Disney Channel (Italy)

Disney Channel
Launched July 4, 1998
Owned by The Walt Disney Company Italy
Audience share 3.91% (2012 June, [1])
Slogan Trova la tua storia
Country Italy
Broadcast area Italy
Switzerland
Headquarters Milan, Italy
Sister channel(s) Disney Junior
Disney XD
Disney in English
Timeshift service Disney Channel +1
Disney Channel +2
Website disneychannel.it
Availability
Satellite
Digital DVB-S, on Hot Bird 8 e Hot Bird 9 pay
Sky Channel 613 (HD Sky Box HD) - (SD Sky Box)
Channel 614 (+1)
Channel 615 (+2)
Channel 673 (SD Sky Box HD)
Cable
Digital IPTV, on Italy on networks Fastweb and Telecom Italia pay with TV di FASTWEB and IPTV di Telecom Italia (Channel 613, 614 e 615)
Streaming media

Disney Channel is an Italian pay TV channel, operated by The Walt Disney Company Europe, itself a subsidiary of Disney Media Networks. It was launched on 4 July 1998 and its programming consists on original Disney Channel series (either American, European or locally produced) and third party programming acquired by the network.

The channel has three sister channels: Disney XD and Disney Junior

History

On July 4, 1998, Disney Channel officially began broadcasting in Italian on Telepiù. The channel used the slogan "Libera la tua Immaginazione". Among the first programs on the channel were classic Disney cartoons, such as Timon & Pumbaa and Aladdin: The Series. It also showed classic Disney films and some Disney Channel Original Movies on "Il Fantastico Mondo Disney" (The Wonderful World of Disney) each evening at 20.30 (8:30pm). A new film was shown every Saturday at the same time slot. In January 1999, Disney Channel Italy launched its original live presentation show: Disney Channel Live (later called Live Zone). In this program, hosted by Isabella Arrigoni and Massimiliano Ossini, viewers interact with the hosts and join games. Other popular programs were Live Zone - Musica, Live Zone - Sport, Live Zone - Da scoprire, Live Zone - Da ridere and Una stella per te (A Star for You).

On November 15, 1999, Disney Channel Italy adopted the new "Circles" logo and idents of Disney Channel UK (created by GÉDÉON) while still keeping the slogan "Free your Imagination".

In 2002, Disney Channel Italy launched two new programs: Quasi Gol and L'ora della magia.

The channel has been available since the beginning on Stream and SKY Italia and even after their mergers.

On May 31, 2003, Disney Channel Italy adopted the American Disney Channel's new logo (designed by CA Square), along with new graphics and idents.

Live Zone ended in September 2003; it was replaced by Prime Time, led by the hosts of Live Zone, Isabella Arrigoni and Massimiliano Ossini. Even programs secondary to Live Zone were replaced by newer ones like Tok, Eta Beta, and Skatenati. An other program was added, Scooter.

On December 24, 2004, Disney introduced Disney Channel +1, where all regular programs from Disney Channel are postponed an hour.

In 2006, almost all live shows were taken off air.

Prime Time got a refresh in September 2005, with a new logo, new computer-generated graphics, and Arrigoni being the voice-over host who presented the programs.

In 2005, Disney Channel Italy launched a new series called Quelli dell'intervallo, which led to the similar versions in the UK, US, Australia and other countries under the title As the Bell Rings. In 2006, Disney Channel Italy began airing many English language series from Disney Channel US. These versions were moved to a new channel called Disney in English in 2008.

In February 2007, Prime Time changed its logo once again, and Patrizio Prata became its new voice-over host, although the set design and cartoons remained the same. On May 14, 2007, Prime Time ended and Disney Channel Italy adopted the "Ribbon" graphics of Disney Channel (US).

On October 1, 2011, Disney Channel Italy adopted new "Smartphone App" logo that was introduced in the US in 2010, and began broadcasting in the 16:9 aspect ratio area (reruns of some series still air in the 4:3 aspect ratio).

Since February 1, 2012, Disney Channel Italy began broadcasting in HD.

In 9 April 2018, timeshift channels Disney Channel +2 and Disney XD +2 ceased to air.

References

  1. ↑ "Auditel Ratings - Disney Channel Italy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-20.
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