Disney is losing a whole generation of kids to YouTube, as the Mouse House is 'too slow to capitalise' on the shift to short-form content.

by Thinus Ferreira

According to eMarketer, Disney - once a dominant force in children's entertainment is losing a whole generation of children to YouTube as it struggles to connect with new generations of kids in the digital streaming age and is too slow to shift to short-form content.

Where The Disney Channel - also carried by MultiChoice's DStv (DStv 303) in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa - used to command sizeable audiences, that linear TV audience has dramatically shrunk over recent years.

In the United States, The Disney Channel used to be a top 10 TV channel a decade ago in 2014 but now children between the ages of 2 and 11 prefer to watch YouTube over traditional TV, The Disney Channel and its video streaming service Disney+.

According to Nielsen audience measurements, American kids between 2 and 11 now watch YouTube and YouTube content three times more than Disney+.

According to eMarketer consumer data, YouTube "dominates socialmedia usage among United States children under 12, with 58% preferring it over TikTok (5.5%), Instagram (5%, Facebook (4.7%), and Snapchat (3.2%).

"Gen Z shows a strong inclination towards Snapchat (52.3%) and TikTok (43.8%) but YouTube remains vital with 25.5% of the total user share.Disney+, capturing 30% of Gen Z users, struggles to maintain engagement with the youngest audiences," eMarketer found.

"US children under 12 prefer YouTube, which has 28.6 million viewers, followed by Netflix (17.2 million) and Disney+ (15.6 million). The shift has profound implications for Disney," eMarketer says.

"Disney risks losing the next generation of fans, which could affect its broader revenue streams, including theme parks and merchandising," eMarketer says.

"Disney's attempts to engage kids through YouTube SHorts and integrations with popular games like Fortnite are steps in the right direction. However, these efforts seem reactive rather than proactive. The stark decline in Disney Chanel viewership underscores the urgency to innovate more aggressively and strategically."

"Over 60% of Disney+ subscribers redpotedly d not have children at home, per company data. This suggests that while Disney+ is appealing, it may not be a go-to platform for kids."

"The company's traditional strength - long-form content - is at odds with the current preferences of its youngest audience, who favour quick, engaging videos."

eMarketer says that the rise of short-form content on platforms like YouTube has "fundamentally altered how children consumer media - and Disney seems slow to capitalise on this shift".

"The company needs to rethink how it can capture and retain the attention of young audiences."

Production starts on 26-episode National Geographic Kids Africa as edutainment children series in East Africa set for The Disney Channel and Nat Geo WILD in late-2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

National Geographic says production has started on National Geographic Kids Africa as an edutainment series for children, filmed in Africa that will be broadcast later in 2022 on The Disney Channel (DStv 303) and Nat Geo WILD (DStv 182 / StarSat 221) channels.

The first group of presenters will be Mysha Hodson (13), Marita Lucas (12), Shanah Manjeru (14), Railey Mwai (10) and Adarsh Nagda (12) who will serve as studio and Nairobi-based hosts in Kenya for National Geographic Kids Africa.

The production, with Kenya's White Rhino Films as production partner, is currently casting for field presenters who will be doing segments for the show from other regions of Kenya; as well as from countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania.

National Geographic Kids Africa will initially have 26 episodes and is filmed primarily in East Africa, with additional filming in West and Southern Africa.

National Geographic Kids Africa is a project of The Walt Disney Company, supported by Wildlife Direct, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Department of State.

"National Geographic Kids Africa is a collaborative effort to celebrate the environment and raise awareness of conservation and associated issues through a factual entertainment programme for children," says National Geographic in a statement.

"The project aims to inspire and promote positive behaviours among its audiences to protect the world in which they live, through engendering a deeper understanding of their environments."

The Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce has died. He was 20.

The Disney Channel star (DStv 303) Cameron Boyce has died. He was 20.

Boyce appeared on The Disney Channel’s Jessie between 2011 to 2015, and also made appearance on a range of other Disney shows ranging from Liv and Maddie and BUNK’D to Austin & Ally and played the character of Carlos in the Descendants Disney films as well as Conor in the Disney XD (DStv 304) series, Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything.

“It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron,” the Boyd family says in a statement. 

“He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated. The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him.”

“We are utterly heartbroken and ask for privacy during this immensely difficult time as we grieve the loss of our precious son and brother.”

The Disney Channel in a statement on Sunday says “From a young age, Cameron Boyce dreamed of sharing his extraordinary artistic talents with the world".

