The first and original incarnation of Walt Disney Television was an American production company and the original/former television production division of the Walt Disney Company , which was active from 1983 to 2003.
70-485: Productions from this division were broadcast mostly on Disney Channel , Disney Junior , Disney XD and ABC . Majority of productions from this division are a plethora of animated series and a notable live-action series named Smart Guy , the latter which ran for three seasons on The WB from 1997 to 1999. In 2003, its animation division, then known as Walt Disney Television Animation (currently just Disney Television Animation ) spun-out as its own subsidiary within
140-719: A National Hockey League (NHL) game—known as the Big City Greens Classic— as part of ESPN's coverage of the league . The broadcast was themed around the Disney Channel animated series Big City Greens , visualizing data from the league's player and puck tracking system with 3D animated players. Disney Jr. is a daily morning program block aimed at preschoolers, spiritually succeeding Playhouse Disney which launched on April 6, 1997, as part of Disney Channel's morning lineup. On May 26, 2010, Disney-ABC Television Group (now Walt Disney Television ) announced
210-431: A base of more than 611,000 subscribers by December of that year. In October 1983, the channel debuted its first made-for-cable movie, Tiger Town , which earned the channel a CableACE Award . The channel had reached profitability by January 1985, with its programming reaching 1.75 million subscribers by that point. In September 1990, TCI 's Montgomery , Alabama , system became the first cable provider to carry
280-581: A basic cable record for the single most-watched television program until December 3, 2007, when corporate sister channel, ESPN , surpassed it with the telecast of an NFL game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens on its Monday Night Football programme by 0.3 million viewers more (17.5 million viewers). The Cheetah Girls media franchise was also notably successful in terms of merchandise and sales for its concert tours and soundtrack albums. Its debut film from 2003, being
350-403: A celebrity or figure from one of its programs holding a wand and drawing the then-current form of the Disney Channel logo on the screen. This celebrity will introduce their name, the program they are featured on, and finish with the line "And you're watching Disney Channel." Dubbed a 'Wand ID' by fans, this format typically ends in a variation of the mnemonic. For a period, ESPN 's broadcasts of
420-427: A localized channel feed already exists in that country. Some critics disapprove of the Disney Channel marketing strategy led by Anne Sweeney , president of the Disney Channel from 1996 to 2014. Under Sweeney, the Disney Channel's programming was geared mainly towards preteen and teenage girls, with a decrease in animated programming. Criticism was also aimed at removing almost all Walt-era and pre-1990s material from
490-513: A plot against the governor of California, an encounter with an American " mountain man " ( Jeff York , reprising a role from The Saga of Andy Burnett ), and outwitting a greedy emissary from Spain. The main exterior sets (the plaza, the cuartel, the tavern, etc.) were built in the Disney backlot in Burbank, California, while Don Diego's hacienda was built in a soundstage. Some scenes were shot at
560-577: A practical joker who is also interested in Ana Maria. Ana Maria is in love with Zorro. While in Monterey, Zorro and Sergeant García also get involved in a dispute between the people and a repressive Lieutenant Governor. At the end of the Monterey Arc, Diego/Zorro is on the verge of giving up his mask to marry Ana Maria, but Don Alejandro talks him out of it, revealing that he had figured out his son
630-475: A production company for television programs. The following year, it signed a production agreement with CBS to bring anthology series to the network, and the addition of producing new original programs. Disney had broken its 23-year streak of producing anthology series only in order to produce its first TV show since Zorro' s cancellation in 1982, Herbie the Love Bug , which only lasted one season on CBS. This
700-502: Is High School Musical 2 , which debuted on August 17, 2007, to 17.2 million viewers and set a current longstanding record for the highest-rated television premiere in the history of the channel. Following High School Musical 2 , the movie that had the second highest-rated Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) premiere was Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie , followed by Camp Rock , Descendants 2 , Princess Protection Program , Teen Beach Movie , and Jump In! . It also set
770-501: Is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television , a unit of the Disney Entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company . Launched on April 18, 1983, under the name The Disney Channel as a premium channel on top of basic cable television systems, it originally showcased programming towards families due to availability of home television sets locally at
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#1732772218319840-403: Is now a unit of Disney Channels Worldwide ) until 2003, when Disney later merged the television production company with the television animation division and Touchstone Television (now ABC Signature) Disney Telefilms (DTF), or Walt Disney Telefilms, was a TV film production company and a division of Walt Disney Television. The division provided movies for The Wonderful World of Disney . With
