Disney's Linear TV Channels Return To Sky Italia

Disney's linear TV channels are coming back to Sky. In a few days, as ItaliaOggi can exclusively reveal, the partnership agreement between the Burbank giant and Comcast’s broadcaster will be officially announced. The deal will bring some of Disney’s rich content catalogue — including Disney, FX, Hulu, etc. — back to good old traditional linear television channels, which, contrary to what many analysts have claimed for years, never actually go out of fashion.

Soon, therefore, Sky Italia subscribers will enjoy a new Disney-branded channel, with potential future developments in the areas of animation, TV series, movies, and documentaries.

Sky’s strategy

All of this fits into a broader strategic redesign in which Sky is reshaping its partnership perimeter based on the value perceived by its subscribers. This same logic explains the recent acquisitions of TV rights for basketball and rugby, the renewal of the UEFA agreement for Champions League rights from 2027–2031, and the ongoing negotiations with Liberty Media-Dorna for the renewal of MotoGP rights (whose current deal expires at the end of 2025). MotoGP currently finds itself with TV ratings halved, a championship of little interest, and no standout personalities apart from Marc Márquez — yet it is unlikely to give up its relationship with Sky (the platform that still guarantees the greatest visibility for the two-wheeled circus) and may simply accept a lower fee for the rights.

The end of the partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery

The agreement with Disney comes just as Sky Italia’s long relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery is officially coming to an end. As is already known, from 1 July 2025 all Eurosport, Discovery, and even the free-to-air channels of the WBD group disappeared from Sky. On 31 December 2025, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, all Warner films, and new HBO series will definitively leave the platform. HBO, controlled by WBD, was the home of flagship titles such as House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and The Pitt.

The future of HBO and Warner content on Sky

From 2026 onwards, Sky will still be able to broadcast new seasons of most of those existing franchises (with the exception of The Pitt), but no longer on an exclusive basis. However, it will no longer have direct access to new Warner or HBO films and brand-new series.

At least not directly. Because, thanks to the many new partnerships Sky is signing, Warner content that has “left through the door” may very well come back in “through the window” — possibly via Peacock, Netflix, or other platforms.

Disney Junior Rumoured To Be Making A Comeback In The UK

5 years ago, Disney made the decision to shutter most of its linear operations in the UK, Asia, Italy and Turkey and this included various feeds for the Disney Channel and National Geographic. At the time, the goal for the company was to get consumers onto its streaming service, Disney+.

Since it's inception, Disney+ is still not accessible in some European and African countries despite closing brands like FOX in the market. Now it appears as if Disney may be looking to revive it's operations in these affected markets with Disney Junior set to relaunch in the UK.

Initially the channel was being reworked on with various shows from Disney Channel like Big City Greens and Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir. Now the lineup is filtered with only preschool shows with some insiders at Digital Spy confirming the identity of the channel to be Disney Junior.

As some consumers know, a majority of Disney Junior's operations internationally been folded under Disney Channel with Africa, Turkey and a few regions being the exemption. Its likely that the feeds viewed in these markets is what is to become of the UK.

Unlike the main channel, Disney Junior is more like what Nicktoons is to Nickelodeon which is a secondary network. These brands aren't prioritised or in Disney's case aligned to their streaming endeavours with the content pipeline much lesser than Disney Channel.

Of course, It remains a mystery as to why Disney would settle for just a preschool channel even after adding shows like Big City Greens in its initial test run. And if this could lead to reinstatement of several other Disney Channels in markets it was shuttered such as Italy and Australia.

Blast From The Past. Disney Channel Set To Relaunch In The UK On October 3rd

5 years ago, Disney made the decision to shutter most of its linear operations in the UK, Asia, Italy and Turkey and this included various feeds for the Disney Channel and National Geographic. At the time, the goal for the company was to get consumers onto its streaming service, Disney+.

Since it's inception, Disney+ is still not accessible in some European and African countries despite closing brands like FOX in the market. Now it appears as if Disney may be looking to revive it's operations in these affected markets with Disney Channel set to relaunch in the UK.

According to Digital Spy and various viewers, Sky has been testing its frequencies for a channel under the placemat Disney Junior. Big City Greens will be the first show to be broadcast on the channel with other shows such as Wizards Beyond Waverly Place and Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir.

Disney Channel's relaunch in the UK would come 5 years after Disney made the bold move in shuttering it's operations. Of course this time, Disney Junior instead of operating as a 24 hour channel will most definitely operate as a daytime block as seen in other regions.

Disney hasn't stated the reason for the sudden decision to relaunch Disney Channel in the UK but if we had to guess several factors likely contribute to its sudden inclusion.

First, Disney Channel's removal stemmed from a carriage dispute with Sky Group in the UK so unlike FOX maybe this wasn't the Disney's intended target. Another with consumer backlash led to the creation of the forum Bring Back Disney Channel UK which highlights the gap left by its competitors.

Lastly, Disney has emphasized providing "multiple entry points to our storytelling." While streaming remains core, reinstating linear channels allows Disney to reach households without reliable broadband or those preferring scheduled TV which in return would help bolster it's Disney+ offering.

The relaunch coincides with Disney's "Reflection" era rebranding for its US Disney Channel, suggesting a unified push for fresh programming. In October, Disney Channel set to rollout the fifth season to Phineas And Ferb alongside a new original movie Zombies 4:Dawn Of The Vampires

Could Paramount Skydance Pursuit Of Warner Bros. Discovery Become Another Disney/FOX?

According to Wall Street Journal, Paramount Global following its recent tie up with Skydance Media is looking to make a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. This is before the merged entity split to form Warner Bros. and Discovery Global in April 2026.

News of a merger like this first began in 2023 of course it was Warner Bros. Discovery that was sinking it's teeth into Paramount Global. Of course, several insiders had mentioned that the company's CEO David Zaslav wasn't in a negotiating mood which could as well be what's befallen Paramount.

