Disney Channel Kuboia

Disney Channel Kuboia was a television channel in Kuboia that aired a mixture of animated and live-action programming for children and teenagers. It was launched on 14th June, 1999, becoming the second Disney-owned television channel in the country after The Walt Disney Network.

The channel closed in the early hours of 4th January, 2021, with its programming moving to subscription service Disney+.

History
The first Disney television channel in Kuboia, The Walt Disney Network, launched in 1996. When Disney Channel Kuboia launched on 14th June, 1999, it focused on television series, whilst The Walt Disney Network aired films.

At launch, the channel aired everyday from 6:00a.m. to 10:00p.m. However, the channel also had a preschool programming block called Disney Channel Playtime, which occupied several of its broadcast hours until it was discontinued on 27th April, 2003. In 2004, the channel started airing every day until midnight.

On 31st January, 2005, Disney Channel Kuboia changed its logo and idents to fit inline with the branding that had been adapted by the international feeds during 2002 and 2003. During this time, the channel began to market itself more towards teenagers rather than strictly children.

A new logo, often referred to as the "Smartphone App" logo, was introduced on 15th April, 2013. It was only used temporarily before another logo was introduced on 16th February, 2015. Later, on 22nd June that same year, Disney Channel Kuboia began airing for 24 hours.

Closure
In June 2020, it was revealed that all Disney channels in Kuboia would close sometime in 2020, but no exact date was given out. Later, on 29th December that year, the schedule listings on Disney Channel Kuboia's website were updated to state that the channel would be closing on 4th January, 2021 at 6:00a.m. The last programme to air on the channel was a classic Mickey Mouse short from the 1930s.

The closure of Disney Channel Kuboia follows the closure of Nickelodeon Kuboia in 2010, as well as the closure of Cartoon Network Kuboia in 2015. As of the channel's closure, Kuboia has now lost all of the three major American children's television channels (though they all closed for different reasons).

Programming
At the time of its closure, Disney Channel Kuboia broadcasted a variety of original and acquired programming, both animated and live-action, for children and teenagers particularly aged from 11 to 15. Until 2005, the channel mostly targeted children and their families.

Much like other variants of the channels, its programming featured a lot of Disney Channel Originals, although these usually debuted on the channel roughly a year after their American premieres.

Live-action comedy/drama series

 * Chloe's Club
 * Forestway
 * Trickle Road

Other original programming

 * Disney Arcade
 * Magic Box
 * Staraoke
 * Team Challenge

Acquired programming
In September 2005, Disney Channel Kuboia acquired the rights to broadcast modern episodes of the British teen drama series Byker Grove and Grange Hill. The British comedy series My Spy Family was also aired on the channel from October 2007 until late 2013.

In early 2010, after it was announced that Nickelodeon Kuboia would be closing down, Disney Channel Kuboia acquired the rights to several Nicktoons, with SpongeBob SquarePants making its debut on the channel on 13th September that year.

During its run, the channel acquired several animated programmes from international studios, including Audrey and Friends, Sabrina: The Animated Series, Super Duper Sumos and Trollz.

Disney Splat Hour
Disney Splat Hour was a weekly programming strand that ran on Tuesday nights from 6:25p.m. to 8:00p.m. Hosted by Amy Laigre and Claudia Fimple, it aired a mixture of classic and modern Disney cartoons, with programmes broken up by other forms of entertainment, including competitions and questions sent in by viewers. The last feature of each night involved the two hosts, and occasionally other people, taking part in a game, with the person to finish in last place getting blue or red slime poured over them.

Prizes often given out during the strand's run included video games, CDs, DVDs and tickets to see upcoming films in the cinema.

The strand first appeared on 10th August, 1999, and would typically run for approximately twelve weeks per series. Disney Splat Hour was ultimately discontinued after its final run on 26th October, 2004.

Disney in Dutch
A service called Disney in Dutch was launched on some providers in 2003. It followed the exact same schedule as Disney Channel Kuboia, but broadcast programmes in the Dutch language.