910-716: Is said that the "XD" in the channel's name does not have an actual meaning. Also known by its trade name, " Disney Channel Animation ", it is the television animation production studio division of The Walt Disney Studios and based in Glendale, California , providing original animated programming for the three main Disney-branded children's channels. A live-action production studio based in Studio City, Los Angeles , California , that provides original sitcoms and comedy programs primary for Disney Channel. Despite being
980-499: Is when they stopped using the "Premiere Films" label and renamed it the " Disney Channel Original Movies " (DCOM) thereafter. The first movie to be released under the Disney Channel Original Movie category was Under Wraps , a Halloween themed movie that aired for the first time on Disney Channel on October 25, 1997. The most successful original film under the banner in terms of popularity and accolades
1050-568: The Little League World Series baseball tournament frequently featured cross-promotion with music-related Disney Channel properties, with past editions having featured collaborations with High School Musical , the Jonas Brothers , Camp Rock , and Phineas and Ferb . In March 2023, Disney Channel broadcast a live professional sporting event for the first time, carrying a youth-oriented alternate broadcast of
1120-461: The blind . This is accompanied by an on-screen mark at the beginning of certain scheduled programming indicating to viewers that the service is available. Some episodes of Gravity Falls , Austin and Ally , Good Luck Charlie , and Phineas and Ferb show the AD))) mark and a 2-tone sound repeated 3 times at the beginning of the episode to give notice of the audio description track available through
1190-573: The 1930s, Walt Disney changed his mind seeing television at least as a promotional tool. Most studios were generating revenue by selling off their permanent television rights to their films made before 1948, while Disney held on to the company's film rights. Thus Walt Disney Productions was the first of the film industry, which saw television as an adversary, to enter the television production field. Walt Disney Productions did an hour-long special on Christmas Day 1950 for NBC then in 1951 for CBS . The specials used Disney film clips, short films and promoted
1260-615: The Disney Ranch and at Mission San Luis Rey near Oceanside, where an archway was added to an existing structure. The show was very popular, especially with children. Its theme song (written by Norman Foster and George Bruns and first recorded by the Mellomen ) was a hit recording for The Chordettes , peaking at #17 on the Hit Parade . Children inspired by the series produced "Z" graffiti on school desks and walls across
1330-653: The Disney Studios to the ABC Television Network to merge with ABC's primetime division, ABC Entertainment, forming the ABC Entertainment Television Group. Walt Disney Television Studios was later merged into Touchstone Television (became ABC Studios, now known as ABC Signature ) in 2000, while its name continued to be used on new cartoons from Walt Disney Television Animation (now Disney Television Animation , which
1400-842: The SAP feed. Disney Junior displays the AD)) mark and the intended SAP track on newer episodes of Little Einsteins . (ABC positions this mark in the bottom-left corner of the screen.) Disney Channel has established presence in various regions across the Americas, most of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and Japan. Channels were also available in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey, but ceased broadcast in
1470-622: The Telefilms unit. Mike Karz, a former vice president of Mandeville Films , signed a first look deal with the company through his shingle, Karz Entertainment, based at Walt Disney Studios in May 1997. On September 28, 1997, the division launched the anthology show. The division produced 17 films in nine months while it only expected to provide 16 movies. On October 5, 1997, Disney Telefilms' first production, Toothless , debuted on The Wonderful World of Disney . The Walt Disney Television group, upon
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#17327722183191540-577: The United States. Despite good ratings (#30 in Season 1 with a 26.6 rating), the series ended after two seasons due to a financial dispute between Disney and the network over ownership of Zorro , Mickey Mouse Club , and the Disney anthology television series (at the time titled Disneyland ). During the legal battle, Disney produced four new hour-long Zorro adventures of the franchise, aired on
1610-580: The United States—down from its peak of 100 million households in 2011. The channel's international footprint , once encompassing 46 channels available in 33 languages, has also diminished in parts of Europe and most of the Asia-Pacific due to the launch of Disney+ and competition from other streaming and social media platforms. Disney Channel launched nationally as a premium channel at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 18, 1983, under
1680-452: The anthology series: Zorro: El Bandido (October 30, 1960); Zorro: Adios El Cuchillo (November 6, 1960); Zorro: The Postponed Wedding (January 1, 1961); and Zorro: Auld Acquaintance (April 2, 1961). Guy Williams was kept on full salary during this period. By the time Disney and ABC resolved their differences, Walt Disney decided that public interest in the character had flagged. Disney continued to pay $ 3,500 per year until 1967 to retain
