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Disney Junior debuts on DirecTV Saturday July 14

23K views 115 replies 50 participants last post by  tonyd79 
#1 ·
Here's some good news for some in the midst of the Viacom dispute. Disney Junior is coming to DirecTV. Hopefully Disney Junior will add more classic Playhouse Disney shows like Bear in the Big Blue House in the near future.

It will be interesting to see what DirecTV packages get Disney Junior. Hopefully grandfathered Choice Xtra Classic customers will see the addition as well.


Disney Junior will Launch Saturday, July 14 to Millions of DIRECTV Customers Nationwide


BURBANK and EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 13, 2012 - DIRECTV and Disney have reached a new agreement to add Disney Junior, a 24-hour channel expressly for kids age 2-7 and their parents/caregivers, to DIRECTV's programming lineup beginning tomorrow on channel 289. Disney Junior launched in 2011 as a daytime programming block on Disney Channel and expanded to a 24/7 channel in 2012. It is one of the most sought after channels by DIRECTV customers and will be permanently added to their programming options as a basic channel.

Disney Junior's animated and live action programming blends Disney's unparalleled storytelling and beloved characters with learning components, including early math and language skills, as well as healthy eating and lifestyles, with an emphasis on social and emotional development. The original series include "Jake and the Never Land Pirates," "Doc McStuffins," "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "A Poem Is…," "Handy Manny," "Little Einsteins" and "Special Agent Oso." Disney Junior also airs Walt Disney Studios' and Pixar's classic and contemporary animated films, as well as Disney's many non-theatrical sequels so popular with children and parents.

"When it comes to children and families, nobody has the tremendous programming to compare with Disney," said Derek Chang, executive vice president of Content Strategy and Development for DIRECTV. "Our customers have been clamoring for us to add Disney Junior since they first heard about the concept, and DIRECTV is happy to place our trust in Disney as a partner in building this exciting new family service."

"We are pleased to reach this agreement with DIRECTV to provide Disney Junior's high quality, valuable and family-friendly programming to their customers," said David Preschlack, executive vice president, Disney & ESPN Affiliate Sales and Marketing. "We know parents are passionate about having top quality television options for their families, and now millions will be able to watch outstanding preschool programming on a 24/7 channel unlike any other on television. With the addition of DIRECTV, the 24-hour Disney Junior channel has distribution agreements that cover approximately 55 million U.S. households." Disney Media Networks' flagship Disney Channel is fast becoming the most popular programming service among DIRECTV homes. The number of children viewers aged 2 through 11 has surged more than 19 percent in the past year alone, and total viewership has increased 15 percent during those same 12 months. Disney Junior will now take a place in the DIRECTV channel guide directly adjacent to Disney Channel at channel 289.

http://news.directv.com/2012/07/13/...-to-millions-of-directv-customers-nationwide/
 
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#28 ·
iceburg02 said:
Given the current DIRECTV/Viacom donnybrook, I'm not sure I would have used the phrase "permanently added" in a press release. :)
I believe that Dish has in the past added channels temporarily during their disputes and then taken them away when the contract is settled. So this may be Directv's way of emphasizing that Disney Jr is here to stay and won't disappear if/when things are worked out with Viacom.

The other interesting thing to note here is just how quickly Directv was able to get Disney Jr. on the air. In the HD anticipation thread we occasionally have posts like, "these contract negotiations are so complicated it can take ages for these deals to get worked out." But, apparently, given enough incentive, deals can be cut very quickly.
 
#31 ·
From some of the sources I have read they have been working on this deal for a few months, Maybe in anticipation or maybe because of demand from consumers. I really don't care which way it was, my 4 yo is happy either way.
I would think that is a Permanent addition to the line-up. They said it in the release, where as in the other releases they said they are opening access to hub,sprout..ect.ect..
 
#36 ·
mitchflorida said:
Seriously folks, it is aimed at the 3-7 year old audience. Do you think little kids care that it is isn't HD? Let them save the bandwidth for something good like NatGeo Wild.
I'm, frankly, disappointed and confused as to why, in this day and age, DirecTV would even bother adding a channel that IS available in HD (and Disney Junior is) in SD only. C'mon, this isn't 2005.

While I have some understanding of them not being able to (or deciding not to, for whatever reasons) negotiate for the HD feed on existing SD channels. Why on Earth, as policy (kids' channel, or no), would they negotiate a new channel add and NOT have it be in HD? That should be the default!

