Disney Jr. (Italy)

Disney Jr.
Logo used from 1 December 2025
Broadcast area
HeadquartersMilan, Italy
Programming
LanguageItalian
Picture format
Timeshift serviceDisney Junior +1
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company EMEA
ParentThe Walt Disney Company Italia S.r.l.
Sister channelsDisney Channel
History
Launched1 May 2005 (2005-05-01) (original)
1 December 2025 (2025-12-01) (relaunch)
Closed1 May 2020 (2020-05-01) (original)
Former namesPlayhouse Disney (2005–2011)
Disney Junior (2011–2020)
Links
Websitedisneyjunior.it

Disney Jr. is an Italian pay television channel that was owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company Italy. It launched as Playhouse Disney on 1 May 2005 and was renamed Disney Junior on 14 May 2011.[1][2][3][4] It was available on pay TV via Sky Italia and Mediaset Premium (until 30 September 2016).[5][6][7][8][9] It ceased broadcasting on 1 May 2020, and relaunched on 1 December 2025.[10][11][12][13][14]

History

Initially, like in the United States, Playhouse Disney was a programming block on Disney Channel, airing from 8:30am to 12:30pm.[15][16]

An independent Playhouse Disney channel launched on 1 May 2005, Sky (channel 611 of the Primo Sky package), becoming the fourth Disney-branded channel to launch. This coincided with the launch of four new channels on the platform that same day.[17][18] During commercial breaks, the Bocconcini presenters announced the following program.[19] In 2008, these segments were replaced by Ooh, Aah & You.[20] At 9pm, the channel initially aired the Goodbye Song from Bear in the Big Blue House followed by a good night message.[21] It was later replaced by a new song featuring the Playhouse Disney Europe characters Whiffle & Fuzz (Frù and Pelù), La canzone della buonanotte.[22] These songs did not mean the nightly closedown of the channel, as programming continued at 9:10pm.[23]

On 8 December 2008, the channel launched on Mediaset Premium through the Mediaset 1 multiplex as part of the new Premium Fantasy package of kids channels.[24][25][26][27]

On 31 July 2009, Playhouse Disney + launched on Sky, as a 25-minute timeshift.[28]

In 2010, it launched Playhouse Disney Live!, a stage show featuring the characters of the channel's key shows.[29][30][31]

On 14 May 2011, as part of a global rebranding plan, the channel was renamed Disney Junior.[32][33][34]

In October 2019, Disney Junior began broadcasting in Switzerland, replacing Disney XD, However on 1 April 2020, the channel would also stop airing in Switzerland.[35][36]

Disney Junior and its timeshift ceased broadcasting on 1 May 2020, due to Disney failing to renew a deal with Sky Italy, with content moving to Disney+.[37][38][39] The channel was relaunched on 1 December 2025, using the current Disney Jr. branding introduced in 2024.[40][41][42][43][44]