1750-575: The banner Walt Disney Presents: Zorro and the artwork reflected the way the characters looked in the TV version. The Disney: Zorro comics were drawn by Alex Toth . In the Netherlands Hans G. Kresse also drew a comic strip version based on this particular TV series. Two film compilations from the series were released theatrically: In this film, edited from eight episodes of Disney's hit TV series, Don Diego returns home to find his town under
1820-592: The banner of the parent company, then named Walt Disney Productions . Disney made its firsts in 1985, which are Wildside , which is produced under the Touchstone Films label (later Touchstone Television, ABC Studios, and ABC Signature ), and two animated cartoons The Wuzzles on CBS and Adventures of the Gummi Bears on NBC. In August 1994, with the departure of Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg , its filmed entertainment business
1890-575: The channel also maintains rights to films from other studios. Some films released by Bagdasarian Productions (such as The Chipmunk Adventure and Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein ) have also aired on Disney Channel, although most of them are not currently owned by any of The Walt Disney Company's divisions. In between regularly scheduled programming and advertisement breaks, Disney Channel features bumpers . These bumpers have varied in content substantially throughout
1960-418: The channel as a basic cable service. Between 1991 and 1996, a steadily increasing number of cable providers began shifting The Disney Channel from a premium add-on offering to their basic tiers, either experimentally or on a full-time basis; however, Walt Disney Company executives denied any plans to convert the channel into an ad-supported basic service, stating that the premium-to-basic shifts on some providers
2030-613: The channel in 2002 with the removal of the late-night "Vault Disney" block devoted to this material, which used to make up the majority of the channel's programming since its inception in 1983. In 2008, Sweeney explained that Disney Channel, resulting from its multi-platform marketing strategy using television and music, would become "the major profit driver for the [Walt Disney] Company." The channel has also pulled (and sometimes re-shot) episodes that have featured subject matter deemed inappropriate for its target audience, due either to humor or to timing of real-life events. On June 13, 2023,
2100-619: The channel space held by Soapnet – a Disney-owned cable channel featuring soap operas – due to that genre's decline in popularity on broadcast television and the growth of video on demand , online streaming , and digital video recorders negating the need for a linear channel devoted to the soap opera genre. After a period during which cable providers unwilling to drop the network immediately retained it to prevent subscriber cancellations, Soapnet ceased all operations on December 31, 2013. The former Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel rebranded as Disney Junior on February 14, 2011, along with
2170-469: The channel's various program franchises, including Kim Possible and Hannah Montana . In June 2012, The Walt Disney Company announced that it would stop advertising or promoting food or beverage products that do not meet strict nutritional guidelines. Disney Channel purportedly became the first media company to take such a stance on stopping the marketing of junk food products to kids. Due to its commercial-free format, such advertising appears only in
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2240-507: The colonial capital of Alta California . The authorities are worried that privately collected money to bring a supply ship to California is repeatedly diverted to a gang of bandits. Diego stays to investigate, both as a civilian, and as the masked Zorro. He becomes interested in Ana Maria Verdugo, a daughter of the man organizing the effort. Once Zorro defeats the thieves, he enters into a rivalry with his old friend Ricardo del Amo,
2310-580: The departure of Dean Valentine in September 1997, was split into two units: Walt Disney Television (WDT) and Walt Disney Network Television (WDNT). WDT would be headed by Hirschhorn as president and consisted of Disney Telefilms and Walt Disney Television Animation , including Disney MovieToons/Disney Video Premiere . Leah Keith and Peter Green were promoted to production vice presidents for the division in March 1998. Disney Channel Disney Channel
2380-527: The early 2020s, with most content moving to Disney+ or Disney+ Hotstar . On December 14, 2022, Disney ceased its distribution of programs in Russia in response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine . Disney Channel also licenses its programming to air on certain other broadcast and cable channels outside the United States (formerly including Family Channel in Canada), regardless of whether or not
2450-694: The entire Monastario storyline and the beginning of the Magistrado Galindo storyline. Three more volumes soon followed, completing the season, which was then reissued as a boxed set entitled Zorro, the Complete First Season . All of the DVDs were only available from the Disney Movie Club. Each volume contains the 1992 colorized version of about eight episodes. No special features are included. The Disney Movie Club released
