Disney XD (British and Irish TV channel) facts for kids
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|
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom Republic of Ireland |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hammersmith, London |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed) |
| Timeshift service | Disney XD +1 (2009-30 April 2020) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Disney Channels Worldwide The Walt Disney Company Limited (Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International) |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | 2 October 1996 |
| Closed | 1 October 2020 |
| Former names | Fox Kids Network (1996-1998) Fox Kids (1998–2004) Jetix (2005–2009) |
| Availability (at time of closure) |
|
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media | Channel 707 |
| WightFibre | Channel 111 |
| Satellite | |
| Sky (UK & Ireland) | Channel 611 (HD) Channel 645 (SD) |
| IPTV | |
| TalkTalk Plus TV | Channel 482 |
| BT | Channel 482 On-demand |
| Plusnet | Channel 482 |
| Streaming media | |
| Sky Go | Watch live (UK and Ireland only) |
| Virgin TV Anywhere | Watch live (UK only) |
Disney XD (formerly Fox Kids and Jetix) is a defunct British and Irish pay television channel. First launched as Fox Kids, it originated from the United States, and was owned by Fox Television Entertainment, before rebranding itself to Jetix in 2005. The British version of Fox Kids was the first European variant before being expanded to other European countries during the late 1990s.
Contents
Pop-up channels
During 2017 and 2018, the now defunct timeshift channel of Disney XD occasionally was replaced by pop-up temporary channels which lasted a month.
- Spider-Man: In July 2017, the channel was known as "Spider-Man Channel".
- Mickey and Pals: On 4 September 2017, the channel was temporarily rebranded as "Mickey and Pals", which aired various programming from Disney Junior.
- Avengers: On 1 April 2018, the channel was temporarily rebranded as Avengers channel, airing non-stop Avengers Assemble throughout the month as well as exclusive content to promote the release of Avengers: Infinity War. It reverted on 30 April 2018.
Programming
Disney XD HD
Disney XD HD, a high-definition simulcast of Disney XD, launched on Sky channel 633 on 18 October 2010 in the UK. The channel broadcasts HD versions of Disney XD's popular live action shows and animated programmes, such as Phineas and Ferb, I'm in the Band, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and Zeke and Luther. This marks Sky's fiftieth HD channel, meeting Sky's HD channel target of 50 HD channels by Christmas 2010.
Launch events
Disney XD launched with a large launch campaign. Four launch initiatives were designed to introduce Disney XD to children in the UK:
Beach Soccer
In 2009, Beach Soccer was a joint initiative between England Beach Soccer and Disney XD, holding Beach Soccer Roadshows across central and Southern England. An artificial beach was built in each of the five locations: Portsmouth, Nottingham, Minehead, Hyde, (Greater Manchester) culminating in a Beach Soccer final on Oxford Street, London on Saturday 29 August 2009. In 2012, the event came to Sunderland.
Dance with Diversity
Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity helped to launch Disney XD by accepting a challenge to teach 100 young street dancers a one-off routine and then perform it in front of the crowds in Covent Garden. Diversity were given just a few days to teach the 100 young dancers the routine and how to perform it all together. Disney XD set the challenge to Diversity to help inspire kids to learn new activities. The challenge was documented in the programme Disney XD Challenge: Diversity, which aired on Disney XD in September 2009.
Skate Britain
British skateboarding legend, Pete King, skated his way across the UK to help get kids out and skateboarding as part of the launch of Disney XD.
From Land's End to John O'Groats, Pete King kick-flipped and tail-slid through the UK executing daredevil tricks while conducting master classes for kids looking to become the next British skateboarding stars. Pete's challenge was part of a series of challenges which Disney XD set for UK personalities to help inspire kids to try new activities. Viewers were able to watch the highlights of Pete's journey on Disney XD in October 2009.
World record attempt
Friday 28 August 2009, saw history being made as 250 children came together to form a giant 'human joystick' to set the new world record for the biggest ever game of virtual keepy-uppy, with former England and Liverpool F.C. football star and gaming fan, Jamie Redknapp, led the bid to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.
See also
In Spanish: Disney XD (Reino Unido e Irlanda) para niños