Then again, Skydance through Oracle has the cash to swallow up Warner Bros. Discovery and this would amount to $65 billion from what sources indicate. Of course, the deal should it happen would face intensive scrutiny especially by the FCC and the European Commission.

Even if Paramount Global were to offer such a large sum there's no guarantees that Warner Bros. Discovery will accept the offer as shareholders could hold out in the hopes to get more money. At the same time with Warner Bros. Discovery being almost $40 billion in debt this would be a great escape for shareholders.

As mentioned, this deal should it be happen and get the greenlight from regulators they'll likely impose certain conditions. And I assume Paramount Global is aware of the repercussions and is likely not looking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery to its entirety.

When Disney acquired FOX certain conditions were imposed because FOX offered a rival brand National Geographic this led to them selling their stake in Hearst Networks in Europe. Same goes for the FOX and FOX Sports network, because Disney didn't rival with these brands outside the US they were granted ownership.

Because FOX Corporation still continues to operate independently and own these trademarks, Disney had to phase out the FOX trademark from various of their assets. And if Paramount Global was able to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery we can only assume this deal will exclude a majority of Turner's Networks.

Turner's Networks would comprise of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Cartoonito, CNN, TNT, TBS, TNT Sports and Warner TV. If they were able to acquire these assets it may involve divesting in other assets such as Comedy Central, CBS News, Nickelodeon and Showtime.

Corus Entertainment Planning To Close Several Kids Channels In Canada By September

Corus is preparing to pull the plug on a handful of children’s services come September 1, Cartt has learned, amid the company’s pursuit to cut down on costs and as the CRTC weighs what to do about such at-risk programming.

Corus has told distributors that Disney XD, Disney Jr., Disney French (La Chaine Disney), Nickelodeon, and ABC Spark will be pulled at the start of the new broadcast year, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told us, which was then confirmed by Corus.

“Corus regularly reviews its portfolio of channels to ensure we are meeting the evolving needs of our audiences and distribution partners,” a Corus spokesperson told us. “Following a comprehensive review we have decided to cease distribution of the ABC Spark, Nickelodeon, Disney French (La Chaine Disney), Disney XD and Disney Jr. channels. These channels will no longer be available as of September 1, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. ET.”

The media company still operates Disney Channel, Teletoon, Nelvana, Boomerang, YTV, Treehouse, and the Cartoon Network.

The news comes on the heels of the upfront period, which gives media companies an opportunity to showcase their programs to advertisers for the next broadcast season.

It also comes after Corus CEO John Gossling said on a quarterly earnings conference call late last month that the company “will do things that will manage the content cost line better as we go forward,” adding the company has been “trying to stabilize things.”

He noted that Corus has been hurt by its reliance on linear, despite having digital options like Stack TV. “We’re absolutely feeling it,” he said. The company, which has been trimming costs, reported lower advertising and subscriber revenues last quarter compared to the same period last year.

The news also comes against the backdrop of a broader conversation about the viability of children’s programming on traditional television as more audiences seek online options. Last spring an MTM survey found that, while traditional TV remains popular among Canadian children, they are more likely to watch video content on other sources such as YouTube and SVOD services like Netflix and Disney+.

In May, broadcasters told the commission that CBC/Radio-Canada could be made to step up on carrying such at-risk programs. The public broadcaster, however, said floating this kind of programming must be a whole-of-system effort.

For nearly two years, Corus has been in a regulatory standstill with Rogers, which has been seeking to remove some of its services, including what it says are underperforming children’s channels. Rogers has maintained that the decline in viewership on children’s programming has significantly outpaced overall television viewership.

Rogers is now in active litigation against the imposition of the standstill rule forcing it to continue to carry some of Corus’s services.

Last month, Corus told the commission during a hearing on the dynamics between programmers and distributors that the regulator must factor in how distributors package their services when determining performance.

“When considering whether there are valid commercial reasons for a request to remove, consider the commercial agreement,” Matt Thompson, Corus’s vice president and associate general counsel, told the regulator at the time.

“Are there mitigants in the commercial agreement for channel performance that the BDU might be able to realize? I think the reality of termination requests for programmers is that loss of carriage … can be very, very harmful, more harmful in fact for the programmer, to our mind, than the continued carriage in the case of BDUs.”

Corus executives did, however, say that it is not in the business of continuing to maintain channels that are underperforming.

Corus isn’t the only children’s programmer that has been feeling the heat. WildBrain said this spring that it had been unable to renegotiate a new carriage agreement with Bell for its Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, and Télémagino services after the CRTC ruled that Bell was not unduly disadvantaging those services.

The failure to get that affiliation deal meant it had to renegotiate certain commercial aspects of its previously announced agreement whereby IoM Media Ventures would acquire a majority stake in its TV broadcast business.

A&E Networks, Parent Company For The History Channel Currently Seen On DStv Is Up For Sale

The parent company of A&E Network, History and Lifetime is joining the growing list of cable channels that are being sold or divested by their studio parent company. NBCUniversal is preparing to divest MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network and four more linear channels. Warner Bros. Discovery also plans a similar separation from a clutch of linear cable assets: CNN, TNT, TBS, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, TruTV and more.

A+E Global Media (which was formerly known as A+E Networks) is owned as a 50-50 joint venture by the Walt Disney Co. and Hearst. Disney and Hearst recently tapped the investment banking arm of Wells Fargo to handle a sale process.

Sources stressed that there’s no certainty that A+E Global Media will be sold entirely or in part. But with the market conditions that have developed in recent months, Disney and Hearst are motivated to see who may come after A+E’s lifestyle and unscripted outlets. The list of linear channels includes Lifetime Movie Network, FYI and Vice TV. The assets also encompass content units A+E Studios, A+E Factual Studio, A&E IndieFilms, A+E Global Media Digital as well as streaming apps, games, FAST channels, AVOD and subscription-video services Crime 360, Lifetime Movie Club and History Vault.