2520-582: The existing international channels. Disney-ABC Television Group once planned to launch a Playhouse Disney Channel in the United States in 2001, however it never happened despite launching internationally. Launched on February 13, 2009, as the successor to Toon Disney, Disney XD is a cable and satellite television channel which was originally aimed at young male audiences aged 6 to 14, but has since included girls in its programming. The channel showcases action and comedy programming from Disney Channel and
2590-588: The expansion of the block in to a 24/7 cable and satellite channel which debuted on March 23, 2012. The channel would be commercial-free channel and compete with other preschooler-skewing cable channels such as the Nick Jr. Channel and Sprout (now Universal Kids ). The channel features programs from Disney Channel's existing preschool programming library and films/movies from the Walt Disney Pictures film library. On its launch, Disney Junior took over
2660-902: The first Disney Channel original musical television film, premiered to over 84 million global viewers and its sequel premiered to 8.1 million American viewers and in the process became the most successful of the film series. An 86-date concert tour featuring the eponymous girl group was ranked as one of the top 10 concert tours of 2006, smashing the record at the Houston Rodeo previously set by Elvis Presley in 1973, selling out with 73,500 tickets in three minutes at one point. In addition to its original television films, Disney Channel has rights to theatrically released feature films, with some film rights shared with sister network, Freeform . Alongside films released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (mainly consisting of releases from Walt Disney Pictures , Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar ),
2730-469: The form of underwriter sponsorships during promotional breaks. On July 1, 2012, Disney Channel began providing Descriptive Video Service audio in compliance with the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which required network owned-and-operated stations and affiliates in the 25 largest television markets as well as the five highest-rated cable and satellite channels (including Disney Channel) to offer audio descriptions for
2800-414: The former Jetix block from Toon Disney, alongside some first-run original programming and off-network syndicated shows. Disney XD, unlike its sister channels Disney Channel and Disney Junior, operates as an ad-supported service, similar to its predecessor Toon Disney. The channel carries the same name as an unrelated mini-site and media player on Disney.com , which stood for Disney Xtreme Digital , though it
2870-424: The history of the channel, created using a broad array of artistic methods such as traditional animation , digital animation , claymation , live action , and puppeteering . They have been praised for their high quality composition and ingenuity. However, they became especially iconic in September 2002, when Disney Channel underwent a major rebranding, including in its bumpers and logo. These bumpers highlighted
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2940-504: The iconic 'mouse ears' logo throughout them, featuring various videos that culminated in both the appearance of the logo, alongside a newly introduced theme song, which is regarded as its most recognizable and is still used to this day. This theme song consists of a four-note mnemonic jingle composed by the late Alex Lasarenko, former executive of Tonal Sounds and creative director at Elias Arts . In addition to its logo and jingle, Disney Channel's most recognizable bumper format consists of
3010-708: The larger Disney conglomerate, with an acquired production company, It's a Laugh Productions , taking over its operations for live-action productions. Walt Disney Television itself was absorbed into the first incarnation of Touchstone Television, which changed names to ABC Studios in 2007, ABC Signature Studios in 2013 and currently ABC Signature since 2020. Following the completed acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, Disney returned to using this name for its combined television segment for 2 years before they subtly changed name to Disney General Entertainment Content , with Disney Television Studios established on May 15, 2019. While initially not interest in television back in
3080-439: The name The Disney Channel . The channel's development with help from its founding president Alan Wagner , and formally announced the launch of its family-oriented cable channel in early 1983. The channel – which initially maintained a 16-hour-per-day programming schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time – would become available on cable providers in all 50 U.S. states by September 1983, and accrue
3150-530: The opening sequence of the series Primos , which premiered on the Disney Channel in July 2024, was released by Disney Branded Television , with a mixed reception to the sequence on social media , including from Latinos and Mexicans . Some viewers argued that the sequence had various negative stereotypes , complained about names of some characters, and claimed the Spanish pronunciation of some characters in
3220-642: The prime production source of Disney Channel shows, many of its projects are still co-produced and financed by The Walt Disney Company . Walt Disney EMEA Productions Limited is the network's European production studio located in London , England, which co-produces original programs within Europe alongside other companies. Disney Original Documentary is a banner from Disney Branded Television for documentary -based programs broadcast on Disney Channel and released on Disney+. In 2010, Disney Channel All Star Party