"He was an incredibly talented performer, a remarkably caring and thoughtful person and, above all else, he was a loving and dedicated son, brother, grandson and friend. We offer our deepest condolences to his family, castmates and colleagues and join his many millions of fans in grieving his untimely passing. He will be dearly missed.”

The Descendants director, Kenny Ortegan, on Instagram said ““My Love, Light and Prayers go out to Cameron and his Family".

"Cameron brought Love, Laughter and Compassion with him everyday I was in his presence. His talent, immeasurable. His kindness and generosity, overflowing. It has been an indescribable honor and pleasure to know and work with him. I will see you again in all things loving and beautiful my friend. I will search the stars for your light. Rest In Peace Cam. You will always be My Forever Boy!”

Disney cancels Andi Mack, also known as 'that gay teen show that Africa couldn't cope with', after 3 seasons.

Disney has cancelled the groundbreaking series on the Disney Channel (DStv 303), Andi Mack, also known as "that gay teen show that Africa couldn't cope with".

The teen growing up-comedy series that was renewed for a third season in February 2018 has now been cancelled and will conclude with its current third season.

"Andi Mack was a labour of love for a room of impassioned, inventive writers, a talented and dedicated crew, and an extraordinary, miraculous cast who inspired us all," said show creator Terri Minsky in a statement Wednesday, that wasn't released through Disney in South Africa or Africa.

"We had the honour of breaking a lot of new ground for Disney Channel. We were its first serialized show, its first series centred around an Asian-American family and its first to feature an LGBTQ character who spoke the words, 'I'm gay'," said Terri Minsky.

"The best part of making Andi Mack was our audience, who let us know we mattered to them. The series finale is for them."

Gary Marsh, Disney Channel president, says "Three years ago, we challenged Terri Minsky to create a new series that expanded and broadened the Disney Channel brand. And so was born Andi Mack".

"We are forever grateful to Terri, her talented team and the outstanding cast, led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, for delivering a meaningful and satisfying conclusion to three wonderful seasons of this brilliant series."

Andi Mack, filmed in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States, was executive produced by Minsky and Michelle Manning, with Phil Baker as co-executive producer. Andi Mack was produced by Horizon Productions.

Andi Mack was notable when, during its second season, the character of Cyrus Goodman (Joshua Rush) one of the show's main characters, begain to realise that he was gay and in love with a male classmate. The season explored his journey to self-discovery and self-acceptance as a gay teenager.

Before the second season was broadcast in Africa and shortly after the gay character announcement, scandal erupted when Kenya's draconian censorship tsar, Ezekiel Mutua, who ordered the show banned on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in Kenya.

"When it comes to protecting children from exposure to bad content we are resolute and unapologetic. Gay content will not air in Kenya, period," said Ezekiel Mutua in November 2017 in a statement.

Since the Disney Channel has only one channel feed into Africa the censorship, banning by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) and the resulting brouhaha around Andi Mack meant that it became unavailable for not just DStv subscribers in Kenya, but also in South Africa and anywhere else in sub-Saharan Africa.

MultiChoice in South Africa, MultiChoice Africa, MultiChoice Kenya and The Walt Disney Company Africa all rolled over to appease the Kenya censorship board instead of standing up for artistic expression, freedom of speech and TV producers' creative rights (not to mention the telling of an important story that might resonate with some families and viewers) and went along with its misguided decree to ban the show in Kenya and across Africa without any of the companies speaking up or out about it.

Andi Mack actor Stoney Westmoreland fired by the Disney Channel after his arrest for trying to have sex with a 13-year old.

The Disney Channel (DStv 303) has fired the Andi Mack actor Stoney Westmoreland (48) after he was arrested for allegedly trying to arrange to have sex with a 13-year old.

Stoney Westmoreland who played Andi's grandfather Henry "Ham" Mack on the Disney Channel series allegedly tried to lure a 13-year old to a sex encounter who is the same age as the main characters in Andi Mack.

"Stoney Westmoreland, an actor working on the series Andi Mack, was arrested in Salt Lake City today," the Disney Channel said in a statement issued late Friday night in the United States.

"Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors, we have released him from his recurring role and he will not be returning to work on the series which wraps production on its third season next week."

Andi Mack is produced and filmed in Utah.

According to the Salt Lake City police department and the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, Stoney Westmoreland was arrested after he communicated online with someone he believed was 13-years old, asked for the person to engage in sex acts including oral sex, and to send nude photos.

