Disney Channel (Scandinavia)
Disney Channel is a British-managed Scandinavian children's television channel owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company Limited. On 5 June 2023, it was shut down and merged into Disney Channel (Europe, [Middle East and Africa)|Disney Channel EMEA], but was relaunched on 1 April 2024. After the closure of Disney Junior in 2024, Disney Channel is currently the only Disney-branded TV channel in Scandinavia.
History
On 28 February 2003, almost 80 years since the founding of The Walt Disney Company and almost 20 years since the launch of the original Disney Channel in the United States, the Disney Channel was launched, and was then at the time exclusive to the Viasat satellite platform.Later that year, it became available on digital cable networks, such as the Swedish Com Hem.
In 2003, the channel also applied for a license to broadcast in the Swedish digital terrestrial television network. The Disney Channel was among the channels recommended by the Swedish Radio and TV Authority, and the government granted the Disney Channel a broadcasting license on 29 January 2004. The terrestrial transmissions could start on 15 February via the Boxer TV Access platform. Soon after that, the channel celebrated its first anniversary by dropping encryption for one weekend. On 1 August 2005, the channel became available to subscribers of the Canal Digital satellite platform. Simultaneously, a sister channel called Toon Disney was launched. A third sister channel, Playhouse Disney, was launched on 1 October 2006.
In the fall of 2009, the channel started broadcasting its first original productions. Among these are a sitcom called Når klokkerne ringer, produced by the Danish production company Nobody, and the music competition My Camp Rock, produced by Titan Television.
In January 2012, Disney Channel Scandinavia got the same on-air logo and graphics as the UK version of Disney Channel at the time. Later in May 2012, the channel updated to 16:9.
Since 1 August 2012, the channel has been airing advertisements between the shows. In the fall of 2012, the Disney Channels in Sweden, Norway and Denmark split feeds during the commercial breaks so it would be easier to air local advertisements; however, the promos and schedule are the same in the Nordic countries.
In October 2020, Disney Channel closed its regional channels and replaced them with a Nordic-wide version.
On 28 February 2023, Disney Channel ceased broadcasting on Allente, along with the Russian-language audio track. However, it remains in other providers. The same day, the feed ceased broadcasting in the Baltics and was replaced by the Disney Channel (European, [Middle Eastern, and African TV channel)|EMEA feed of Disney Channel], on 3 April as Home3, satellite service.
On 5 June 2023 the channel was fully disconnected and it was merged into the Pan-European version.
In February 2024, it was announced that the channel would be relaunched on 1 April 2024 and would also include a Disney Junior branded block during mornings and at weekends as the channel merges with the main one.