A+E Global Media is a rare example of a sizable media company that is privately held. The company does not disclose its financial results.

Representatives for A+E, Disney, Hearst and Wells Fargo declined to comment for this story.

The move to nail up a “for sale” sign on A+E’s properties comes as NBCU and WBD are looking to slim down their asset bases and balance sheets by spinning off collections of cable channels that were once marquee properties. But even established traditional cable channels are struggling amid cord-cutting and the rise of streaming.

NBCUniversal is keeping only Bravo out of its eight linear cable channels to help fuel Peacock. WBD will be a significantly smaller company once it is built around the Warner Bros. movie and TV studios, HBO and streamer HBO Max, and gaming division. In announcing plans for a complicated restructuring to separate WBD into two entities – one for Global Networks, the other for Studios and Streaming — WBD nodded to the potential for the channels to be scooped up in a cable rollup. Post-split, both sides of WBD will be better equipped “to be faster and more aggressive in pursuing opportunities that strengthen their competitive positions,” WBD said in its June 9 news release.

A+E Global Media’s well-known brands could be an attractive dance partner for the either the WBD Global Networks divestment or for Versant, the new corporate moniker for NBCU’s spun-off cable channels. The Versant transaction is expected to be done by year’s end. WBD projected a mid-2026 closing for its separation. A+E brands have the benefit of owning outright the bulk of their studio libraries over three and four decades.

Disney has been an outlier among its traditional studio peers. Mouse House leaders in recent months have articulated that the company has found a good rhythm in using linear TV assets to drive content to Disney+ and Hulu. CEO Bob Iger last month said ESPN, ABC, Freeform and Disney’s eight owned-and-operated ABC stations are engines for the company’s expansive streaming platforms.

A+E Global Media channels have never been woven into Disney’s larger channel group, even has Disney has built out its streaming offerings. There’s been speculation for some time that the A+E channels would be part of a sales process. Disney and Hearst both have significant wholly owned linear TV assets that are not connected to the focused sale effort around A+E Networks.

A&E Network, Lifetime and History have bucked the general trend of slashed programming budgets for other cable outlets facing steady audience erosion. Lifetime in recent years as doubled down on its volume of original telefilms. History has upped the production value and promotion around its marquee documentaries and series.

Under president Paul Buccieri, A+E has made the most of its deep library by establishing FAST channels and licensing programs around the world. Buccieri, a seasoned producer and programming executive, joined A+E in 2015 as president of A&E Network and History. He was upped to president of A+E Networks Group in 2018.

The company has its roots in the fertile ground of early 1980s cable in New York. A&E Network and Lifetime were launched in early 1984 at a time when the overall cable channel lineup was still pretty thin. History Channel followed in 1995. All three channels have yielded numerous spinoffs over the years.

For its first 20 years, A&E Networks was jointly owned by ABC, NBC and Hearst. When Comcast acquired NBCUniversal from General Electric in 2011, the cable giant had to sell off its stake in A&E Networks to comply with federal merger conditions.

Disney XD Is Closing Down In Netherlands, To Be Replaced By Disney Junior

In a surprising move by the Mouse House, Disney XD is set to fold under the Disney Junior umbrella in Netherlands from the 1st of May. This means Disney XD will only be available in only 3 markets namely United States, Canada (through Corus Entertainment) and Poland (through AMC Networks International).

It also means shows like Big City Greens, Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur and Kiff will be exclusively on Disney Channel.

Disney hasn't stated the reason for this reshuffle but with this brand residing in Europe it was likely due to an alignment strategy. For several years, Disney had been closing their linear platforms outside the United States with Disney Junior maintaining some presence within the regions.

Prior to Disney Junior's launch in Netherlands, the company once offered a Dutch feed to the brand so this would technically be a re-entry of the channel to the region. It's currently unknown if the brand will use the feed taken up by the channel in Africa or opt for a localised feed.

Disney Junior serves as a preschool counterpart for the Disney Channel offering shows like PJ Masks, Spidey And His Amazing Friends and Little Mermaid. Unlike Disney XD, the company continues to invest in its preschool offering although it's been in a repetitive slope.

BabyTV Unveils A Batch Of Programming To Commemorate 20 Years

BabyTV, the world’s first global dedicated television channel for babies and toddlers, marks its 20th anniversary this year. Over the past two decades, BabyTV has redefined early childhood entertainment with safe, high-quality and engaging content for children aged five and under, and has been a trusted partner for parents.

Founded in 2005, BabyTV was acquired by Fox International Channels in 2007, expanding its reach and solidifying its position as a trusted brand for parents worldwide. In 2019, The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox, making BabyTV part of Disney’s global family of networks. This transition has further strengthened BabyTV’s ability to innovate and deliver premium content to families worldwide.

To celebrate this milestone, BabyTV is kicking off a special anniversary celebration starting April 1. Viewers can look forward to a festive programming lineup featuring birthday-themed episodes of beloved shows; a social media tribute to iconic moments, characters and series from the past 20 years; and exclusive collections on the BabyTV app and YouTube channels. Plus, plenty of surprises along the way to thank families for making BabyTV a part of their journey.

Co-founder Ron Isaak and the BabyTV team have also taken the milestone as an opportunity to introduce its latest productions:

• The Jungle Book – BabyTV’s unique take on The Jungle Book, featuring “Baloo’s Forest School,” followed by “Welcome to the Jungle,” a new song series exploring Mowgli’s first experiences in the jungle.

• Travelers – Join the level-headed Perry and the mischievous Harley as they discover that there’s more than one way to solve a problem.

• Olly – Meet Olly, a playful three-year-old monkey who loves dressing up with his toy friends — whether as a bus driver, doctor, or dancer!