Stoney Westmoreland also sent pornographic photos. He was arrested when using a ride sharing service to pick up the 13-year old to bring the child to his hotel room "in order to engage in sexual activity".

Disney Africa unveils the 10 localised Mickey Mouse statues done by 10 South African artists for the art tour exhibition to celebrate the Disney mouse's 90th birthday.

The Walt Disney Company SA has unveiled the 10 localised Mickey Mouse statues painted by South African artists that will tour the country to celebrate the 90th birthday of Mickey Mouse on 18 November.

18 November marks 90 years since the first appearance of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie in November 1928 with a series of worldwide celebrations that will also include South Africa to mark the 9 decades of the Mouse House's most iconic character.

Disney will broadcast special programming Mickey Mouse's birthday on 18 November across its set of Disney channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform and in the days leading up to it on the Disney Channel (DStv 303), Disney XD (DStv 304) and Disney Junior (DStv 309).

The 2-hour American TV special, Mickey's 90th Spectacular that will be broadcast in the United States on 4 November, will also be shown later this year on M-Net (DStv 101) with the special to celebrate the character's 90-year history that will be filled with star-studded musical performances, tributes and never-before-seen short films.

In a local design project, Disney Africa asked 10 South African artists to apply their own inspiration and artistic interpretation to 182 centimetre high Mickey Mouse statues.

Disney Africa has now revealed these 10 statuettes as part of Disney Africa's Mickey the True Original South African Exhibition that will form part of a nationwide exhibition that will be at Sandton City centre court (28 September - 14 October) in Johannesburg, the Gateway Theatre of Shopping's Expo explore court (19 October - 11 October) in Durban, and the Canal Walk's centre court (16 - 26 November) in Cape Town.

Each Mickey Mouse statue has been designed, painted and crafted to show each artist's unique take on the mouse and range from vivid colour palettes, spray paint graffiti stylings, to pantsula outfits and shweshwe prints.

The 10 local artists who each painted a Mickey Mouse include Cassius Khumalo, Colbert Mashile, Dominic Tshabangu, Lee Scott Hempson, Louis van den Heever, Nika Mtwana, Phumzile Buthelezi, Toni Bico, Trevor Coleman and Welcome Danca.

"For nine decades Mickey Mouse has bound generations together more than any other animated character," says Christine Service, the senior vice president and country manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa.

"His iconic status and global appeal has also inspired countless artists over the decades. The Mickey the True Original Art Collaboration continues this inspiration but with a truly South African interpretation of Mickey's charm and universal appeal."

"No matter what age, every person has a connection with Mickey Mouse and when Disney approached Art Eye to collaborate on this venture, we were thrilled to be given the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Damien Hirst, Diego Rivera and so many more who were inspired by this character," says Ty Selmon, the director of Art Eye Gallery.

"To give this unique local take on Mickey allows us to give him an honorary South African status, bringing to life the unique and eye-catching interpretation, sights and imagery that only this country can produce."

Disney says South African fans can share their Mickey Mouse moments on social media during November with the hashtag #Mickey90Africa.

Cassius Khumalo's Mickey

"My Mickey is inspired by a highly aesthetic African group of people or tribe. Their styles of creating face masks and body paint are an important part of festivals and ceremonies within the within the tribal symbolism."

"Both sexes, including children, decorate their faces and bodies with chalk and ochre to boost visual appeal, also increasing chances of finding love or to scare off rivals."

Colbert Mashile's Mickey

"My Mickey symbolically reflects the African context through the patterns and colours - I am 'Africanising' through pattern and colour. Mickey has become a mystical creature in this sculpture, much like those I have come to depict in the works I have created previously."

"He has a very strong standing in the African context, rendered through contemporary texturing and patterning."

Dominic Tshabangu's Mickey

"My Mickey Mouse reflects both contemporary sensibilities and African traditional patterns with Ndebele-influenced beadwork on his legs, with an assortment of colour and patterns."

"The pants are rendered with real-life African fabrics. I have used my collage techniques but with fabric to create interesting patterns on my African Mickey. Mickey's face is painted to look as though he is wearing an African mask, reminiscent of facial sacrification and ritual painting."

"I have really worked with a number of techniques that I usually use in my work, so that my Mickey Mouse shares a connection to the themes of my work."

Lee Scott Hempson's Mickey

"Mickey is a symbol of popular culture whose worldwide name is instantly recognisable and a source of artistic inspiration for many."

