Playhouse Disney was the Disney Channel's programming block aimed at young children aged two to five. Internationally, Playhouse Disney was also available as a 24-hour television channel, outside of the United States. Starting with the Playhouse Disney block on the Disney Channel in the United States on February 14, 2011, and concluding with Playhouse Disney Russia in September 2013, the Playhouse Disney blocks and channels were re-branded into Disney Jr.
History
Playhouse Disney launched on the Disney Channel on May 8, 1997 as the Disney Channel Preschool Block. The first original program created for the block on the air was Bear in the Big Blue House. Other original programs created for this incarnation of the block are PB&J Otter and Out of the Box. By 1999, the block rebranded and introduced its official name. In spring 2001, it re-launched with new graphics. On October 7, 2002, the block used a new logo to fit into Disney Channel's current logo design, though it used the same graphics. This change saw the block's first mascot, who is a stop-motion animated yellow ball of clay named "Clay" (voiced by Debi Derryberry) whose catchphrases were "It's true!" and "Are you with me?" Clay would often shift himself into different things that show his thoughts or give clues into the next show in the block.
Around this time, there were plans to make a full 24-hour Playhouse Disney channel in the United States, but those plans were scrapped. However, international channels were created that carried the Playhouse Disney name.
The former programming announcer was actress Allyce Beasley (until March 30, 2007). In September 16, 2006, Flip was made at that time of Clay. The following day (March 31, 2007), however, Clay and Flip were replaced by two monkey hosts, Ooh and Aah. Every summer since 2007, usually starting sometime in June, Disney Channel began truncating the weekday block to four hours (from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time) in order to air episodes of Disney Channel's original series during the late morning and early afternoon hours; however, the weekend schedule continued to air as a six-hour block.
Final programming
Original programming
Live-action series
- Imagination Movers (September 6, 2008 – February 13, 2011)
Animated series
- Higglytown Heroes (September 13, 2004 – February 13, 2011)
- Little Einsteins (October 9, 2005 – February 13, 2011)
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (May 5, 2006 – February 13, 2011)
- Handy Manny (September 16, 2006 – February 13, 2011)
- My Friends Tigger & Pooh (May 12, 2007 – February 13, 2011)
- Special Agent Oso (April 4, 2009 – February 13, 2011)
- Jungle Junction (October 5, 2009 – February 13, 2011)
- PB&J Otter (March 15, 1998 – February 13, 2011)
- Stanley (September 15, 2001 – February 13, 2011)
- JoJo's Circus (September 29, 2003 – February 13, 2011)
More programming
Animated series
- Charlie and Lola (March 21, 2005 – February 13, 2011)
- Chuggington (January 18, 2010 – February 13, 2011)
- Timmy Time (September 7, 2010 – February 13, 2011)
- Octonauts (October 2010 – February 13, 2011)
- Babar & the Adventures of Badou (2010 – February 13, 2011)
- The Koala Brothers (January 26, 2004 - February 13, 2011)
Interstitial programming
- Shanna's Show (2003–2011)
- Choo Choo Soul (2006–2011)
- Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol (2007–2011)
- Happy Monster Band (2007–2011)
- Ooh, Aah & You (2007–2011)
- Shane's Kindergarten Countdown (2007–2011)
- Can You Teach My Alligator Manners? (2008–2011)
- Tasty Time with ZeFronk (2008–2011)
- Whiffle and Fuzz (2008–2009)
- Where is Warehouse Mouse? (2009–2011)
- Dance-A-Lot Robot (2010–2011)
- Handy Manny's School for Tools (2010–2011)
- Rolie Polie Olie (October 4, 1998 - February 13, 2011)
Former programming
Original programming
Live-action series
- Bear in the Big Blue House (October 20, 1997 – September 15, 2006)
- Out of the Box (October 5, 1998 – June 10, 2005)
- The Book of Pooh (January 22, 2001 – September 4, 2005)
- Johnny and the Sprites (October 9, 2005 – February 28, 2009)
- BunnyTown (November 10, 2007 – December 21, 2008)
Foreign programming
Live-action series
- The Wiggles (January 28, 2002 – May 24, 2009)
- The Doodlebops (April 11, 2005 – April 4, 2009)
Animated series
- Katie and Orbie (June 2, 1997 – 2000)
- Rupert (September 4, 2000 - January 2001)
- Anatole (2002 - 2003)
Acquired programming
Live-action series
- Adventures in Wonderland (April 7, 1997 – June 5, 1998)
- Big Cook Little Cook (June 7, 2004 - September 3, 2010)
- Show Me Show Me (November 9, 2009 - February 13, 2011)
- Sing Me a Story with Belle (October 5, 1998 – December 11, 1999)
- Space Pirates (January 5, 2008 - January 2, 2009)
Animated series
- Amazing Animals (April 6, 1997 – 2000)
- TaleSpin (April 6, 1997 – October 2, 1998)
- Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (April 6, 1997 – September 5, 1999)
