The three channels launched on 29 September 2000, as add-ons to the standard Disney Channel, being available as a single multiplex package or included with the Sky Movies pack.[2][3] With the channel being exclusive to Sky at the time, the Playhouse Disney block continued to broadcast on Disney Channel during school-term weekdays.

Playhouse Disney was added to NTL alongside the other two multiplex networks on 7 December 2001,[4] and eventually launched on Telewest on 3 December 2003.[5] Following these launches, the Playhouse Disney block reduced its hours of featured programming and was eventually removed altogether in July 2004.

In April 2004, a nighttime block called "PJ's Bedtime" was added to the channel,[6] to supplement the Playhouse presentation strand.

Transition to standard network (2006–2011)

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On 28 February 2006, Disney Media Networks and BSkyB announced that Playhouse Disney, along with its sister channel Disney Channel, would transition from premium add-ons to basic television packages such as Sky's "Kids Mix" beginning on 16 March, and that a new sister channel, Disney Cinemagic, would launch under Disney's premium offerings, replacing Toon Disney.[7] The transition of Playhouse Disney to a basic network led to a significant broadcast share increase of 83% by July.[8] The Playhouse presentation format hosted by Big Dave and Little Alex remained until late August 2006,[9] while the PJ's Bedtime block remained until late November 2007.

In June 2006, a Playhouse Disney block was added to the morning schedule of ABC1.[10] It was removed after ABC1 shut down in September 2007. ABC1's slot on Sky would be used to launch a 25-minute timeshift of Playhouse Disney called Playhouse Disney+, which was added on 30 October and launched on 3 November.[11]

Rebrand as Disney Junior (2011–2020)

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On 29 January 2011, it was announced that Playhouse Disney would rebrand as Disney Junior on 7 May, as part of a worldwide rebranding.[12] On the date of the rebrand, the channel transitioned to airing in a 16:9 widescreen ratio.

On 21 February 2013, Sky and Disney Channels Worldwide announced that a high-definition simulcast of Disney Junior would launch on Sky in May.[13]

In September 2017, Disney XD +1 was temporarily rebranded as a pop-up channel titled Mickey and Pals, which aired various programming from Disney Junior.

Closure (2020)

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Disney Junior, along with its sister channels Disney XD and Disney Channel, closed in the UK on 1 October 2020, after 20 years on air. The closure was announced on 25 June 2020; all of the channels' content was transferred to Disney's streaming service, Disney+.[14] Virgin Media removed the channels a day before their closure on 29 September, and was replaced by CBBC and CBeebies in the network's Sky EPG slots.

Relaunch (2025–present)

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Disney Jr. UK started testing on the Astra 2F Satellite on 20 October 2025.[15] A relaunch of the channel occurred on 13 November 2025, under the 2024 rebrand.[16] This was part of Disney's strategy for linear and streaming television.[17] When it relaunched, it was available exclusively on Sky UK, but unavailable on Sky's streaming service, Now.[18] The channel is available on channel 204 on Sky Stream and 625 on Sky Q.[19]

Logos

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References

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  1. ↑ "Update: New Disney Channels". Digital Spy. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "Disney Channels: More revealed". Digital Spy. 26 September 2000. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "Disney launches new channels". Brand Republic. Haymarket Media Group Ltd. MediaWeek. 13 September 2000. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 21 July 2014. Alt URL Archived 11 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: New channels on NTL next week". Digital Spy. 2 December 2001. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "More Disney channels launch on Telewest". Digital Spy. 3 December 2003. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Guardian Unlimited: TV Listings". 13 April 2004. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Sky, Disney Media Networks and the Walt Disney Studios Team up for More Family Entertainment, HDTV and Legal Broadband Movie Downloads". 28 February 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  8. ↑ ""Record ratings" for Disney Channel". Digital Spy. 9 July 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Guardian Unlimited: TV Listings". 22 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Stewart, Lianne (1 April 2006). "New kid on the U.K. Freeview block". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Playhouse Disney timeshift joins Sky EPG". Digital Spy. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Disney preps Playhouse UK rebrand". Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Disney, Sky bow co-branded movie net". C21Media. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Kanter, Jake (25 June 2020). "Disney To Close Kids Channels In The UK Following Launch Of Disney+". Deadline. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "Disney Junior UK – LyngSat". LyngSat. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Changes to the TV Guide - November 2025". Sky. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  17. ↑ Sheena, Jasmine (23 September 2025). "Disney says it's committed to linear TV amid declines in ad revenue at A+E". Marketing Brew.
  18. ↑ Goren, Or. "Disney Jr. not on NOW TV". Cordbusters.co.uk. Or Goren. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Changes to the TV Guide - November 2025 (Sky)". Sky Community. 12 November 2025.
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