Launch The Asian version of Playhouse Disney started in 2000 as a block on Disney Channel, with plans for the standalone channel on the cards since October 2002. It later launched as a channel for Hong Kong and Indonesia on 2 April 2004, with the aim of reaching more territories (in South East Asia and Korea) in due course. From 2004 to 2005, it expanded in several Southeast Asian countries.
Singapore became the third country to receive the channel, launching on
StarHub TV on 15 May 2004. It was followed by Korea in June 2004, Malaysia in early July 2004, Brunei in late August, in tandem with Disney Channel, on
Kristal-Astro, Cambodia in June 2005, in tandem with Disney Channel, Vietnam in May 2005, also in tandem with Disney Channel, on Hanoi Cable and Ho Chi Minh Cable, entirely in English without Vietnamese dubbing, in a market that at the time had an under-14 population of 24 million; and the Philippines in December 2005, with a separate feed. At the time, it was the first, and only preschool-oriented television network in Southeast Asia, until
Nick Jr., and
Cartoonito was launched. On 11 July 2011, Playhouse Disney later rebranded as Disney Junior. Due to increasing localization of the Indian feeds of Disney Channel and Disney XD, they were banned from broadcasting in Bangladesh in 2013. Later, in 2016, the Southeast Asian feeds of the Disney channels, including Disney Junior Asia, became available on certain cable operators in Bangladesh.
Closure On 1 June 2020,
Disney Channel,
Disney XD and Disney Junior ceased transmission in
Singapore on both
Singtel and
StarHub after failing the contract renewal with both service providers in the country. On 5 August 2020, Disney Junior upgraded to HD on
Astro alongside Disney Channel. On 1 January 2021, the channels ceased operations across
Astro and Astro-owned TV providers (including NJOI and Kristal-Astro) in
Malaysia due to the launch of Astro's Refreshed Kids Pack that announced back on 14 December 2020. After 17 years of broadcasting, Disney Junior, along with Disney Channel, and most of its
Fox channels in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong ceased on 1 October 2021, at midnight (
UTC+07:00), thus the channel space originally created by Playhouse Disney Channel in 2004 folded and ceased to exist. The last program to air was
Mira, Royal Detective episode "The Case of the Royal Scarf". Nevertheless, the Disney Junior Taiwan block on Disney Channel will continue to air after this date. But the block ended on
New Year's Eve (31 December 2021). Most Disney Junior shows will be shown instead on Disney+ on selected territories. ==Final feeds==