from 2002 13 launched may 8 1997 ; 19 years ago 1997 05 08 closed february 13 2011 ; 5 years ago 2011 02 13 network disney channel owned by disney channels worldwide the walt disney company picture format 720p hdtv 480i sdtv slogan where learning is powered by imagination 1998 2002 imagine and learn 2002 2011 country worldwide language english broadcast area nationwide headquarters burbank california replaced jetix play replaced by disney junior sister channel s disney channel disney xd timeshift service playhouse disney 1 europe playhouse disney was a brand for a slate of programming blocks and international cable and satellite television channel that was owned by the disney channels worldwide unit of the disney abc television group itself a unit of the walt disney company . it originated in the united states as a morning program block on the disney channel . its programming was targeted at children ages 3 8 featuring a mix of live action and animated series . the playhouse disney block on disney channel was relaunched as disney junior on february 14 2011 . the 22 cable channels and blocks using the playhouse disney brand around the world were relaunched under the disney junior brand over the next two years concluding with the rebranding of the russian channel in september 2013 . contents 1 history 1.1 disney junior 2 programming 2.1 former programming 2.1.1 original programming 2.1.2 final programming 2.1.3 acquired programming 3 international 3.1 list of international channels and blocks 4 slogans 5 see also 6 references 7 external links history playhouse disney originated on may 8 1997 as a daily morning program block for preschoolers on disney channel debuting just over one month after the channel s relaunch that signified the beginning of its full conversion into a commercial free basic cable channel . it utilized a similar graphics package for its promotions as that used for the channel s afternoon children s programs . prior to the block s launch disney channel had aired a lineup of preschool targeted programs which were mixed alongside animated series aimed at older children during the morning hours since its debut in april 1983 . a stylized version of disney channel s mickey mouse tv logo of the time period for the block featuring a green paint style background overlaid by a multicolored playhouse titling was introduced on october 4 1998 with the introduction of new graphics for the block . one of the playhouse disney block s most popular series was bear in the big blue house an educational live action series from jim henson productions that debuted in october 1997 focusing on the adventures of bear voice by noel macneal ; the series was named by tv guide as one of the top 10 new shows for kids that year . 1 for the first three years of its run the playhouse disney block originally aired each weekday from 8 30 a.m. to 2 30 p.m. eastern time and weekends from 6 00 to 10 00 a.m. eastern time . following each program which usually ran 23 minutes most of which with the exception of movies aired without promotional interruption the remainder of the time period was filled by blocks of either short segments or music videos the latter of which were originally aired under the banner feet beat . in early 2001 playhouse disney introduced a new on air graphics package produced by motion graphics company beehive ; 2 actress allyce beasley began serving as the u.s. block s promo announcer at this time a capacity she would hold until april 15 2007 . on june 25 2001 disney abc cable networks group now disney abc television group announced plans to launch playhouse disney channel a companion digital cable and satellite channel that would have served the same target audience as the disney channel block ; 3 4 plans for the network were later scrapped although disney abc international television would launch dedicated playhouse disney channels in international markets including canada and latin america between 2002 and 2007 . coinciding with disney channel s on air rebranding on october 7 2002 the block introduced a stylized version of disney channel s logo designed by ca square and featuring an outline of mickey mouse s head as its centerpiece as well as a mascot named clay an anthropomophic clay figure who often used the catchphrases it s true and are you with me on march 31 2007 clay was replaced by two anthropomorphic monkey puppets as the block s hosts ooh and aah who served as the main characters for one of the short series featured on the playhouse disney lineup ooh aah & you . beginning in 2007 disney channel began truncating the weekday block to four hours from 4 00 to 8 00 a.m. central time during the summer months in order to air episodes of disney channel original series during the late morning and early afternoon hours ; however the weekend schedule continued to air as a seven hour block . by this point the playhouse disney block had expanded to air from 3 00 a.m. to 1 00 p.m. central time on weekdays and 3 00 to 8 00 a.m. central time on weekends each running a different schedule . as with disney channel playhouse disney was a commercial free service but it did show short promotional spots structured as short form segments for disney products targeted at the block s demographics as well as beginning in 2002 underwriter sponsorships with companies such as mcdonalds 5 did run within breaks between programs 6 preschool targeted programs that aired between 3 00 and 7 00 a.m. central time outside of the playhouse disney banner included the promotional shorts for disney entertainment products that were seen during disney channel s afternoon and nighttime schedule . disney junior see also disney junior on may 26 2010 disney abc television group announced the launch of disney junior a relaunching of playhouse disney that would serve as the brand for the disney channel block and a new standalone digital cable and satellite channel in the united states as well as the new brand for the 22 existing playhouse disney branded cable channels and program blocks worldwide . 