- The Little Mermaid (April 7, 1997 – September 7, 2002)
- The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (April 7, 1997 – September 1, 2006)
- Madeline (June 2, 1997 – January 2, 2005)
- Jungle Cubs (September 15, 1997 – 2000)
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series (October 5, 1998 – 2000)
Interstitial programming
- Curious George (April 6, 1997 – 1999)
- Will Quack Duck (April 6, 1997 – 1999)
- Joke Time (April 6, 1997 – September 29, 2002)
- The Adventures of Spot (April 6, 1997 – September 29, 2002)
- Behind the Ears (1997–2000, 2007-2009)
- Circle Time (1997 – September 29, 2002)
- Microscopic Milton (1997 – September 29, 2002)
- Frankenguy and the Professor (November 3, 1997 – September 29, 2002)
- Magic Drawings (1998–April 15, 2001)
- Pet Stop (1998–April 15, 2001)
- Feet Beat (1998 – October 6, 2002)
- Poky and Friends (1999-April 15, 2001)
- Pablo the Little Red Fox (1999 – September 29, 2002)
- Animal Stories (1999 – September 29, 2002)
- Mini Movies (April 16, 2001 – September 29, 2002)
- Stanley's Animal Facts (2001-2006)
- Mike's Super Short Show (January 1, 2002 – 2007)
- Wiggles Time (January 28, 2002 – March 29, 2007)
- Music Time (2002)
- Use Your Noodle Time (September 30, 2002 – 2005)
- Mickey's Letter Time (September 30, 2002 – 2006)
- Sharing Time (September 30, 2002 – 2005)
- BB's Music Time (September 30, 2002 – 2007)
- Page's Word of the Day (September 30, 2002 - 2007)
- Who, What & Where with Bear Time (September 30, 2002 - 2004)
- Good Manners with Max Time (September 30, 2002 – 2007)
- Mini Show-and-Tell Time (2003–2007)
- Project Playtime (2003-2007)
- Adventures in Nutrition with Captain Carlos (2004–2007)
- Felix and the Flying Machine (2004–2007)
- Go Baby! (January 1, 2005 – 2007)
- Here Come the ABCs (January 1, 2005 – 2006)
- This is Daniel Cook. (July 11, 2005 – January 2, 2009)
- Johnny and the Sprites (October 9, 2005 - January 13, 2007)
- Dan Zanes House Party (2006–2009)
- Feeling Good with JoJo (2006–2008)
- Here Come the 123s (2007)
- This is Emily Yeung. (February 20, 2007 – January 4, 2009)
Announcers
- Randy Thomas (1997-2007)
- Allyce Beasley (2001-2007)
- Margit Furseth (2007-2011)
Sponsorships
- McDonald's (2001-2007)
- Chuck E. Cheese's (2007-2011)
- Best Western (2007-2011)
Rebranding
On May 26, 2010, it was announced that the Playhouse Disney block on the Disney Channel US, as part of a new rebranding strategy, would be renamed "Disney Jr." The announcement also called for Disney Junior to launch as a 24-hour channel to replace Disney-owned SOAPNet in the United States (which occurred March 23, 2012, and for international channels & blocks with the Playhouse Disney name to also rebrand into Disney Jr. Playhouse Disney ended its almost 14-year run as a block on the Disney Channel US on February 13, 2011, and Disney Junior started the next day. A majority of Playhouse Disney programs moved over to the new block to carry future episodes of their respective series (the case with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, and Imagination Movers) or air reruns (the case with Little Einsteins & Higglytown Heroes).
Overseas Format
International versions of Playhouse Disney (such as the United Kingdom and Australia) used a completely different format when compared to the United States, using in-vision continuity rather than the out-of-vision links. It takes place inside a large house usually named the Playhouse where the presenters do certain activities to encourage viewers to take part in them. There could also be other segments that take place outside the Playhouse using different formats. Some countries kept the "Playhouse" format for longer than others; while the UK and France removed it around autumn 2006, other countries retained the format at least until 2007.
International
On September 28, 1999, the Playhouse Disney brand was extended internationally with the launch of a self-branded block on the Disney Channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland. On September 29, 2000, Disney Television International expanded the block with the launch of a channel in the country alongside the launch of Toon Disney and the Disney Channel +1 on the Sky Digital platform. On April 4, 2009, Egmont Group launched a companion Playhouse Disney magazine in the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland that focused on the channel's four most popular shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins. Each issue included "to do" pages and suggested activities for parents and children based on an educational theme. The Playhouse Disney block on the Disney Channel UK & Republic of Ireland was eventually disposed of in July 2004 after reducing hours of programming. The Playhouse Disney channel available there, however, continued to air until it was replaced by Disney Jr. on May 7, 2011.