• My Robot & I – Follow Kim and her robot friend Kit as they explore the world together.

• The Lollipops – A toddler pop trio whose upbeat songs and performances will get everyone singing and dancing along.

• Billy and Bam Bam DIY Song Series – Sibling duo Billy and Bam Bam turn everyday objects into imaginative play.

• Family Song Series – With Mom and Dad leading the way, Taylor (seven years old), Robbie (four) and Eddie (two) turn everyday moments into fun adventures.

• Charlie & Friends – A lively song series where Charlie builds friendships through music and play.

• Tulip’s Daycare – Ms. Tulip and her students care for their vegetable garden while finding creative ways to befriend hungry animal visitors.

Heads Up! Disney Junior And National Geographic Wild Go Dark In France By January 2025 As Orange Secures Rights To The Disney Channel

The Disney Channel and National Geographic channels will survive in France through Orange boxes. Disney films will also be available 4 months after their theatrical release on Orange's VOD service. The historic operator unveils a reassuring distribution agreement with the American giant.

Following the divorce between Canal+ and Disney, Orange took advantage of the situation and announced, against all expectations, on December 20, a distribution agreement with The Walt Disney Company which strengthens access to Disney content in France and enriches the entertainment offering for Orange TV subscribers.

This partnership allows Livebox subscribers to fully access Disney content through three offers:

Included access for all TV customers to Disney's iconic channels : Disney Channel, the reference channel for young people, and National Geographic will be included from January 2, 2025 for all Orange TV customers, from their decoder and the Orange TV application on smartphones and a wide selection of connected TVs.

The possibility of subscribing to the Disney + streaming service under special conditions. Customers of the Orange Livebox Max offer benefit from a €5 discount for life by subscribing to Disney +, this offer has already been in place since last October. Other TV customers will benefit from a promotion with the first month free to discover the Disney + service. Orange subscribers will continue to be able to watch the platform's programs on their decoder.

Access to Disney films 4 months after their theatrical release on the Orange VOD service  : Orange will offer, through its transactional VOD offer, the latest cinema releases from the Disney group studios (Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures) via the Orange VOD service.

Hélène Etzi, President of The Walt Disney Company France, said, “  We are very pleased to partner with Orange to make our iconic content and stories accessible to as many households as possible,” or 12.4 million French people. It remains to be seen whether other operators such as Free, SFR and Bouygues Telecom will try to reach an agreement with Disney.

The article was originally published by Univers Freebox

Disney Is Planning To Close Disney Channel, Star Channel, FX, Cinecanal, National Geographic And BabyTV In Brazil By February 2025

The renowned Brazilian journalist Ricardo Feltrín announced for the first time that Disney Channel, Star Channel, FX and National Geographic would be discontinued in Brazil in February 2025. This information was verified and complemented by journalist Pablo Simoes from the PortalTVeStreaming site, to whom it was also confirmed the end of Cinecanal and BabyTV, along with the official closing date of all these channels in the country: February 28, 2025.

Although it has not been confirmed whether these broadcast cessations will apply to the rest of Latin America, Pablo stated that Disney assured him that these changes will apply only to Brazil, although certainly the outlook is not entirely encouraging for those who still tune in to these channels in our region. . TVLaint attempted to get a direct response from Disney on the issue, but at the time of publishing this entry it has not received an official communication.

So far, the only thing that is known is that the decision will not impact the six ESPN channels present in Brazil. Sports signals will, for now, be Disney's only presence on Brazilian pay TV.

Although the measure is not surprising since Disney has been getting rid of its television signals around the world for more than four years in search of boosting its Disney+ streaming platform, it occurs in an ironic context considering that Disney Channel is usually the second children's channel most tuned in in Brazil, and Star Channel is the channel with the largest general audience only behind ESPN itself, according to Pablo's statements on his Twitter/X account.

It is a sad week for Disney Channel fans, since a few days ago it was announced that it would cease broadcasting in Spain after 27 years on the air, leaving fewer and fewer signs of the channel that gave so much joy around the world.

This massive closure of signals in Brazil is the most significant in Latin America since the beginning of 2022, when Disney discontinued the operations of the Star Premium suite and the basic TV channels Disney XD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Kids, FX Movies and Star Life, all in a period of less than three months. Curiously, on that occasion Disney stopped broadcasting Disney Junior in Brazil, but the channel continues to broadcast in the rest of Latin America to this day, with no plans to end. The contents of the preschool channel have since remained in a block on Disney Channel, which is not present in other countries.

A peculiar case is that of Cinecanal, which, although it already existed in Latin America, debuted in Brazil as a replacement for Star Life during the "massacre" of channels in 2022. Now, it will be one of the channels that will cease operations after almost three years in the air.

All content present on Disney Channel, Star Channel, FX, Cinecanal and National Geographic will remain exclusive to Disney+ in Brazil. BabyTV's content is the exception to the rule, which has an official and active channel on YouTube.

Why Disney Channel's Move To Channel 315 Is Bad News For DStv Customers?

During the month, MultiChoice Africa announced that Disney Channel would be moving from channel 303 to 315 on DStv and these changes were applicable to consumers in Southern Africa. This is most likely due to a change in legislation in some countries if some remember Cameroon and Uganda instilled some very rules over LGBTQ.

This is what prompted Nurses to suddenly get yanked from Telemundo only for it to make a name a comeback with censorship. The laws in these countries were so severe that broadcasters like Telemundo would have lost their licenses to operate in these regions while some could be fined or detained.

MultiChoice may say that Disney Channel had moved to a new channel number and that consumer's viewing experience would remain unhinged. But that's not the case here at all, they took what you know as channel 303 and restricted it's access to consumers in South Africa where the restrictions are lighter.

They acquired Disney Channel's feed used in the East and Western parts of Africa and launched that on channel 315. For those who aren't aware, MultiChoice has two transponders one that covers Southern Africa and another the rest of Africa so they can basically make local variations with channels.

