MUMBAI: Disney Channel is making an entry into Tamil and Telugu language content through a newly created block for the two-seven-year-olds.
The branded block, Disney Junior, will start from 4 July and occupy the 11 am-12.30 pm time band. Airing Monday to Friday, it will also be in English and Hindi, the two languages Disney Channel is available in India.
The effort is to age up Disney Channel’s pre-school content. With Playhouse Disney, the channel used to target the two-five-year-olds. The focus of the new pre-school block will be to widen the base to even the seven-year-olds.
Says Walt Disney Television International India VP and GM Natasha Malhotra, “Disney Junior will have the all-time favourites with exciting new content to age-up our pre-school offerings, focusing on two to seven year olds and their families.”
Disney Junior will house Playhouse Disney as well as new content. Says Malhotra, “Playhouse Disney built a great base with pioneering content such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Disney Junior will further bolster the emotional connect that Disney has with kids and families across the country.”
Forming the pivot of the ‘Disney Junior’ block will be ‘Jake and the Never land Pirates’, which will have a local element to it. The animated adventure series, combining new and classic Disney characters Captain Hook and Smee, will have Cryus Broacha play the voice of Sharky along with musician Sid Coutto as the voice of Bones. The duo will also be seen on the show with an entertaining live–action routine which has been locally produced in India.
Disney Junior will also feature a short form series, ‘Mickey Mousekersize’ to encourage healthy lifestyles for preschoolers and families; new show ‘Cat in the Hat knows a Lot About That’; and the leading TV show for preschoolers ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’, along with ‘Handy Manny’, ‘Special Agent Oso’ and ‘Little Einsteins’.
In addition, the block will showcase ‘Car Toons’ and ‘Toy Treats’, short form content characters from Disney movies Cars and Toy Story.
“As we continue to build a family entertainment brand in the country, Disney Junior will be a noteworthy introduction for many Indian kids and families, to the unique, unmatched and magical brand that is Disney,” avers Malhotra.