"Mickey is also a storyteller and in keeping with this theme, I have drawn my inspiration from the 'conversational' Dutch Wax cloths and our local Shweshwe. The sculpture is collaged with fabrics, hand-painted textile patterns and the word 'hello' in all our languages and motifs."

Louis van den Heever's Mickey

"The South Africa I love is all about vibrant colours, patterns and shapes."

"Our Rainbow Nation's sunny exuberance combines easily with Mickey who, of course, personifies fun and playfulness."

"I wanted to celebrate our magnificent fauna and flora with the different animal patterns and proteas. His shorts and shoes scream Proudly South African. The soccer-fan sunglasses, buttons and beads are, well ... just for fun!"

Nika Mtwana's Mickey

"Mickey Mouse is a pantsula through and through."

"He loves expressing himself by singing and dancing. He is the definition of an active and energetic free spirit, and that is also what Pantsula stands for."

"I decided to give Mickey the opportunity to experience the ultimate form of African self-expression and originality, and so, he has to look the part!"

Phumzile Buthelezi's Mickey

"My Mickey is wearing Umblaselo, which is a traditional men's outfit for celebrations and events."

"It was popular with the Maskandi musical groups who wore it while performing. It seems fitting for me to dress an entertainer like Mickey in this outfit."

Toni Bico's Mickey

"Mickey the African son! Africa is known for the sun which shines most of the year, the fresh water and for its vast savannahs."

"Mickey is covered in sun rays and which shine upon African waters - a son of Africa."

"The use of stylised, abstract elements to denote the sun and water is a reflection of my unique style."

Trevor Coleman's Mickey

"My artwork has always been a reflection of the African context and I have taken my main inspiration from the colours I have seen all around Africa on my extensive travels."

"My Mickey Mouse is an exploration of my love for colour and for the African continent."

Welcome Danca's Mickey

"My inspiration for Mickey Mouse started when I was very young, watching him in black-and-white cartoons."

"Mickey Mouse is educational and accommodates young and old alike, from all nations - I share him with my kids and his family nature makes my whole family smile and happy!"

DuckTales on the Disney Channel renewed for a 3rd season.

The Disney Channel (DStv 303) has renewed DuckTales for a third season that will start in 2019.

The rebooted version of DuckTales follows the adventures of the famous  trillionaire Scrooge McDuck and his michievous grandnephews Hewey, Dewey, and Louie.

DuckTales is executive produced by Matt Youngberg and produced by Disney Television Animation.

Andi Mack on The Disney Channel, that DStv won't show in Africa or South Africa because Kenya banned it, renewed for a 3rd season.

Disney has renewed its hit tween series, Andi Mack, banned from MultiChoice's DStv in Africa and Africa, for a 3rd season.

Episodes of the third season of Andi Mack with Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Lilan Bowden, Joshua Rush, Sofia Wylie and Asher Angel will be broadcast later in 2018 in America.

Filming on the 3rd season, produced by Horizon Productions, will start soon in Salt Lake City in America.

Disney says Andi Mack tells the heartwarming, diverse coming-of-age story about the most important things in any young person’s life - life and friends, and the journey of self-discovery.

"A series about a girl discovering that her sister is really her mother was new territory for Disney Channel, but Terri’s honest, authentic storytelling allowed our audience to connect deeply to these characters and their journeys of self-discovery," says Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.

"What she has crafted stands as a high-water benchmark for kids and family storytelling around the world."

That's of course not true for Africa where Andi Mack is banned from being broadcast with MultiChoice that rolled over for the Kenya censorship board and is going along with its misguided decree to ban the show in Kenya and across Africa on The Disney Channel (DStv 303).

Africa's censorship problem of TV and film keeps expanding and growing due to the lack of public push-back against misguided African censorship boards who have become more and more emboldened in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa as they ban more and more content from being seen, instead of simply classifying it with proper parental guidance advisories.

After it's been in cinemas for weeks already in South Africa, South Africa's misguided Film and Publication Board (FPB) suddenly reclassified the film Inxeba as X18 last week - the same as hardcore pornography, although it contains none - without giving any reasons.

The FPB, funded by South African tax payers' money, now refuses to answer specific media enquiries about the exact reasons why the award-winning film suddenly got given a new classification months after it was given another one.

The multiple award-winning film that has a gay storyline - South Africa's official entry to the 90th Academy Awards and that made the top 9 shortlist in the Best Foreign Film category - has now effectively been banned from being shown in cinemas.

Inxeba can't even be shown with that classification on channels like M-Net (DStv 101), e.tv or the SABC during its pay-TV window licensing and free-to-air broadcast run.