Considering South Africa shares their feeds with other countries residing within Southern Africa including Malawi and Zimbabwe they had to launch duplicate feed but block certain consumers from particular regions from seeing it. Similar to what you have with Moja 9.9. as consumers would have viewed the content on its premium counterpart.

Similar to TLC Africa, this feed viewed outside of South Africa is kind of depressing remember Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur the show that DStv had advertised across their platforms for viewers in Africa for November 25. This managed to debut on the channel in South Africa alongside various European markets.

This has not been made available to consumers outside of South Africa and I would like to believe that MultiChoice Africa and Disney will try to air it at a later stage but heck even Walk The Prank is not airing. Instead in the slots where these shows would appear would be reserved for more Big City Greens or Phineas And Ferb. 

Disney Channel's moves to channel 315 as MultiChoice Africa wants to put it or the expansion of Disney Channel Africa which is what I'd call it is bad news for DStv consumers. Imagine this scenario already happened with Nickelodeon and The Loud House after Nigeria put up a ban Paramount opted to censor the show.

But when further complaints came from other African countries they took out The Loud House completely yet they're willing to air it's live-action counterpart and The Casagrandes. To top it off, Paramount+'s original film The Loud House: No Time To Spy wasn't made available for these consumers.

The results to these restrictions is more zombie TV which is what's seen on Nickelodeon and TLC with Disney Channel joining the ranks.

Despite the tight restrictions, there are consumers in these markets that wouldn't mind watching Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur or The Loud House despite them featuring same sex couples. Disney Channel separating it's operations within in Africa means more content is likely to be divided away from Africa like Andi Mack and The Owl House.

Goodbye To Disney Channel: It Will Stop Broadcasting In Spain At The Beginning Of 2025 After 27 Years

An era in television for the little ones in the house is coming to an end as Disney Channel, a historic channel for children and young people's content, will end its broadcasts in Spain on January 7, 2025 after 27 years on our TV, as Tele has learned exclusively.

With platforms on the rise, The Walt Disney Company is betting on promoting its paid service Disney+ and will stop offering a free-to-air channel, Disney Channel, which for almost three decades has been the spearhead of its immersion in the Spanish market and a benchmark in children's television .

It will be next January 7 , after the Day of Kings, when it will disappear from DTT permanently. All the content that made up Disney Channel's linear programming will be available on the Disney+ platform, as confirmed by the company to verTele.

In an official statement to this portal, The Walt Disney Company Spain “thanks the support of its fans in Spain” and assures that they will continue “investing in both direct-to-consumer (OTT) distribution and linear businesses with the aim of offering our viewers multiple entry points to our content and our brand.”

The end of Disney Channel as a channel will not mean the end of its 'little brother' Disney Junior , a more child-oriented channel, which will continue to be available through pay operators such as Movistar Plus+, Orange TV and Vodafone TV, among others. It is confirmed as the last 'survivor' of a group of channels from which Disney Cinemagic (2008-2015) and Disney XD (2009-2020) have already disappeared, and now Disney Channel (1998-2025).

In addition to Disney Junior, the company's other brands will also be maintained in the subscription television services in Spain: "Disney is committed to continuing to drive the growth of Disney+ and maintaining a solid portfolio of channels , with leading brands in the general, factual and family entertainment segments in Spain: STAR, Disney JR, Baby TV, National Geographic, and National Geographic Wild ," the company details.

It is also important to note that Canal+'s current deal with Disney is set to expire on 31 December 2024 meaning this would be the second Disney Channel to exit international feeds. Unlike Spain, it had been reported that the batch of channels will exit France leaving questions as to what awaits the feeds in French Overseas.

Part of this article was published by verTele!

Disney And Canal+ Remain Silent About French Overseas Territories Following The Upcoming Closure Of Disney Channels

Not long ago, it was reported that Disney would be axing their last remaining linear offering in France with Disney Channel And Disney Junior set to go dark on the platform by 31 December 2024. After the French broadcaster became the exclusive home to Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar will now be integrated with Disney+.

Aside from France, Disney also managed the feeds for consumers in Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Andorra, Haiti and Francophone Africa. With their fate being left up in the air, these territories are most likely to lose their channels seeing as they're all conjoined.

Another scenario which could be similar to what was seen in Middle East and North Africa is that these remaining French territories will likely be merged with Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). I think the question would have to be whether any French audio track will be provided if that was the case.

Kind of interesting is that MultiChoice who also offer Disney+ and the remaining linear offering in a separate agreement in Anglophone Africa is also in the process of being acquired by the French broadcaster. Basically, Canal+ would still have control over what the media consumes but in another territory.

Not Shocking!!! The Disney Channels To Go Dark In France By The End Of December With Further Content Being Allocated On Disney+

Canal+, which launched Disney+ in the French market, is to lose the streaming service from 1 January 2025.

Disney announced Monday that its content would no longer be available to Canal’s subscribers – the day that the Vivendi-owned company was celebrating its 40th anniversary.

It is a major blow for the pay-TV operator that has successfully pivoted to a super-aggregator after an earlier loss of rights to French top-flight football. 

In addition to Disney+, remaining linear channels such as Disney Channel will also be pulled, as will content from the Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar franchises, at least in the short-term.

The decision by Disney no longer let its latest films be broadcast by the pay-TV service six months after their cinema release, as is in the norm in France means it will now take 17 months before viewers are able to stream the latest titles through Disney+.

A spokesperson for Disney told Broadband TV News: “From 1 January, Canal’s customers will no longer be able to watch our upcoming new movie releases, Disney+ or our channels through Canal’s offering. Our blockbuster movies, award-winning TV series, and exclusive Originals remain widely available on Disney+ directly and through partners for everyone to enjoy their favorite stories from our brands.”