7 8 the playhouse disney block ended its 14 year run on february 13 2011 with the last program to air being an episode of the short series handy manny s school for tools at 12 55 p.m. central time . the disney junior block debuted on february 14 2011 at 4 00 a.m. central time 9 with the little einsteins episode fire truck rocket as its first program . 10 11 12 several former playhouse disney series were carried over to the relaunched block including mickey mouse clubhouse special agent oso imagination movers handy manny and little einsteins . with the relaunch of the block the ooh and aah mascots were retired however ooh and aah & you was later carried on the disney junior cable channel . the 24 hour cable channel debuted on march 23 2012 mainly featuring a mix of original series and programs held over from the playhouse disney library which largely aired as part of the channel s overnight schedule until 2013 . 8 13 disney junior took over the channel space held by the disney owned soap opera focused channel soapnet largely due to that channel s existing subscriber reach being carried in 75 million households with pay television . an automated soapnet feed remained in operation for providers that did not yet reach agreements to carry the disney junior channel 14 15 until soapnet fully ceased operations on december 31 2013 . 16 the playhouse disney block was also replaced by disney junior on disney channel . programming the list below pertains to programs aired on the u.s. block on disney channel . main article list of programs broadcast by playhouse disney see also list of playhouse disney original series former programming original programming bear in the big blue house october 20 1997 september 15 2006 pb & j otter march 15 1998 june 17 2005 rolie polie olie november 6 1998 december 26 2006 out of the box october 10 1998 june 20 2005 the book of pooh january 22 2001 march 31 2005 stanley september 15 2001 january 26 2008 the wiggles october 2002 april 4 2009 jojo s circus september 28 2003 june 30 2008 the koala brothers february 5th 2004 march 31 2008 higglytown heroes september 12 2004 march 31 2009 breakfast with bear june 20 2005 september 15 2006 the doodlebops june 17 2005 april 4 2009 johnny and the sprites october 9 2005 february 28 2009 final programming mickey mouse clubhouse may 5 2006 february 13 2011 my friends tigger & pooh may 12 2007 february 13 2011 charlie and lola november 7 2005 february 13 2011 special agent oso april 4 2009 february 13 2011 chuggington september 27 2010 february 13 2011 little einsteins october 9 2005 february 13 2011 bunnytown november 10 2007 february 13 2011 imagination movers september 6 2008 february 13 2011 jungle junction october 5 2009 february 13 2011 handy manny september 18 2006 february 13 2011 acquired programming adventures in wonderland 1997 1998 chip n dale rescue rangers 1997 1998 ducktales 1997 2000 henry s amazing animals 1997 2000 jungle cubs 1997 2000 katie and orbie 1997 2000 the little mermaid 1997 2002 madeline 1997 2005 the new adventures of winnie the pooh 1997 2006 101 dalmatians the series 1998 1999 sing me a story with belle 1998 2000 rupert 2000 anatole 2002 2003 international on september 29 2000 disney television international launched the first international playhouse disney channel in the united kingdom . it broadcast for 15 hours a day alongside toon disney and disney channel 1 on the sky digital platform . 17 on april 4 2009 egmont group launched a companion playhouse disney magazine in the united kingdom that focused on the channel s four most popular shows mickey mouse clubhouse my friends tigger & pooh handy manny and little einsteins . each issue included to do pages and suggested activities for parents and children based on an educational theme . 18 the channel was replaced by disney junior on may 7 2011 . on november 30 2007 astral media launched a canadian version of playhouse disney channel under a brand licensing agreement with disney abc television group ; the channel operated as a multiplex channel of family channel which had long maintained a programming distribution agreement with disney channel for the domestic rights to the u.s. channel s series until january 2016 . 19 list of international channels and blocks market type formerly launch date replaced by replaced date united kingdom 20 channel block on disney channel 000000002000 09 29 0000september 29 2000 disney junior 000000002011 05 07 0000may 7 2011 21 1 timeshift channel 000000002007 11 03 0000november 3 2007 22 disney junior 1 block on abc1 n a 000000002006 01 01 00002006 summer 23 n a 000000002007 09 26 0000september 26 2007 24 united states block on disney channel 1997 4 disney junior 000000002011 02 14 0000february 14 2011 25 spain channel 2001 disney junior 000000002011 06 01 0000june 2011 20 middle east & north africa block 26 000000002 010 01 01 00002010 disney junior 000000002011 01 01 00002011 asia block 26 june 1 2004 disney junior 000000002011 07 11 0000july 11 2011 27 australia block on seven network 000000002003 01 01 00002003 28 block on disney channel 29 channel 000000002005 12 01 0000december 2005 29 disney junior 000000002011 05 29 0000may 29 2011 30 france 20 channel 2002 disney junior 2011 hd simulcast channel 2009 disney junior 2011 block 26 hong kong channel 000000002004 04 02 0000april 2 2004 31 disney junior 000000002011 07 11 0000july 11 2011 32 singapore channel 000000002004 01 01 00002004 33 disney junior 000000002011 07 11 0000july 11 2011 27 indonesia channel 000000002004 01