So far in 2018 no further additional TV shows have been banned in Africa but Kenya's dictatorial government did shut down several entire TV channels who were slapped with a censorship blackout before they could broadcast the symbolic inauguration ceremony of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Disney Channel to make history with first gay main character as Cyrus Goodman in tween show Andi Mack is set for a gay storyline.

In a dramatic first for The Disney Channel (DStv 303), it will have a main character come out as gay in the tween show Andi Mack in a move that could spell potential trouble for MultiChoice's DStv and the kids channel in Africa.

The Disney Channel, available in South Africa and throughout Africa on DStv's satellite pay-TV platform, will soon break new ground with its first gay storyline and a main character going through a journey of self-discovery of his sexuality.

In Andi Mack, the 13-year old main character Cyrus Goodman, played by Joshua Rush (15) will be coming out to his friends as gay, starting the storyline from the first episode of Andi Mack's second season.

Subsequent episodes will follow Cyrus' ongoing story, that will include wrestling with how to tell his new girlfriend Iris that he is actually falling in love with Andi's boyfriend, Jonah (Asher Angel).

"Andi Mack is a story about tweens figuring out who they are," says The Disney Channel in a statement announcing the news.

"Creator Terri Minsky, the cast and everyone involved in the show takes great care in ensuring that it's appropriate for all audiences and sends a powerful message about inclusion and respect for humanity."

The Walt Disney Company says "Disney remains committed to continuing to create characters that are accessible and relatable to all children."

"For more than 90 years, The Walt Disney Company has been home to some of the world's most beloved characters and cherished stories."

"The Disney brand has always been inclusive, with stories that reflect acceptance and tolerance and celebrate the differences that make our characters uniquely wonderful in their own way."

"We constantly strive to live up to that legacy by continuing to create and share compelling storylines from our studios and media networks that entertain with inspirational and aspirational themes and reflect the incredibly rich diversity of human experience."

The move could rile DStv subscribers in Africa where countries like Nigeria and Kenya have increasingly banned several general entertainment and kids shows they say are promoting a "pro gay" agenda.

These African nations over the past few months ordered MultiChoice Africa to immediately remove content deemed offensive from several carried TV channels - including Disney's Disney XD channel for instance, as well as shows on Turner Broadcasting Africa's Cartoon Network and Viacom International Media Networks Africa's Nickelodeon.

Since several of these channels have only one channel feed into Africa, the removal and banning of specific shows and content mandated by one country, means that it impacts the viewing and content available on linear broadcast channels to the entire sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa.

The new Disney Channel animation series, Tangled: Before Ever After, sees the film's voice talent return, as well as some new characters added.

The Disney film Tangled that will return as a new animation TV series in 2017 on The Disney Channel (DStv 303) will see the voice cast of the movie return, as well as new voices for new characters.

The Tangled TV series, as previously reported will take place after the end of the film and before the animated short film, Tangled Ever After in which Rapunzel and Flynn get married.

The Tangled show is now (therefore) called Tangled: Before Ever After and revolve around the various adventures and challenges of the two main characters as Rapunzel get to know her parents and the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Corona.

Mandy Moore will again voice Rapunzel and Zachary Levi will voice Flynn, with Jeffrey Tambor back as Big Nose and Paul F. Tompkins as Shorty.

Ashley Judd (Queen Arianna) and Clancy Brown (King Frederic) return as as Rapunzel's parents.

New characters include Peter the Guard (Sean Hayes), Varian (Jeremy Jordan) as a teen alchemist and blacksmith Xavier (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).

Kevin Kliesch who worked on Tangled Ever After will be the show's score composer.

TOLDJA! The Disney Channel in South Africa on DStv finally also changes its on-air logo after the logo changed in May in America.

The Disney Channel (DStv 303) seen in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform suddenly changed to its new logo on Monday without any prior warning or notification to the press.

The Disney Channel's brand-new logo was unveiled in May and Disney Channel for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region then told TV with Thinus that the logo would change in winter for South Africa but claimed a date for the change is not known.

The new wider Disney Channel logo is part of a redesign to help with a contemporary new look for the unified global business and to look better in the 42 places where The Disney Channel is broadcast as a high definition (HD) channel.

The Disney Channel is not broadcast in South Africa (yet) as a HD channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Tricia Wilber, the chief marketing officer for The Walt Disney Company EMEA, couldn't be bothered to communicate or notify about the upcoming logo change of The Disney Channel for South Africa and Africa beforehand, but suddenly released a statement on Monday, saying "South African audiences will recognise some familiar scenes as the new look rolls out over the next few months".