Logos

  • 2005–2011
  • 2019–2020
  • 2025–present

See also

References

  1. ^ Maurizio Amore (19 April 2005). "Sky allarga i suoi confini". Film.it (in Italian). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Disney Publishing lancia Playhouse Disney Magazine". ADC Group (in Italian). 7 February 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Playhouse Disney su Sky e Premium: dal 14/5 diventa Disney Junior". Digital-News.it (in Italian). 3 March 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  4. ^ Aroldi, Piermarco (2013). Televisione e Infanzia: rapporto sull'offerta televisiva per bambini in Italia (PDF) (Report) (in Italian). Fondazione per la Sussidiarietà (Focus in Media). p. 112. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  5. ^ "AUDITEL CANALI SKY GENNAIO 2015: BENE EUROSPORT, ANCORA MALE SKY ATLANTIC". Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  6. ^ "MEDIASET: DAL 1° OTTOBRE STOP A DISNEY CHANNEL E DISNEY JUNIOR SU PREMIUM". 30 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Disney via da Mediaset Premium: cosa è successo e cosa cambia". Dday.it (in Italian). 16 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Disney Channel fuori da Mediaset Premium. Il caso Vivendi dietro la decisione?". Davide Maggio (in Italian). 20 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Disney Channel e Disney Junior da oggi anche su Premium Play". 6 November 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Disney Channel chiude su Sky". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 2 May 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  11. ^ "I canali Disney chiudono: da oggi non sono più visibili su Sky". Davide Maggio (in Italian). 1 May 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Su Sky dal 1° Dicembre arriva Disney Jr". Sky Group (in Italian). 26 November 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Su Sky arriva Disney Jr., canale dedicato ai bambini in età prescolare". primaonline.it (in Italian).
  14. ^ "Does the new Disney Junior logo take simplification too far?". Creative Bloq. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Playhouse". Disney Channel. Archived from the original on 14 February 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  16. ^ Cristina Cucciniello (14 March 2003). "Winnie Pooh". Film.it (in Italian). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  17. ^ Maurizio Amore (19 April 2005). "Sky allarga i suoi confini". Film.it (in Italian). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Disney Publishing lancia Playhouse Disney Magazine". ADC Group (in Italian). 7 February 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  19. ^ "PLAYHOUSE DISNEY MARCO E GRAZIA PT.1 *RARISSIMO* 2006" (in Italian). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Playhouse Disney Italy - Continuity (September 2, 2008)" (in Italian). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Playhouse Disney La Casa Di Topolino Canzone Della Buonanotte" (in Italian). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Fru e Pelù - La Canzone della Buonanotte" (in Italian). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Ieri e oggi in TV – 26 dicembre 2008". antoniogenna.com (in Italian).
  24. ^ Giorgio Scorsone (18 November 2008). "Cartoon Network, Playhouse Disney, Hiro: ecco il nuovo Mediaset Premium Fantasy". Digital News (in Italian). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Fantasy, 4 canali per i bambini". Tgcom24 (in Italian). 18 November 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  26. ^ Offerta della TV digitale terrestre in Italia (Capitolo 2: Offerta) (PDF) (Report) (in Italian). Aeranti-Corallo. 2010. p. 7. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  27. ^ Relazione annuale sull’attività svolta e sui programmi di lavoro (2010) (PDF) (Report) (in Italian). Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni. 2010. p. 82. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  28. ^ "Dieci nuovi canali per SKY, dal 31 luglio". Sky.it. 29 July 2009. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Arriva in teatro il 'Playhouse Disney Live!'". la Repubblica (in Italian). 30 November 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Playhouse Disney Live in Tour". Bambini e Vacanze. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Tappe Playhouse Disney Live". Teatro.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  32. ^ "Nasce Disney Junior, l'evoluzione di Playhouse Disney". ADC Group (in Italian). 4 May 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Playhouse Disney su Sky e Premium: dal 14/5 diventa Disney Junior". Digital-News.it (in Italian). 3 March 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  34. ^ Aroldi, Piermarco (2013). Televisione e Infanzia: rapporto sull'offerta televisiva per bambini in Italia (PDF) (Report) (in Italian). Fondazione per la Sussidiarietà (Focus in Media). p. 112. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  35. ^ "Change day il 26.11.2019 / 27.11.11.2019". UPC Community (in Italian). 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  36. ^ "Modifications des chaînes Disney au 31.03.2020". UPC Community (in French). 12 March 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  37. ^ "Nuovi Canali Cartoon Network. Chiude Disney Channel". tv.upgo.news. 3 April 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  38. ^ "Disney Channel chiude su Sky". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 2 May 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  39. ^ "I canali Disney chiudono: da oggi non sono più visibili su Sky". Davide Maggio (in Italian). 1 May 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  40. ^ "Su Sky arriva Disney Jr., canale dedicato ai bambini in età prescolare". primaonline.it (in Italian).
  41. ^ "Su Sky dal 1° Dicembre arriva Disney Jr". Sky Group (in Italian). 26 November 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  42. ^ "Disney torna sulla piattaforma Sky: dal 1° dicembre arriva Disney Jr". Engage (in Italian). 26 November 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  43. ^ "I canali Disney tornano su Sky: dal 1° dicembre si parte con Disney Jr". Fanpage.it (in Italian). 27 November 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  44. ^ "Does the new Disney Junior logo take simplification too far?". Creative Bloq. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
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