| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Australia New Zealand (2005–2019) Pacific Islands |
| Headquarters | Richmond, Victoria |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | The Walt Disney Company (Australia) Disney Channels Worldwide (Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International) |
| Sister channels | Disney Channel (1996–2020) Disney XD (2014–2019) |
| History | |
| Launched | 5 December 2005; 19 years ago (2005-12-05)[1] |
| Closed | 30 April 2020; 5 years ago (2020-04-30) |
| Former names | Playhouse Disney (2005–2012) |
Disney Junior was an Australianpay television channel owned and operated byThe Walt Disney Company in Australia and was the sister network of theflagship propertyDisney Channel. The channel was originally launched in 2005 as Playhouse Disney, with programming targeted towards children aged 2 to 7, as well as their families, with original series andmovies. The channel was relaunched as Disney Junior on 29 May 2011.[2]
The channel'sprogramming is composed of original animatedtelevision series sourced fromDisney Junior in theUnited States, as well as screenings ofDisney's theatrical releases and other acquired programming.
After indications that Disney Channel and Disney Junior would close in early 2020 due to the launch ofDisney+ and expiring contracts, Foxtel advised that negotiations with Disney were continuing to keep broadcasting the networks.[3] However, Sky confirmed that both channels would close in New Zealand from 30 November 2019.[4][5] Foxtel confirmed that the channels would be leaving their service at the end of February 2020, and on Fetch TV on 30 April.[6]
Disney Junior'sprogramming schedule mainly consisted ofanimated series forchildren, sourced fromDisney Junior in theUnited States. Titles airing in the 2010s have includedMickey Mouse Clubhouse andJake and the Never Land Pirates.[2][7]
Disney Junior's schedule also included internationally produced series acquired byDisney Channel Worldwide, includingPJ Masks,Claude,Gigantosaurus,Bluey,101 Dalmatian Street andGo Away, Unicorn!.[8][9][10][11]
The channel aired event screenings ofDisney's theatrical releases, includingMickey's Once Upon a Christmas.[12]
Disney Junior Australia had also commissioned and produced original local series, includingThe Book of Once Upon a Time, which featured Australian voices reading classic and contemporary Disney stories.[13] The network also debutedAlphabet Street in 2019.[14]