{{short description|German television channel}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox television channel | name = Disney Channel | logo = 2022 Disney Channel logo.svg | logo_size = 240px | logo_alt = | logo_caption = Logo used since 1 February 2023 | image = | launch_date = {{plainlist| * {{Start date and age|1999|10|16|df=y}} (pay TV) * {{start date and age|2014|01|17|df=y}} (free TV) }} | closed_date = {{end date and age|2013|11|30|df=y}} (pay TV) | picture_format = * HDTV 1080i * SDTV 576i (downscaled) | owner = The Walt Disney Company (Germany) GmbH | type = | country = Germany | language = * German (dubbing) * English (via Disney+) | area = Germany<br>Austria<br>Switzerland | headquarters = Lilli-Palmer-Str. 2 80636, Munich, Germany | replaced = Das Vierte (relaunch) | sister_channels = {{plainlist| * Disney Junior (2004–2021) * Disney XD (2009–2020) * National Geographic * Nat Geo Wild }} | website = [https://tv.disney.de Official website] | terr_serv_1 = Digital terrestrial television (Germany) | terr_chan_1 = Various; region dependent (HD / encrypted) }}
'''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 for children.
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<ref name=kidscreen>{{cite news|last=Brockmeyer|first=Dieter|title=Disney Channel gets digital in Germany|url=http://kidscreen.com/1999/03/01/24586-19990301/|access-date=18 July 2013|newspaper=Kidscreen|date=March 1, 1999|archive-date=3 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003035327/http://kidscreen.com/1999/03/01/24586-19990301/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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|date=June 2022}}
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.<ref name=thr0>{{cite news|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|title=Disney Channel Germany Tops Nickelodeon in Ratings on Launch Weekend|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-channel-germany-tops-nickelodeon-672457|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 20, 2014|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226231927/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-channel-germany-tops-nickelodeon-672457|url-status=live}}</ref>
== 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.<ref name=kidscreen/>
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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|title=Walt Disney to Launch Free-TV Channel in Germany|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walt-disney-launch-free-tv-441396|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 17, 2013|archive-date=28 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228023626/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walt-disney-launch-free-tv-441396|url-status=live}}</ref>
thumb|200px|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.<ref name=thr>{{cite news|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|title=Disney Betting on Pixar Movies, ABC Series in German Network Launch|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-betting-pixar-movies-abc-655983|access-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 14, 2013|archive-date=18 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318063515/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-betting-pixar-movies-abc-655983|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=dwdl>{{cite news|last1=Lückerath|first1=Thomas|title=Disney: Ein Datum, ein Vermarkter und etwas Programm|url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/42763/disney_ein_datum_ein_vermarkter_und_etwas_programm/|access-date=April 19, 2017|work=DWDL.de|date=September 26, 2013|language=de|archive-date=28 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928135555/http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/42763/disney_ein_datum_ein_vermarkter_und_etwas_programm/|url-status=live}}</ref> The channel will also be offered on two online platforms: live-stream and a catch-up service.<ref name=thr/> The channel suspended transmission on 30 November 2013 and launched over the air on 17 January 2014<ref name=dwdl/> at 6 AM with the classic animated short film ''Steamboat Willie''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwdl.de/interviews/44265/wagner_im_zweifelsfall_haben_wir_einen_langen_atem/ |title=Lars Wagner über den Disney Channel (German) |last=Krei |first=Alexander |access-date=17 January 2014 |date=15 January 2014 |archive-date=17 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117014031/http://www.dwdl.de/interviews/44265/wagner_im_zweifelsfall_haben_wir_einen_langen_atem/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Disney reported that its launch weekend pushed them past Nick in to third place among kid broadcast channels.<ref name=thr0/>
On April 20, 2026, It was announced that Disney Channel will be added on Disney+ at no additional cost in May. [https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2026/04/20/disney-channel-to-join-disney-in-germany/ <nowiki>[1]</nowiki>]
== Programming == {{main|List of programs broadcast by Disney Channel (Germany)}}
==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.<ref name=thr/>
== Logos == <gallery> File:Disney Channel UK 1997 logo.jpg|1999–2002 File:2002 Disney Channel logo.svg|2002–2011 File:2010 Disney Channel logo.svg|2011–2013 File:2014 Disney Channel logo.svg|2014–2017 File:2017 Disney Channel logo.svg|2017–2023 File:2022 Disney Channel logo.svg|2023–present </gallery>
==See also== *Super RTL
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://tv.disney.de}} {{in lang|de}} * [https://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyChannelGermany Disney Channel] on YouTube * [https://twitter.com/DisneyChannelDE Disney Channel] on Twitter {{Portal bar|Disney|Television|Germany|Media}}{{Disney Channel}} {{Television in Germany}}
Category:1999 establishments in Germany Category:Children's television networks Category:Disney acquisitions Germany Category:German-language television stations Category:Re-established companies Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2013 Category:Television channels and stations established in 1999 Category:Television channels and stations established in 2014 Category:Television stations in Austria Category:Television stations in Germany Category:Television stations in Switzerland