Disney Channel celebrates 40 years of imaginative, iconic programming

In April 1983, The Disney Channel was established to bring high-quality, Disney-branded entertainment to the small screen. Forty years—and hundreds of iconic series and movies—later, the now-named Disney Channel offers a broad lineup of content ranging from live-action series and films to animated shows and shorts, which are unequivocal hits among kids and adults alike.

“For four decades, Disney Channel has been home to some of the most iconic and beloved stories in the Disney portfolio,” says Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television. “We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous anniversary with our incredible talent past and present, our gifted creative partners, and most importantly, with you—our passionate and loyal fans around the world.”

Disney Channel has debuted award-winning series and movies that spawned passionate fandom, drove fashion trends, and helped drive the ascension of multi-hyphenate talent. From Tiger Town, High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, That’s So Raven, Wizards of Waverly Place, Jessie, and Descendants, to Phineas and Ferb, Kim Possible, Gravity Falls, and The Proud Family, Disney Channel has not only created meaningful memories for millions of kids and families, but also helped kickstart the careers of many beloved actors and artists and sent countless songs to the top of the charts.

“When Disney Channel launched, it brought the magic of Disney storytelling into people’s homes for the first time on a daily basis, and over the years it served as the most easily accessible and constant cultural touchpoint into the Disney brand,” says Debra OConnell, President, Networks & Television Business Operations, Disney Entertainment. “Before they ever went to a Disney movie or hugged a beloved character at the Parks, many generations of people met their heroes for the first time on Disney Channel. That is a relationship that we cherish across the company today and is still unparalleled across the industry.”

As Disney Channel turns 40, it continues to build on this legacy with imaginative, award-winning programming that is beloved by both the young and young at heart— including current series Raven’s Home, Big City Greens, Kiff, Hamster & Gretel, BUNK’D, Secrets of Sulphur Springs, The Villains of Valley View, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, and Saturdays, as well as the upcoming revival of Phineas and Ferb, new installments in the ZOMBIES franchise, and much more.

Fans can celebrate Disney Channel’s 40th anniversary by watching an animated tribute video from Chibi Tiny Tales featuring fan-favorite characters from throughout the network’s history, and by checking out fun throwback posts across Disney Channel’s Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook accounts, which will be shared all month long. Fans can also watch Disney Channel’s YouTube channel, where full Disney Channel episodes, both old and new, are being live-streamed through the end of April. BCS Bureau