On November 30, 2007, Astral Media launched a Canadian version of Playhouse Disney Channel under a brand licensing agreement with Disney-ABC Television Group; the channel operated as a multiplex channel of Family Channel, which had long maintained a programming distribution agreement with the Disney Channel for the domestic rights to the U.S. channel's series until January 2016. A Canadian-French version of Playhouse Disney was launched on July 5, 2010, also by Astral Media. The English & Canadian-French channels were both replaced by Disney Jr. on May 6, 2011.
List of international channels and blocks
| Market | Type | Formerly | Launch date | Replaced by | Replaced date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Channel | Block on the Disney Channel | September 29, 2000 | Disney Jr. | May 7, 2011 |
| +1 timeshift channel | — | November 3, 2007 | Disney Jr. +1 | ||
| Block on ABC1 | — | Summer 2006 | — | September 26, 2007 | |
| United States | Block on the Disney Channel | — | February 1, 1999 | Disney Junior | February 14, 2011 |
| Spain | Channel | — | March 1, 2001 | June 11, 2011 | |
| Israel | Block on the Disney Channel | — | 2009 | July 18, 2011 | |
| Greece | Block on ERT2 | — | 2004 | — | 2009 |
| Channel | Jetix Play | September 1, 2010 | Disney Jr. | June 1, 2011 | |
| Middle East & North Africa | |||||
| Block | — | 2004 | |||
| South Africa | Channel | — | 2010 | ||
| Russia | Block on the Disney Channel | — | August 10, 2010 | September 1, 2013 | |
| Romania | Block | — | September 19, 2009 | June 1, 2011 | |
| Southeast Asia | Block | — | 2000 | July 11, 2011 | |
| Australia | Block on Seven Network | — | 2003 | — | 2008 |
| Block on the Disney Channel | — | — | Disney Jr. | May 29, 2011 | |
| Channel | — | December 2005 | May 29, 2011 | ||
| France | Channel | — | November 2, 2002 | 2011 | |
| HD simulcast channel | — | 2009 | 2011 | ||
| Block | — | 2002 | May 28, 2011 | ||
| Taiwan | Block | — | 2004 | September 1, 2011 | |
| Japan | Block | — | — | July 3, 2011 | |
| Hong Kong | Channel | — | April 2, 2004 | July 11, 2011 | |
| Malaysia | — | July 3, 2004 | |||
| Singapore | — | May 15, 2004 | |||
| Indonesia | — | April 2, 2004 | |||
| Germany | — | November 10, 2004 | July 14, 2011 | ||
| Thailand | — | January 2005 | July 11, 2011 | ||
| Cambodia | — | June 20, 2005 | |||
| Vietnam | — | May 2005 | |||
| Philippines | Block | December 2005 | |||
| South Korea | — | June 12, 2004 | |||
| India | Block on the Disney Channel | — | 2006 | Disney Jr. block | 2011 |
| Argentina | Block on an El Trece channel | — | 2007 | — | — |
| Scandinavia | Block | — | 2004 | Disney Jr. | September 10, 2011 |
| Sweden | Channel | — | 2007 | ||
| Norway | — | 2006 | |||
| Denmark | — | 2006 | |||
| Finland | — | 2006 | |||
| Iceland | — | 2006 | |||
| Canada
(operated by Astral Media) |
— | November 30, 2007 | May 6, 2011 | ||
| French language channel
(Playhouse Disney Télé) |
— | July 5, 2010 | — | ||
| Latin America | Channel (two feeds) | — | June 1, 2008 | April 1, 2011 | |
| Channel (Brazil) | — | September 5, 2008 | |||
| Portugal | Block on Disney Channel | — | November 28, 2001 | June 1, 2011 | |
| Central & Eastern Europe | Channel | Jetix Play | 2010[citation needed] | June 2011 | |
| Block | September 19, 2009 | June 2011 | |||
| Poland | Channel | September 1, 2010 | 2011 | ||
| Czech Republic
Slovakia |
Block | 2010 | June 1, 2011 | ||
| Italy | Channel | — | 2005 | May 14th, 2011 | |
| +1 timeshift channel | — | 2009 | Disney Jr. +1 | 2011 | |
| Turkey | Channel | Jetix Play | September 1, 2010 | Disney Junior | 2011 |
| Netherlands
Belgium |
— | May 3, 2010 | September 10, 2011 | ||
| Block on the Disney Channel | — |
Gallery
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This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page Playhouse Disney. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. |