Speaking on France Info Gérald-Brice Viret, CEO of Canal+ France, was putting on a brave face. “They had the delicacy to do it on our anniversary. And on the other hand, I can tell you that it is a fairly marginal consumption by our subscribers: they prefer, for example, MAX, Paramount, Netflix, Apple TV or Ciné+,” he said. 

In 2019, Canal signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Disney’s streaming platform, a few months before its launch in France.

Rumour: "Disney Channel Africa" Might Be Rolling Out On DStv Very Soon, Here's Why

As readers have been made aware, TLC Africa was launched on channel 125 for consumers in Southern Africa (not South Africa) after being made available in West and Eastern parts of Africa. This left the main TLC brand on channel 135 to offer a broader range of content such as the transgender reality show I Am Jazz.

Now it appears as if Disney Channel might be also be going under the knife as a duplicate channel had been spotted on the iPlate section. This is where MultiChoice tests out potential DStv channels or upgrades an existing service and of course this version of the channel has slight variations.

Take for instance, Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir and Big City Greens those are currently in their first seasons while the current feed viewed by consumers are on much later seasons. Monsters At Work and Jessie are currently on the network while this feed has supplemented those with Amphibia and Lab Rats: Elite Force.

If I one had to guess, MultiChoice is probably to separate the operations for these brands as seen with Nickelodeon, M-Net and not long ago. Best case scenario is that this channel will probably be referred to as Disney Channel Africa and occupy channel 313 while the main feed for SA consumers resides on channel 303.

I think the only thing here that has yet to answered is which feed MultiChoice has in development the one I presume will occupy channel 313 or perhaps takeover channel 303. As mentioned, it offers a program like Gravity Falls something that was banned in some parts of Africa of course the channel doesn't have a full schedule.

From the looks of it, this feed will probably takeover whatever is left of channel 303 from 1st November as no EPG had been provided for the channel unlike Disney Junior. Another scenario here is that they're probably going to move channel 303 to 313 for neighbouring countries while introducing this feed on channel 303 in South Africa.

NBA Signs New 11-Year Media Agreements With The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal And Amazon Prime Video

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the renewal of its partnership with The Walt Disney Company and new agreements with NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Amazon under which ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video will telecast NBA games beginning with the 2025-26 season and running through the 2035-36 season.

The NBA App will be a universal access point – seamlessly directing fans to every national game on Disney, NBCU and Amazon platforms.

The new media deals will expand the reach of NBA telecasts, with all national games available on broadly distributed streaming services – Prime Video, Peacock and ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer service – and with dramatically increased exposure on broadcast television.  Approximately 75 regular-season games will be on broadcast TV each season, up from the minimum of 15 games under the current agreement.

“Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade.”

“We look forward to building upon our incredible legacy of innovation and growth with our longstanding partners at the NBA,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.  “The NBA is a vibrant, ascendant league and through this premium collection of rights, including every NBA Finals on our platforms, we will continue to evolve together while successfully navigating the global digital transition and delivering the highest quality coverage for fans.”

“We are proud to once again partner with the NBA and WNBA, two iconic brands and the home of the best basketball in the world,” said Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast Corporation.  “We look forward to presenting our best-in-class coverage of both leagues with our innovative programming and distribution plan across NBC and Peacock to entertain fans and help grow the game.”

“We are honored that the NBA has entrusted Prime Video to deliver its one-of-a-kind action and excitement to viewers around the world,” said Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.  “We look forward to continuing to innovate and evolve live sports coverage for our customers, and are fully committed to building an incredible video experience for millions of NBA fans starting in 2025.”

Disney, NBCU and Amazon also secured the right to distribute an unprecedented number of WNBA live game telecasts, with a significant increase in the reach of WNBA games across broadcast, cable and streaming.  Full details regarding the WNBA’s media agreements will be issued in a separate press release.

The Walt Disney Company

Disney (ABC/ESPN) will distribute a total of 80 NBA regular-season games per season, including more than 20 games on ABC (generally on Saturday nights with NBA Saturday Primetime and on Sunday afternoons with NBA Sunday Showcase) and up to 60 games on ESPN (generally on Wednesday nights and, on occasion, Friday nights).  ABC/ESPN will continue to telecast all five NBA games on Christmas Day and provide exclusive national coverage of the final day of the regular season.

During the playoffs, ABC/ESPN will telecast approximately 18 games in the first two rounds each year and one of the two Conference Finals series in 10 of the 11 years of the agreement.  ABC will remain the exclusive home of the NBA Finals, which it has broadcast since 2003.

All NBA games and events on ABC/ESPN will be available on ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer service.  ABC/ESPN will continue to telecast the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, NBA Draft, NBA Draft Lottery and half of all NBA Summer League games.  ABC/ESPN platforms will also continue to distribute a package of WNBA and NBA G League regular-season and postseason games.

Disney will distribute NBA games on ESPN-branded assets in several international markets, including Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and the Netherlands, and via Disney+ in select markets in Asia and Europe.

By the end of this renewal, the NBA’s partnership with ABC/ESPN will reach 34 years.

NBCUniversal

NBCU (NBC/Peacock) will distribute up to 100 NBA regular-season games per season – with more than half of the games airing on NBC (on Sunday and Tuesday nights).  NBCU will telecast the league’s opening night doubleheader on NBC each year and at least two games on MLK Day on NBC and/or Peacock each season.

Peacock will stream a doubleheader each Monday night of the season.  Every Tuesday night, NBC will telecast two games across certain NBC affiliate broadcast stations in different regions of the country.  The first game will start at 8 p.m. ET and be available on NBC across affiliate stations in the Eastern and Central time zones.  The second game will start at 8 p.m. PT and be available on NBC affiliate stations across the Pacific and Mountain time zones.  All Tuesday games will be available on Peacock nationally and certain stations may choose to televise both games.