Unlike the American press who were told, notified and shown the logo before it actually changed on-air in May in the United States, the Walt Disney Company and The Disney Channel EMEA strangely doesn't show the same respect to South Africa's media and couldn't be bothered to inform the press similarly beforehand - a weird double standard when it comes to marketing and publicity.

According to Tricia Wilber, "a series of spots" were filmed on Blouberg Strand in Cape Town "earlier this year" with South African children playing on the beach.

The rest of today's stale statement from Disney is the old drop-in quotes already used and read in May globally of Ron Pomerantz, the vice president of marketing and creative of The Disney Channel saying: "The dynamic new logo is a combination of two classic Disney icons – the distinct signature stroke of company founder Walt Disney and the three-circle shape evocative of Mickey Mouse".

"Our viewers have great affinity for two heritage elements that have long created a 'story' during our daily programming schedule - the four note music mnemonic and the beloved 'wand ID' in which our stars form our Disney Mouse ears with a wand. We are looking forward to introducing these elements in an exciting new package".

BREAKING. Brand-new logo for the Disney Channel set to be introduced on MultiChoice's DStv.

The Disney Channel (DStv 303) seen in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform is set to unveil a brand-new logo - the first new logo in almost 12 years, which will be introduced in America on Friday, as well as the other 42 Disney Channels worldwide, including South Africa, this year.

Disney tells TV with Thinus a specific date for a logo change for the Disney Channel on DStv is not yet known, but will happen sometime during the winter.

"The new branding was an international collaboration between Disney Channel global and European teams and is crafted so our teams everywhere can customize it to create local stories, in familiar settings, featuring culturally identifiable storytelling," says Richard Loomis, the senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Disney Channels Worldwide.

"The dynamic new logo is a combination of two classic Disney icons – the distinct signature stroke of company founder Walt Disney and the three-circle shape evocative of Mickey Mouse," says Disney.

"Our viewers have great affinity for two heritage elements that have long created a 'story' during our daily programming schedule - the four note music mnemonic and the beloved 'wand ID' in which our stars form our Disney Mouse ears with a wand. We are looking forward to introducing these elements in an exciting new package".

Disney's TV channels are available in 166 countries, like Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior seen on DStv in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

The Disney Channel renews Jessie for a 4th season to start in 2015; production set to start in August.

The Disney Channel (DStv 303) has renewed Jessie for a 4th season which will start on the channel in 2015.

Jessie, produced by It's a Laugh Productions, stars Debby Ryan, Kevin Chamberlin, Peyton List, Karan Brar, Cameron Boyce and Skai Jackson.

Production on the new 4th season of Jessie will start in August in America and has been created by Pamela Eells O'Connell who is the executive producer.

"Jessie is a fan favorite for kids and families all around the world," says Adam Bonnett, the executive vice president for original programming at Disney Channels Worldwide.

"Pam Eells and the entire team behind Jessie have made this television family a huge global hit. Our audience gets to continue the journey with these characters, watching the Ross kids grow up with Jessie guiding the way for them".

BREAKING. The Disney Channel orders new sitcom, I Didn't Do It, with twins and Logan Watson starting high school.

The Disney Channel (DStv 303) has ordered another new sitcom, I Didn't Do It, following twins Lindy (Olivia Holt) and Logan Watson (Austin North) as they start high school, with the new show set to start on The Disney Channel in 2014.

The Disney Channel's order for another new sitcom comes days after it ordered Girls Meets World as a new sitcom for 2014.

Episodes of I Didn't Do It will start with a "What just happened?" moment with each twin giving their side and interpretation of a situation which occured. Then, through flashbacks, each episode will show the events really leading up to some calamity and fill out the story.

Production on I Didn't Do It will start later this year in Los Angeles, similar to Girl Meets World, and episodes will start showing on The Disney Channel in 2014.

"We are looking forward to presenting our viewers with the humour, friendship and unexpected plot twists this unique sitcom offers by beginning every episode with the end of the story," says Adam Bonnett, the executive vice president for original programming at Disney Channels Worldwide in a statement.

"We have assembled a top-notch creative team and cast of talented young actors with incredible comedic chemistry who already feel like they have been close friends since childhood."

Girl Meets World picked up by The Disney Channel as a new sitcom starting on the channel in 2014, based on the 90s Boy Meets World.

