In addition to the children’s channel, the Disney company announced the closure of other brands in operation, however, ESPN will continue its sports broadcasts
The audience that followed Disney Channel registered the closure of the subscription channel’s activities this Saturday, the 1st. The Walt Disney Company, owner of the children’s channel, had announced that it would also take off the air the brands Star Channel, Cinecanal, FX, Nat Geo, Baby TV, and Disney Channel. The channel said goodbye to the public by airing the 18th episode of the first season of the cartoon Phineas and Ferb. The network’s signal was closed at the end of the animation’s credits when the channel froze the image with the names of the Brazilian voice actors of the series.
Although it is withdrawing from cable TV, the company will focus more on Disney +, after successive drops in viewership on the subscription television service. The network’s streaming platform has become a reference for its various content, ranging from cartoons to soccer games.
Despite the closure of its media outlets in the pay-TV market in Brazil, the conglomerate will continue to operate the ESPN channel, which focuses on sports coverage and is one of the main competitors of Globo Group’s Sport TV. According to the Notícias da TV portal, the broadcaster will continue to operate because it is a reference in the sports industry and due to commercial agreements for broadcasting football matches.
“In response to changes in the local media and entertainment landscape, and to ensure that we continue to grow and meet the needs of our consumers with intensity and innovation, we have decided to discontinue the operation of some linear channels in Brazil as of February 28, 2025. This decision includes the closure of the Star Channel, Cinecanal, FX, National Geographic, Disney Channel, and Baby TV channels, without impacting our sports channels,” Disney told the press in a statement.