NBC will become the home of NBA All-Star, including Rising Stars, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, featuring AT&T Slam Dunk, Starry 3-Point Contest and Kia Skills Challenge, and the All-Star Game.  In the playoffs, NBC and/or Peacock will telecast approximately 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs, with at least half of those games airing on NBC.  NBC will also telecast one of the two Conference Finals series in six of the 11 years on a rotating basis with Amazon, beginning with the 2025-26 season.

As part of the partnership, NBCU will distribute NBA games in several European markets through Sky Sports as well as in the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa.  Additionally, NBCU will distribute WNBA games and be the home of all USA Basketball Senior Men’s and Women’s National Team games.

Xfinity will become the Official TV Service of the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball.  The partnership includes collaboration on marketing and storytelling opportunities, virtual signage during game telecasts and activations at marquee NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball events.

Amazon

Amazon will distribute 66 NBA regular-season games on Prime Video each season, including Thursday night doubleheaders beginning in January, Friday evening doubleheaders, select Saturday afternoon games, at least one game on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and the Quarterfinals and Semifinals in the Knockout Round of the Emirates NBA Cup.  In addition, Prime Video will stream the Championship Game of the Emirates NBA Cup.

Prime Video will also distribute all six SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament games.  In the playoffs, Prime Video will stream approximately one-third of the first and second rounds each year.  Additionally, Prime Video will stream one of the two Conference Finals series in six of the 11 years on a rotating basis with NBCU, beginning with the 2026-27 NBA season.

Amazon will distribute NBA games globally as part of Prime Video, with an expanded package of games in select territories, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland.  This expanded package includes a minimum of 20 additional primetime regular season games each year, a Conference Finals series each year, and the NBA Finals in six of the 11 years.  Prime Video will also become the NBA’s strategic partner and third-party global destination of NBA League Pass – the league’s live NBA game subscription service, with expanded distribution rights for NBA League Pass in the U.S. and internationally.   Additionally, as part of the agreement, Prime Video will stream half of all NBA Summer League games as well as a package of WNBA and NBA G League regular-season and postseason games.

Disney XD Might Be Coming An International Comeback After Being Spotted On Eutelsat 9B Satellite For The Cosmote TV Platform In Greece

Disney XD was an international children's channel targeting boys aged 7 to 14 years old. Operated by The Walt Disney Company, it was home to shows like Gravity Falls, Marvel's Spider-Man, Big City Greens and Kick Buttowski: Surburbian Daredevil. 

Following Disney+ inception in 2019, most of the international feeds of Disney XD had been closed with remaining feeds residing in America, Netherlands, Canada and Poland. This was part of Disney's attempt on prioritizing Disney+ which led to more cord cutting.

Although Disney XD continued to have a presence in these regions no original content had been commissioned with the latter residing from Disney Channel and Disney+.

According to the information obtained from KingOfSat, DigitalBitrate and Parabola.ca, Disney XD has appeared on Eutelsat 9B satellite for Cosmote TV platform in Greece. This endeavors had led some to wonder if Disney were to be reviving the channel. 

Disney Channel had been operating under a unified feed in parts of Europe and Africa. During the year, these endeavors were minimized as Scandinavia and Nordic opted for a localized feed to Disney Channel which led to cancellation of Disney Junior. 

Recap To The Month: Canal+ Looking To Make MultiChoice A Global Powerhouse Against The Likes Of Disney And Netflix By Making Local Content Go Global

During the month, Canal+ Group CEO was approached by journalists where he addressed several matters regarding MultiChoice. As reported, he's been given the greenlight to acquire the remaining shares and is currently drawing up a proposal to appease legislation. 

Together the merged company would have reached 50 million households (30 million reside within Africa). It would make it the biggest entertainment company across the world that's not based in the United States.

Apart from the MultiChoice deal in Africa, the group had increased its share in the Hong Kong-based streaming platform Viu to 30% - with the option of increasing it to 50%. Viu has accumulated 15 million subscribers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Canal+ plans for MultiChoice's local endeavors 

Saada says the new, merged company will take a "very, very different approach" than the American companies, by focusing on the highest quality local content. "And it's not necessarily very difficult, but it needs resources. And once you reach a scale of 50 million subscribers, then you have the resources."

Implying that local content from M-Net and various of other brands like Mzansi Magic, Africa Magic and KykNET will likely resurface in parts of Europe and Asia. Now that funds coming into MultiChoice will have additional outlets and possible increase local commission. 

MultiChoice Studios' offering was limited to Showmax and various M-Net channels. With Canal+, we'll probably be seeing more of Blood Psalms and Recipe For Love And Murder and possible content distributed in France before Africa. 

Where does this leave brands like eNCA and SABC News?

Nothing can be for certain in regards to that as Canal+ does supply various local channels from DStv onto their platforms in Francophone Africa. These include Africa Magic Epic, M-Net Movies, SuperSport La Liga and Premier League and Zee World.

South African content has been known to be kind of pricey one of the reasons eNCA is not viewable on a platform like Openview. It's not necessarily about exclusivity but the fact that there's not much competitors that can aid in MultiChoice's pursuit in that regard.

If anything, it would probably be a miracle if some content from these channels wind up on French based news channel Canal+ 8 (C8). There's been scenarios where TV channels would just invest in regional content it was like that with BBC News and CGTN.

"The Simpsons": Homer Was Originally Going To Krusty The Clown

There was originally supposed to be a twist on The Simpsons: Krusty the Clown was meant to be Homer Simpson in disguise, but that's not what happened in the end. All 30 seasons of TV's longest-running scripted primetime animated series will be available on Disney+ at launch. This means generations of Simpsons fans can experience one of the greatest TV shows ever from the very beginning - and they'll see just how much The Simpsons has changed since its awkward first season.

