For several years, The Walt Disney Company has been betting on the expansion and development of its Disney+ streaming platform, which is why it is limiting the number of linear TV channels. By the end of the year 2021 alone, almost a hundred channels had disappeared. These changes have been implemented in Southeast Asia, Turkey, the Nordic countries and the UK.

In November 2024, Disney ended its collaboration with the French Canal+. As of early 2025, the platform stopped selling Disney+ subscriptions and pulled linear channels: Disney Channel, Disney Junior, National Geographic and National Geographic Wild. The Disney+ subscription apparently didn't attract enough interest on the French market.

At the beginning of December, French media reported that Disney Channel was leaving the market after 27 years. Before Christmas, the company changed its mind and said it would continue to broadcast in the basic free package until 2025, but closed the French-language versions of National Geographic Wild and Disney Junior.

On 7 January, Disney Channel left the Spanish market. The company said it valued its Spanish viewers, who will be able to watch their favorite programs on the Disney+ plus platform. From the beginning of 2025, the company will start closing its linear channels in Latin America, starting with Brazil. The Brazilian version of Disney Channel will disappear on 28 January, at the same time as other channels will stop broadcasting: Star Channel, Cinecanal, FX, National Geographic, Disney Channel and Baby TV. ESPN sports channels will continue to broadcast normally.

Traditional linear TV is still popular in Poland, which is why the company won't stop broadcasting channels such as Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, National Geographic People, FX and FX Comedy. In April 2024, The Walt Disney Company Poland and Polsat Plus Group renewed their long-term agreement for the distribution of their linear channels.

Disney may shut down the Disney Channel and some other TV channels in other markets around the world, but not in the U.S. That's not in the plans for at least a couple of years, Disney says. In total, the Disney Channel is currently available in more than 160 countries and in 34 languages, the company said.

Disney Channel said it has a full slate of children's programming - for preschoolers and older kids - planned for next year and through 2026. The channel remains popular, with the company saying it remains the #1 cable network for boys aged 6-11 and girls aged 6-11.

Since the Disney Channel launched in 1983, the network has delivered programs such as 'Hannah Montana', 'High School Musical', 'That's So Raven' and more. Additional channels have been launched, including Disney XD and Disney Jr. But the arrival and success of Disney+ has led the company to promote the streaming service over traditional linear channels for most of its content. Other countries where the Disney Channel has been shut down include Australia and the UK.

However, Disney's sports channels, including ESPN, are often retained on TV systems, suggesting a strategic focus on retaining live sports programming, which continues to attract significant audiences to traditional TV. That's because while nearly all US homes (about 88%) have some kind of streaming service, there are many homes that subscribe to pay-TV services delivered via cable, satellite and fibre (about 25 million), while another 16 million pay for broadband-delivered services such as YouTube TV, according to Leichtman Research Group.

These bold decisions by Disney are another clear sign that linear TV is dying a slow death. How long "old school" TV will remain in the marketplace is anyone's guess, but we can bet it won't be long before streaming platforms completely take over linear TV.

‍

#SzymonKarbowski #StreamVX #videostreaming #Disney #DisneyChannel #NationalGeographicWild #Disney Junior

‍