Girl Meets World is coming to The Disney Channel (DStv 303) as a girl-centred sitcom spin-off of the 90s sitcom Boy Meets World and will start on the channel in 2014.

Rowan Blanchard as Riley Matthews, Sabrina Carpenter as her friend Maya and Danielle Fishel and Ben Savage both reprising their roles from the 90s sitcom Boy Meet World will be seen in Girls Meets World.

"Boy Meets World and its story of adolescent self discovery resonated with an entire generations of tweens," says Adam Bonnett, the executive vice president of original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide. "In the same way audiences fell in love with Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence, we look forward to introducing our viewers to their daughter Riley Matthews in Girl Meets World and building a memorable connection with a whole new generation of fans."

Girl Meets World will be set in New York and will this time be done from a tween girl's perspective. Her dad is now also her history teacher and Riley's mom owns a trendy afterschool hangout which specialises in pudding.

"I am grateful to everyone at Disney Channel for the opportunity to reach my favvourite audience, which has always been kids," says Michael Jacobs, the creator in a statement.

"Girl Meets World is a new show for a new generation that will be rooted in the same kind of honest, comedic storytelling about coming of age and the importance of family and friendship that made Boy Meets World so popular."

Austin & Ally on The Disney Channel renewed for a 3rd season as foursome cast 'continues to win audiences over'.

Austin & Ally on The Disney Channel (DStv 303) has been renewed for a third season.

Did you see this week when Big Mama attacked, and the big hair in the jungle, and everyone trying to plug the hole in the riverboat? Very funny even if I'm not the target market (you think you're just gonna watch a minute and - swooosh - gone is another half an hour).

Anyway, the sitcom with Ross Lynch, Laura Marano, Raini Rodriguez and Calum Worthy about a singer and a songwriter and their two best friends will have a third season.

Production on the third season of Austin & Ally will start in July in America after production on the second season just recently ended in January.

New episodes "promises excitement for 'Auslly' fans as Austin's music career kicks into full gear and Ally's begins to take flight," says Adam Bonnett, the senior vice president for original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide in a statement.

"This ensemble cast - Ross Lunch, Laura Marano, Raini Rodriguez and Calum Worthy - has incredible comedic chemistry and charm that continue to win audiences over," says Adam Bonnett.

Jessie on The Disney Channel with Debby Ryan renewed for a third season.

Jessie on The Disney Channel (DStv 303) with Debby Ryan has been renewed for a third season with production which will start in July in America.

The sitcom about a babysitter looking after the Ross' family in New York and the various adopted kids together with a butler and her boyfriend, the building's doorman remains the number one show in its timeslot on The Disney Channel in America.

"Our viewers deeply connect with this cast of characters, and the upcoming season will focus on the Ross kids beginning to navigate young adulthood while challenging their favourite nanny with new and entertaining situations," says Adam Bonnet, the senior vice president for original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide.

EVIDENCE. Gravity Falls starting on The Disney Channel on Saturday at 10:00 definitely got my attention with an interesting spy box of cool.

Local TV channels and shows (with the exception of SABC3) are hardly doing anything to promote their channel line-ups, programming and show,s while international TV channels from Disney to Discovery and several in-between who have much smaller audiences actually pro-actively care and are constantly working incredibly hard to get the attention of TV critics and writers in South Africa covering television.

Will the big channels one day suddenly realize that the viewers they took for granted are mostly gone as channel fragmentation continues at a rapid pace?

The early bird (thanks ACT couriers) just dropped by my pad, and how awesome: Another publicity thingey kinda thingey for some TV show which wasn't immediately self-evident when the box marked "Evidence" dropped at my door. I like these things because it shows effort. It makes me engage as a TV critic. It's not just one more default press release out of the hundreds I get daily, riddled with spelling mistakes.

So, what kind of "evidence" is this?

Open the "Evidence" box and ta-da: The Disney Channel (DStv 303) is excited to tell me about Gravity Falls, a quirky new animated comedy premiering on The Disney Channel tomorrow, Saturday 10 November at 10:00 - a new show following the twins Dipper and Mabel.

Oh look. Disney send a TV critic a preview episode. Why Disney knows that TV critics want to and need to see television in order to write and tell people about it, is magnificent. Sadly most TV channels, production companies and publicists working in television, don't. Besides the screener disk? A full on comprehensive press kit disk with info, high res images and everything I need to be able to do my job. Well done, and thanks Disney!

