What does the future hold for the mouse’s own channel?
Earlier this year, an array of Disney’s owned and operated TV channels across the world have ceased their operations. The affected channels are primarily Disney XD, Disney Junior, and the namesake channel. The cessation of TV broadcast had already happened in territories like Australia, Italy, United Kingdom, and Singapore.
According to Disney, they’ve “failed to reach a carriage agreement” with specifed pay TV operators in those locations. Thus, pushing them to permanently close their children-oriented TV channels. But that could just be the tip of the iceberg.
After Disney announced the end of their kids TV channels in the United Kingdom, they confirmed that content seen on these platforms would move to Disney+. Thus, making the streaming service the exclusive home of everything from the house of mouse in Great Britain.
A trend later developed and everytime Disney channels ended broadcasting in linear television, Disney+ would subsequently launch in the region a few months later.
In Singapore — ironically the Southeast Asian headquarters of Disney — XD, Junior, and the Disney Channel ceased broadcasting on StarHub and Singtel on the 1st of June. And just as expected, during the Disney Investors Day last December 10, it was officially announced that Disney+ will begin operating in SG from February 23, 2021. However, no information on whether it would be placed on top of Hotstar (making it Disney+ Hotstar) since it would also have Star as its sixth tile or would it just become a variant of the main Disney+ product.
Aside from Singapore, Malaysia will also have the whole Junior-XD-Disney Channel suite shut down in 2 weeks’ time.
Just as the official launch of Disney+ in Southeast Asia via Singapore is happening sooner than what many have expected, there is now a big doubt casted over the future of Disney’s linear channels in the Philippines. In similar fashion to many territories, the Philippines also have the main Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD (that is only primarily available on Cignal TV).
Now, there are two possibilities on what might happen should Disney+/Disney+ Hotstar launch in the country.
Complete closure of Disney TV channels
Like what happened with the trend across Europe, Disney could consider shutting down the three channels that they have locally. But with no publicly disclosed television ratings of the channels, it is not possible that it can be used as an argument. However, the carriage statement used in other countries can actually be used should their contracts with either/both Sky and Cignal expire.
Should this unfortunate scenario happen, Disney-branded shows would only be seen in local TV via the terrestrial networks like TV5 that airs Tagalized version of animated series from the house of mouse. But the rest of their content (including original episodes of those dubbed shows) would move to and become exclusive only to Disney+.
It should be noted that as of the moment, Disney XD is already confirmed to be closing down in the Philippines on December 30, 2020.
Continued broadcast of Disney Channel
As TV is still and remains to be the king in the Philippines in the forseeable future, the chances of having Disney Channel shut down in the country is rather slimmer than the rest of the region.
If ever Disney+ enters the local market, a fearless forecast would be the closure of another channel that is Disney Junior. The main Disney Channel could then be utilized as the exclusive pay TV destination for all sorts of content that were once available on Junior and XD.
Apart from that, the local reach of the Disney Channel can also be leveraged to encourage Filipino consumers to subscribe to the service without alienating those who might only have enough money to shed for a cable TV access.
2021 will indeed be an interesting year for Disney fans in the Philippines. From the slow-but-steady rollout of Star-branded content across continents, the launch of Disney+ in more markets, and even a possible demise of a well-loved children’s channel in more locations, there’s really something for everyone from Mickey.
For now, fans could only eagerly wait for their favorite characters from Disney to be streamed under one roof via Disney+ and watch series and movies via Disney’s TV channels.