Disney Channel (Italy)

Disney Channel is an Italian TV channel. Disney Channel Italy also includes a +1 hour timeshift service (Disney Channel +1), a +2 hours timeshift service (Disney Channel +2), a channel for pre-school children (Disney Junior), an English-audio channel with subtitles (Disney in English), and a channel for male teenagers (Disney XD). In December 3, 2011, Disney Cinemagic launched as a block on Sky Cinema Family.

Disney Channel Italia is broadcast live on Sky Go. This application allows the viewer to see live some Sky channels, like FOX, Discovery, and Disney Channel.

History

On July 4, 1998, Disney Channel officially began broadcasting in Italian on Telepiù. The channel used the slogan "Libera la tua Immaginazione". Among the first programs on the channel were classic Disney cartoons, such as Timon & Pumbaa and Aladdin: The Series. It also showed classic Disney films and some Disney Channel Original Movies on "Il Fantastico Mondo Disney" (The Wonderful World of Disney) each evening at 20.30 (8:30pm). A new film was shown every Saturday at the same time slot. In January 1999, Disney Channel Italy launched its original live presentation show: Disney Channel Live (later called Live Zone). In this program, hosted by Isabella Arrigoni and Massimiliano Ossini, viewers interact with the hosts and join games. Other popular programs were Live Zone - Musica, Live Zone - Sport, Live Zone - Da scoprire, Live Zone - Da ridere and Una stella per te (A Star for You).

On November 15, 1999, Disney Channel Italy adopted the new "Circles" logo and idents of Disney Channel UK (created by GÉDÉON) while still keeping the slogan "Free your Imagination".

In 2002, Disney Channel Italy launched two new programs: Quasi Gol and L'ora della magia.

The channel has been available since the beginning on Stream and SKY Italia and even after their mergers.

On May 31, 2003, Disney Channel Italy adopted the American Disney Channel's new logo (designed by CA Square), along with new graphics and idents.

Live Zone ended in September 2003; it was replaced by Prime Time, led by the hosts of Live Zone, Isabella Arrigoni and Massimiliano Ossini. Even programs secondary to Live Zone were replaced by newer ones like Tok, Eta Beta, and Skatenati. An other program was added, Scooter.

On December 24, 2004, Disney introduced Disney Channel +1, where all regular programs from Disney Channel are postponed an hour.

In 2006, almost all live shows were taken off air.

Prime Time got a refresh in September 2005, with a new logo, new computer-generated graphics, and Arrigoni being the voice-over host who presented the programs.

In 2005, Disney Channel Italy launched a new series called Quelli dell'intervallo, which led to the similar versions in the UK, US, Australia and other countries under the title As the Bell Rings. In 2006, Disney Channel Italy began airing many original language series from Disney Channel US.

In February 2007, Prime Time changed its logo once again, and Patrizio Prata became its new voice-over host, although the set design and cartoons remained the same. On May 14, 2007, Prime Time ended and Disney Channel Italy adopted the "Ribbon" graphics of Disney Channel (US).

On October 1, 2011, Disney Channel Italy adopted new "Smartphone App" logo that was introduced in the US in 2010, and began broadcasting in the 16:9 aspect ratio area (reruns of some series still air in the 4:3 aspect ratio).

Since February 1, 2012, Disney Channel Italy began broadcasting in HD.

Programming

Current

• The 7D
• A.N.T. Farm
• Austin & Ally
• Binny and the Ghost
• Dog with a Blog
• Fish Hooks
• Girl Meets World
• Good Luck Charlie
• I Didn't Do It
• Jessie
• Jewelpet
• Liv and Maddie
• Mickey Mouse
• Shake It Up
• SheZow
• Violetta
• Wolfblood

Animated

• The 7D
• Mickey Mouse
• Phineas and Ferb
• Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch
• Sofia the First
• Titeuf
• Phantom Thief Jeanne

Former

References

External links

• Official site