3290-621: The purchase of Capital Cities/ABC Inc. , Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted to relaunch The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC in 1996 with a movie franchise. Walt Disney Telefilms was formed to produce films for the anthology TV series by 1995. Leah Keith was transferred from Walt Disney Pictures that year to the telefilms division. Hollywood Pictures executive vice president Charles Hirschhorn oversaw Walt Disney Telefilms as president in June 1996, reporting to Dean Valentine, president of Walt Disney Television and Walt Disney Television Animation , for
3360-511: The role of Andy Sherman, appeared on Zorro in the role of Pogo Bastinado in the episodes "The Well of Death" and "The Cross of the Andes" in May 1958. George J. Lewis, who portrayed Diego's father Don Alejandro, had previously appeared in the 1944 serial Zorro's Black Whip as Vic Gordon, an ally of the Black Whip. In 1983 a comedy follow-up, Zorro and Son , aired on CBS . The series
3430-504: The same shot with the Mouseketeers. Zorro explains who he is, and coyly answers the question of whether he is "real". Williams and other key cast members also made a number of live appearances at Disneyland in 1958. Some of their shows involved Zorro and Monastario battling each other on the rooftops of Frontierland . Robert L. Crawford Jr. , brother of Mouseketeer Johnny Crawford , prior to being cast on NBC 's Laramie in
3500-617: The second season in a boxed set, also consisting of five volumes and also colorized. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 on November 3, 2009, under their Walt Disney Treasures banner featuring several bonus features. It was available for a limited time, before entering moratorium and put back in the Disney Vault along with the other Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets. The following international regions are available: Disney+ released
3570-574: The second storyline, Zorro must uncover and counter Magistrado Carlos Galindo, who is part of a conspiracy to take over rule of California. The third story arc concerns the leader of that conspiracy, José Sebastián de Varga, a shadowy figure known as "The Eagle". It is revealed that Varga intends to make a huge profit by turning California over to another country, which had its own interests on the West Coast . Season two opens with Diego in Monterey ,
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#17327722183193640-463: The sequence was incorrect. Zorro (1957 TV series) Zorro (also known as Disney's Zorro ) is an American action-adventure Spanish Western television series produced by Walt Disney Productions and starring Guy Williams . Based on the Zorro character created by Johnston McCulley in his 1919 novella, the series premiered on October 10, 1957, on ABC . The final network broadcast
3710-428: The series from January 5, 2015, to December 31, 2016. Reruns of this series began airing on Grit (TV network) September 1, 2024. Several compilations from the series were issued on VHS over the years, but are now out of print. It was released on video in 1985 and 1993. They are as follows: VHS television episodes Two volumes from season one of Zorro were released on DVD in the United States in 2006, representing
3780-487: The series garnered Disney its first Emmy Award. The series quickly became ABC's first series to hit the top 20 in ratings. Disney's entry into television impacted the television industry as the Disney anthology show marked a move from live to filmed delivery of television shows. Filming made it possible for higher production value. Also, a couple of the major film studios copied the show's format with MGM Parade and Warner Bros. Presents . Both shows did not last. With
3850-574: The series on October 5, 2022. It does have the movie The Sign of Zorro made from some of its episodes on November 12. Guy Williams was introduced to the Disney audience as Zorro in a segment of the Disney anthology television series , The Fourth Anniversary Show . During this episode, which starred the Mouseketeers and featured upcoming shows, Moochie ( Kevin Corcoran ) repeatedly asks Walt Disney , "What about Zorro?" Zorro appears, but not in
3920-434: The series' "Davy Crockett" episodes generating high sale of merchandise, Disney Productions produced The Mickey Mouse Club , the first youth audience television program and a daily afternoon show. In 1957, Disney was producing the series Zorro . It lasted until 1959. In 1961, Disney severed its terms with ABC and moved its weekly program to NBC, where it stayed for nearly 20 years until 1981. For years, its anthology series
3990-425: The television rights. Reruns of the series aired on The Disney Channel starting the day the channel launched on April 18, 1983. These continued until September 9, 2002. The 1957–1959 episodes were colorized in 1992. For a time they appeared in that format on The Disney Channel and elsewhere, often alternating with the original black-and-white versions. The series aired for ten years. Cozi TV aired reruns of
4060-424: The time. Since 1997, as just Disney Channel , its programming has shifted focus to target mainly children and adolescents ages 6–14. The channel showcases original first-run children's television series , theatrically-released and original television films and other selected third-party programming. As of November 2023 , Disney Channel is available to approximately 70 million pay television households in