Gravity Falls sees Dipper and Mabel who are sent to spend the summer with the eccentric Great Uncle Stan in a remote town. Everything is not what it seems. So quickly they start to investigate various mysteries. Get ready for creatures lurking in the forest, monsters in the lake, and even time-travelling adventures in this quirky comedy animation.

How cool that in keeping with the theme, Disney couriered over a playful "spy set" as part of the evidence kit. There's an "evidence collection sheet" with all the useful details about Gravity Falls which instantly pops out: when it's on and starting, what channel number and what genre.

My most favourite kids in the world of my best mate will be getting the spy glass, measuring tape, little torch and powder to dust for finger prints (I'll keep the special grey Moleskine notebook!) when I go watch the first episode with them later this afternoon to review Gravity Falls - and secretly check their response and reaction to this new animation show.

Disney responds to an upset 15 year old: 'We work continually to ensure that the Disney Channels remain number one in South Africa.'

Disney Channels has now responded, a day after, and after being given weeks to respond, after TV with Thinus finally published these letters from a 15 year old viewer yesterday who is distraught by The Disney Channel (DStv 303) on MultiChoice's DStv.

You can read the 15 year old Refiloe's writings about Disney in full here.


Below is the full and unaltered response from Disney received this morning:

"We'd like the opportunity to reply to the Disney Channels viewer who wrote a letter to your blog with some questions on the channel. We thought it would be best to respond to the viewer's individual points to clarify how the channel(s) are presented and to clear up any confusion."

"The viewer's first question concerned our new channel idents. To clarify, the channel idents are on-air to promote programming highlights across the schedule, not to display what is on-air next. This is an approach adopted by many TV channels to highlight key shows and are different from our "coming next" graphics (which play during programmes)."

"It is important to state that the graphics used on each Disney Channel are bespoke to the requirements of the region/country (so for example, the presentation of the channel in South Africa is slightly different to that of the UK)."

"The next question concerned incorrect broadcasting details given for forthcoming premieres. This viewer seemed to be referring to forthcoming episodes of our hit shows A.N.T Farm and My Babysitter is a Vampire. This is not a mistake, we recently made amendments to the schedule to bring forward airing premiere episodes of the new season before the series launches (effectively a "sneak peek"), promoting them as "new episodes". The official series launch timing remain the same and we had scheduled relevant promos in separate parts of the schedule to avoid confusion."

"The viewer also made some points about scheduling information not appearing in text on the channel. Disney South Africa is distributed via feed to other regions (covering different time zones) and in order to ensure our viewers in all regions receive consistent information about the times that shows air, we do not always include text, instead providing this information via the audio track."

"Where clarification is needed (eg. for our viewers in the Middle East (KSA stads for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia not Kenya), the timings are sometimes included with a clear reference to the region."

"Timings for South African viewers are always clearly delivered via the audio track and we've had no complaints from any of our viewers to date."

"Finally, we have received no other comments on Disney XD picture quality. All Disney Channels are delivered in highest possible quality and the reception of the channel is dependent on elements not controlled by Disney (eg. weather conditions/satellite reception)."

"We thank the viewer for his questions and would emphasise that we work continually to ensure that the multiplex of Disney Channels remain the number one in South Africa."

BREAKING. Disney most at risk if pay TV operators unbundle bouquets and provide TV channels separately - study.

Disney will be most at risk as a TV content provider should pay TV operators (be forced to) "unbundle" their bouquets and provide separate TV channels to pay TV subscribers according to a so-called a la carte model, according to new research from the investor research market firm, Lazard Capital Markets, in America.

MultiChoice in South Africa carries several TV channels from The Walt Disney Company on its DStv pay TV platform, The Disney Channel (DStv 303), Disney XD (DStv 304), Disney Junior (DStv 309) with the Disney offering performing incredibly well for the Disney/MultiChoice partnership here.

According to the study, while other TV channels have a loyal enough following, Lazard Capital Markets concluded that the Disney TV channels from The Walt Disney Company in America doesn't have enough popularity, given the pricing of the channels in termsof programming fees.

Should pay TV subscribers be given the choice, Lazard Capital Markets came to the conclusion that Disney's programming fees would drop in America since a lot less pay TV subscribers would be choosing those channels voluntarily.

Other TV content providers such as Scripps, Discovery, NBCUniversal and Viacom - all who supply numerous TV channels to South African pay TV subscribers through MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV - however stand to gain, since they run more "in demand" TV channels. Payment for programming fees for their channels would increase, according to Lazard Capital Markets.