And, by the way, my just-turned five-year-old checked out Disney Jr. this morning and said, "I don't like this new channel, cause the shows are too small." (And this is while it was playing on of his favorite shows.) So, yeah, some of them do have some idea of the difference.

Plus, on a serious aesthetic note, little looks better in HD than animation, which is the bulk of Disney Jr's programming.
 
#37 ·
I ask this in all seriousness and with zero snark - does Directv not see HD as anything more than a specialty offering, which they graciously carry, for hardcore technically-oriented subscribers? Is HD seen as a sort of luxury for a fringe demographic?
As those of you above have more-or-less said, it seems almost shocking they'd add a channel that is available in HD in SD. Aside from bandwith issues and such, it's kind of a slap in the face, regardless of the channel's content and intended audience. As was pointed out, animation is stunning in HD, and yet it was passed up. Do they not "get" HD? They've been adding HD basics in a glacial and agonizingly slow way in a time when HD is the wave of the future. What does this tell us?
 
#38 ·
RML81 said:
I ask this in all seriousness and with zero snark - does Directv not see HD as anything more than a specialty offering, which they graciously carry, for hardcore technically-oriented subscribers? Is HD seen as a sort of luxury for a fringe demographic?
As those of you above have more-or-less said, it seems almost shocking they'd add a channel that is available in HD in SD. Aside from bandwith issues and such, it's kind of a slap in the face, regardless of the channel's content and intended audience. As was pointed out, animation is stunning in HD, and yet it was passed up. Do they not "get" HD? They've been adding HD basics in a glacial and agonizingly slow way in a time when HD is the wave of the future. What does this tell us?
Reasonable question (with some snark but very little).

Only those inside would know the answer but I know it is not limited to DirecTV. Other systems have SD channels that are available in HD and Fios has added SD only in recent months (and hasn't added any HD in quite some time).

We hear conflicting reports of if the HD channels are available within the current contracts or they are not. Probably depends on the channel. Maybe some cannot be added until the contract is up. Maybe some are not worth the investement in equipment.

Whatever the reason, HD as default is far from a done deal for any system. It will be nice when it is.
 
#39 ·
mitchflorida said:
Seriously folks, it is aimed at the 3-7 year old audience. Do you think little kids care that it is isn't HD? Let them save the bandwidth for something good like NatGeo Wild.
My kids have been totally spoiled by technology. They are 5 and 7 and have problems watching anything that is SD or has commercials. I appreciate the effort by D* but see it for what it is. Another channel added that My family and myself will just skip over because it's in SD.
 
#40 ·
mhayes70 said:
I would like to have it in HD also. But, my son doesn't care if it's HD or SD like adults do. So it makes no difference to me.

It will be nice if HD it added in the future.
Glad it is in SD for me as in recording the movie tonight and Lilo and Stitch and 101 Dalmantions early Sunday Morning as my space on my DVR is at 14 percent and probably 11 percent after taping Richie Rich on ABC Family this morning.
 
#42 ·
"dxtrfn80" said:
Glad it is in SD for me as in recording the movie tonight and Lilo and Stitch and 101 Dalmantions early Sunday Morning as my space on my DVR is at 14 percent and probably 11 percent after taping Richie Rich on ABC Family this morning.
Of course, all but the HD extra pack channels are available in non-glorious SD, so you'd have it either way.
 
#43 ·
susanandmark said:
I'm, frankly, disappointed and confused as to why, in this day and age, DirecTV would even bother adding a channel that IS available in HD (and Disney Junior is) in SD only. C'mon, this isn't 2005.

While I have some understanding of them not being able to (or deciding not to, for whatever reasons) negotiate for the HD feed on existing SD channels. Why on Earth, as policy (kids' channel, or no), would they negotiate a new channel add and NOT have it be in HD? That should be the default!

And, by the way, my just-turned five-year-old checked out Disney Jr. this morning and said, "I don't like this new channel, cause the shows are too small." (And this is while it was playing on of his favorite shows.) So, yeah, some of them do have some idea of the difference.

Plus, on a serious aesthetic note, little looks better in HD than animation, which is the bulk of Disney Jr's programming.
Disney Junior not in HD on DirecTV: incorrect decision and poor strategy from programming execs at DirecTV. It makes me wonder even more about the behind-the-scenes machinations with the company's dispute with Viacom.
 