4130-546: The upcoming Alice in Wonderland theatrical film. Both specials had excellent ratings. The networks pursued Disney to do a full series for them. Disney used this interest in a series to request funding for Disneyland , which the newly merged American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres did for its American Broadcasting Company (ABC) with the airing of the Disneyland anthology series . The "Operation Undersea" episode of
4200-518: Was Disney's lone program on network television. In 1972, it collaborated with the NBC owned-and-operated stations group to launch The Mouse Factory . It didn't last long, and it was canned in 1973. In 1975, Disney launched a partnership with SFM Media Service Corporation to distribute The Mickey Mouse Club onto syndication starting in 1975, leading up to new episodes in 1977. In 1980, Disney severed its exclusive deal with NBC, and jumped into line as
4270-529: Was July 2, 1959. Seventy-eight episodes were produced, and four hour-long specials were aired on the Walt Disney anthology series between October 30, 1960, and April 2, 1961. The series is set in Los Angeles of 1820, when it was still part of Spanish California and before Mexican independence . Zorro aids Hispanic settlers and indigenous peoples oppressed by the rulers. A remastering, in which color
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#17327722183194340-468: Was Zorro some time ago and convinces Diego that the people still need Zorro. Zorro (and Diego) says goodbye to Ana Maria and returns to Los Angeles, where he gets involved in a series of shorter adventures. In one three-episode story arc, guest-starring Annette Funicello , Zorro must solve the mystery of Anita Cabrillo's father, a man who does not seem to exist. Other storylines late in the series involve Diego's ne'er-do-well uncle (played by Cesar Romero ),
4410-617: Was added, was released in 1992. For most of its run, Zorro' s episodes were part of continuing story arcs , each about thirteen episodes long. It had a structure similar to a serial . The first of these chronicles the emergence of Zorro / Diego to California in 1820, having returned from studying in Spain at the behest of his father, Don Alejandro, to help depose the greedy and cruel local Comandante, Captain Enrique Sánchez Monastario. After Monastario's final defeat, in
4480-437: Was also named president of Touchstone Television . In March 1998, WDNT was placed under Buena Vista TV Productions, a newly formed group under chairman Lloyd Braun , along with Touchstone Television. in June 1998, Neuman left as did his top two executives due to this reorganization. In late 1999, Walt Disney Television Studios (also called Buena Vista Television Group or Buena Vista Television Productions), were transferred from
4550-514: Was followed by three short-lived sitcoms produced Gun Shy , Small & Frye and Zorro and Son , which also aired on CBS, but never lasted long, which led to the demise of the anthology series in 1983. Walt Disney Television was formed in 1983, as the Walt Disney Pictures Television Division , the name was later shortened to Walt Disney Television in 1988. Until 1983, Disney shows were aired under
4620-474: Was part of a five-year "hybrid" strategy that allowed providers to offer the channel in either manner. On April 6, 1997, the channel officially rebranded as Disney Channel , although occasionally marketed as " Disney " from 1997 to 2002. Television films have also been produced for broadcast on Disney Channel since its launch under the banner of Disney Channel Premiere Films , with the first film released being Tiger Town in 1983, until October 1997, which
4690-526: Was released for the Nintendo Wii . The four-player mascot party game, in which the stages resemble board games , features characters from Disney Channel programs such as Sonny with a Chance , Wizards of Waverly Place , and JONAS L.A. Several video games based on the Disney Channel animated series Phineas and Ferb were released by Disney Interactive Studios . The Disney Channel website also featured various Flash games incorporating characters from
4760-489: Was shot in color on many of the same studio lots where the original was filmed. Featuring none of the original cast (Gene Sheldon and Henry Calvin had passed away by then, while Guy Williams walked out after a script dispute), the show performed poorly in the ratings. Comics based on the Zorro character had already appeared before the Disney TV series. When the Disney TV show became popular new comics were published under
4830-577: Was split into two, with Walt Disney Pictures continuing with motion pictures and the newly created Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications for television under Joe Roth and Richard Frank respectively. At the time when Disney merged with Capital Cities/ABC , Disney Television was a part of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications (WDTT). With the retirement of WDTT president Dennis Hightower in April 1996 and ongoing post-merger reorganization, Walt Disney Television (along with its Animation unit)
4900-559: Was transferred back to The Walt Disney Studios. The Walt Disney Television group, upon the departure of its president Dean Valentine in September 1997, was split into two units: Walt Disney Television (WDT) and Walt Disney Network Television (WDNT), reporting to Walt Disney Studios chairman Joe Roth . WDT would be headed by Charles Hirschhorn as president and consisted of Disney Telefilms for ABC, the-direct-to video-unit, and Walt Disney Television Animation . WDNT would handle primetime programming, headed by David Neuman as president. Neuman
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