Major Disney Channel Shuts Down After Nearly 25 Years

Despite Disney’s strong presence across North American broadcast channels, a significant blow has been dealt to fans in Brazil, who have just learned that Disney Channel Brazil will cease operation after 23 years on air. Launched by The Walt Disney Company Latin America in 2001 as a premium channel for localized content, Disney Channel Brazil had grown steadily since its debut in the region. However, anticipating this move, fans have been preparing for the closure since last year when it was first announced that such plans were underway.

Over the past few years, following the debut of Disney+, Disney has been closing down more of their traditional television channels in different international locations. Last December, it was announced that Disney would be shutting down Disney Channel and other non-sports channels in Brazil on March 1st. Now that this day has arrived, the channel officially ceased operations with its last broadcast being an episode of Phineas and Ferb, which is currently undergoing a revival. Witness the final moments of Disney Channel Brazil as captured by @RegularTweetsUK on X.

This morning at 6am Brasília time (March 1, 2025), Disney Channel Brazil quietly wrapped up its operations. Here’s more information in the linked post.

— RegularCapital (@RegularTweetsUK) March 1, 2025

Why Did Disney Channel Brazil Shut Down?

The closure of channels like Disney Channel Brazil can be explained by the evolving entertainment industry, particularly the rise of streaming services available in the region. When the decision was initially made public last year (as reported on What’s On Disney Plus), Disney expressed their intention to adapt and cater to the needs of their audience. Their official statement regarding the shutdown was: “We aim to evolve and meet the requirements of our consumers.

Due to changes happening in the local media and entertainment sector, we’re committed to adapting and delivering what our consumers want swiftly and creatively. As a result, starting from February 28, 2025, we will temporarily halt the broadcast of some channels in Brazil. This suspension affects Star Channel, Cinecanal, FX, National Geographic, Disney Channel, and Baby TV. However, our sports channels will remain unaffected by this decision.

At present, this shutdown doesn’t seem to affect other channels in Latin America, but it’s worth monitoring since Disney might alter their distribution methods for their shows. As Disney+ expands with new deals and success, there could be significant modifications to traditional television channels soon.

HT – @RegularTweetsUK on X

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2025-03-03 02:11