#44 ·
Barmat said:
My kids have been totally spoiled by technology. They are 5 and 7 and have problems watching anything that is SD or has commercials. I appreciate the effort by D* but see it for what it is. Another channel added that My family and myself will just skip over because it's in SD.
If that is how your kids think about SD it is only because you have prompted them to feel that. You are taking orders from a 5 year old?
 
#45 ·
RML81 said:
I ask this in all seriousness and with zero snark - does Directv not see HD as anything more than a specialty offering, which they graciously carry, for hardcore technically-oriented subscribers? Is HD seen as a sort of luxury for a fringe demographic?
As those of you above have more-or-less said, it seems almost shocking they'd add a channel that is available in HD in SD. Aside from bandwith issues and such, it's kind of a slap in the face, regardless of the channel's content and intended audience. As was pointed out, animation is stunning in HD, and yet it was passed up. Do they not "get" HD? They've been adding HD basics in a glacial and agonizingly slow way in a time when HD is the wave of the future. What does this tell us?
In equal seriousness and no snark, we've talked about this ad nauseum here for the last year plus. They DO NOT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH. It's not like DTV doesn't know HD is the future. Heck, they are the one that deployed it en masse before anyone else, but HD capacity is not a inifinite resource.

If they didn't have NFL Sunday Ticket, they would have a minimum of 20 additional HD channels, but they do have NFL Sunday Ticket (Thank God) and that's the tradeoff.

They are building out more capacity through compression techniques, but that costs a lot of money for very little return (people aren't leaving DTV because they don't have GSN in HD). Their next satellite will bring a ton of new HD capacity, but until then it will be probably more like 6 to 8 HD channels a year due to the cost.

The other part that people here continue to neglect, most of their subscribers still have SD boxes. This is just reality. Don't ask how I know this, I know it just as I said last Sunday that a Viacom dispute was about to start (a clear 24 hours before it did). I've been in this business for many years and know a few people. ;)
 
#46 ·
APB101 said:
Disney Junior not in HD on DirecTV: incorrect decision and poor strategy from programming execs at DirecTV. It makes me wonder even more about the behind-the-scenes machinations with the company's dispute with Viacom.
In your opinion, but if you see the response DTV is getting on their Facebook page on Disney Jr, you are in the minority on this.

From what I've heard from friends at DTV, churn from Viacom has been extremely low, much lower than they expected. This may go on awhile. Meanwhile, Viacom in their brilliance is allowing a lot of people to forget about their content (which isn't that good) the longer this goes on while people find something else to watch. Taking down their streaming content may have been one of the dumber things I have seen in this whole thing and I've seen some beauties in 20+ years in this business.
 
#47 ·
ChicagoBlue said:
In your opinion, but if you see the response DTV is getting on their Facebook page on Disney Jr, you are in the minority on this.
Facebook participants also are expressing an opinion. Also the case with you. And whether I'm in the minority, as you claim, doesn't deter me from expressing here that DirecTV should have made an agreement with ABC/Disney to bring in the high-definition (not merely the SD) feed of Disney Junior.

…
Meanwhile, Viacom in their brilliance…
Not "brilliance," but greed.

… is allowing a lot of people to forget about their content (which isn't that good) the longer this goes on…
It's not believable to state that people will just "forget" about the programming content they enjoy on Viacom's channels. (Example: regular viewership of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report.)

… [Viacom taking] down their streaming content may have been one of the dumber things…
It is Viacom f***ing with DirecTV in effort to break down the satcaster's will in refraining from agreeing to a contract it apparently does not want.
 
#48 ·
ChicagoBlue said:
In equal seriousness and no snark, we've talked about this ad nauseum here for the last year plus. They DO NOT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH. It's not like DTV doesn't know HD is the future. Heck, they are the one that deployed it en masse before anyone else, but HD capacity is not a inifinite resource.

If they didn't have NFL Sunday Ticket, they would have a minimum of 20 additional HD channels, but they do have NFL Sunday Ticket (Thank God) and that's the tradeoff.

They are building out more capacity through compression techniques, but that costs a lot of money for very little return (people aren't leaving DTV because they don't have GSN in HD). Their next satellite will bring a ton of new HD capacity, but until then it will be probably more like 6 to 8 HD channels a year due to the cost.

The other part that people here continue to neglect, most of their subscribers still have SD boxes. This is just reality. Don't ask how I know this, I know it just as I said last Sunday that a Viacom dispute was about to start (a clear 24 hours before it did). I've been in this business for many years and know a few people. ;)
well maybe they where planing Disney Junior hd and the lost of Viacom push up the start date and HD was not ready.
 
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