Of course, Krusty (voiced by Dan Castellaneta, who is also the voice of Homer) is one of The Simpsons' greatest characters and he's arguably the town of Springfield's biggest celebrity. Krusty hosts The Krusty the Clown Show, the favorite weekday program of Springfield's children. Krusty's show is the home of Itchy & Scratchy cartoons and, as Krusty once bragged, "It's the tightest three hours and ten minutes on TV". Krusty is also Bart Simpson's personal hero; Bart's pure-hearted worship of Krusty defies the realities and many failings of the narcissistic clown. Krusty never seems to remember all the things Bart has done for him like re-ignite his career with Krusty's Komeback Special, serving as his assistant, the "I Didn't Do It! Boy", and reuniting Krusty with his estranged father, Rabbi Krustofsky (Jackie Mason).

The Simpsons' Homer/Krusty Twist Explained

Krusty's first appearance was in The Simpsons short "The Krusty the Clown Show", which aired on The Tracy Ullman Show. Bart attends a taping of Krusty's show but he suspects the clown host isn't the real deal; Simpson yanks off his nose and it's revealed Krusty is an imposter - before a smash cut shows Homer and Marge watching the debacle on TV. But originally, Matt Groening planned for Bart to discover that Homer was Krusty before it was changed. As Groening told EW:

”The original idea behind Krusty the Clown was that he was Homer in disguise, but Homer still couldn’t get any respect from his son, who worshiped Krusty. If you look at Krusty, it’s just Homer with extended hair and a tuft on his head.

This explains the obvious physical resemblance between Homer and Krusty. Groening also said that it was too complicated a story to do during The Simpsons' tumultuous beginnings so they (wisely) dropped the idea and kept Homer and Krusty as separate characters. The Simpsons later did a hilarious spin on Homer being Krusty in season 6 episode, "Homie the Clown", where Homer enrolled in Krusty's Clown College but then the two identical harlequins ended up as targets of Springfield's Mafia because of Krusty's $48 debt to the mob.

The Simpsons Did Something Much Better With Krusty

Dropping the Homer-as-Krusty plot allowed Krusty to become a fan-favorite recurring character. The famous clown went on to become one of The Simpsons' best supporting cast members who has been featured in many great episodes. Moreso, Krusty fulfills an invaluable function in the series by encapsulating every negative stereotype about celebrities, thanks to Krusty's improbable 61 years in show business. This includes Krusty's penchant for slapping his image on any substandard product to support his lavish lifestyle of eating dodo eggs and lighting his cigars with $100 bills.

Krusty's venal nature has also been mined for laughs: In "Bart the Fink", the Clown once faked his death because of his IRS debts and posed as "Rory B. Bellows" until Bart and Lisa goaded him back to bring Krusty because he couldn't stand the idea of not being admired for being famous. When his outdated (and racist) comedy bombs in "The Last Temptation of Krust", Krusty stages a comeback by "telling it like it is", only to immediately sell out when he's offered the chance to be the spokes-clown for the Canyonero. While Homer secretly being Krusty would have been an interesting twist, it can't compare to the dividends reaped by Krusty's many hysterical adventures on The Simpsons over the decades.

Credits: Screenrants

Disney, Fox and WBD Unveil Name of Sports-Streaming Venture: Venu Sports

The joint venture of Disney/ESPN, Fox Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery to package together a sports streaming bundle has a name — Venu Sports.

“We are excited to officially introduce Venu Sports, a brand that we feel captures the spirit of an all-new streaming home where sports fans outside of the traditional pay TV ecosystem can experience an incredible collection of live sports, all in one place,” Pete Distad, CEO of Venu Sports, said in a statement. “As preparations for the platform continue to accelerate, we are singularly focused on delivering a best-in-class product for our target audience, built from the ground up using the latest technologies to engage and entertain discerning sports fans wanting one-stop access to live games.”

Disney, Fox and WBD unveiled their partnership in February, positioning the new streaming bundle as a way to reach consumers who don’t subscribe to pay TV. It’s pegged to debut in the fall of 2024. The trio in March announced the hiring of Distad, who worked for a decade at Apple and most recently was responsible for Apple TV+ business, operations and global distribution. Distad is based out of the Venu Sports offices in L.A.

Pricing and a specific launch date haven’t been announced for Venu, which will combine ESPN+ with the three companies’ linear TV networks that carry sports programming (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS and truTV).

When the joint venture was announced, some had jokingly dubbed it “Spulu,” a mash-up of “sports” and “Hulu,” which had originally been formed as a JV among TV broadcasters.

The venture also launched a new website at venu.com. A notice at the bottom of the landing page says, “Launch is conditional on receiving regulatory approval and is expected for Fall 2024.” The site’s terms of service indicate that it’s operated by “Rookie Enterprises, LLC,” a subsidiary of Fox Corp. In announcing the new name, the three companies also noted that the JV is still pending the “finalization of definitive agreements amongst the parties.”

The Justice Department reportedly has planned to review the three-way venture to look at anticompetitive implications, and last month two leading congressional Democrats expressed concerns that the JV may “result in higher prices for consumers and less fair licensing terms for upstream sports leagues and downstream video distributors.” Meanwhile, streaming TV provider Fubo filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the JV service’s launch, alleging the venture violates antitrust laws. On May 2, Fubo, DirecTV, Dish Network, Newsmax and others sent a letter to members of Congress calling for hearings on the state of competition in the pay-TV market, specifically calling out the Disney-Fox-WBD joint venture as “rais[ing] serious competition concerns that call for Congress’s immediate oversight.”

Venu (pronounced “venue”) will be made available directly to consumers via a new app, the companies said. Subscribers will also have the ability to purchase it in a bundle, including with Disney+, Hulu or Max.

The JV’s new name and brand identity were developed in partnership with R/GA, a global design and advertising firm. According to a spokesperson for the company, the Venu Sports name “takes inspiration from where live sports lives: the stadiums, arenas, speedways, octagons, courts, rinks, ballparks and more, where fans come to watch and connect with the action.”