Toon Disney (Jetix) India was a cable channel that first aired in India in 2004. Toon Disney was officially replaced by Disney XD in 2009. Earlier, during the daytime, the channel showed Jetix and showed the Toon Disney programming from 11 am to 1pm during weekdays. It also showed movies under the Disney banner through out the weekends. Mostly a spin-off of Disney Channel, it focused on animated series and some live action programming. It had format had to that of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
Disney reached more than 107 million television homes in India, and Disney channel and Toon Disney/ Jetix reached approximately 30 million homes on cable and satellite in India and together rank number two in the market. Toon Disney was number one in south India.
Formation of Disney XD
During November 2009, it was declared that Toon Disney (Jetix) India will be replaced by Disney XD, which was officially launched on November 14, 2009, at 12:00 noon, Indian Standard Time. Disney XD, owned by The Walt Disney Company, is broadcast all over India. It combined Jetix and Toon Disney into a single channel. Disney XD has no action dedicated blocks unlike Toon Disney.
It telecasts both animated and live action shows in the same slot. The target audience of the channel is mostly children and adolescents, particularly boys aged 6-18. Aaron Stone, a live action program, was the first show to be aired on Disney XD India. As of 2010, the channel is owned by Star TV, in India, which is owned by Fox. Fox Kids was sold to the Disney/ABC brand in 2002, which developed the channel into Toon Disney and later to Disney XD.
Programmes of Toon Disney (Disney XD)
Programming is also available in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu other than English. Disney XD programming line-up also features shows based on the cartoon icons such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. Although the majority of the network`s programming is animation, live-action programming is also shown, which includes the very popular Power Rangers. Other programs include Art Attack, which was one of the most popular, Vicky and Vetaal, Agadam Bagadam Tigadam, and also from other networks, Hero, Zoran, and Dharam Veer. It also showed the best of Disney from Mickey Mouse and Friends, The Legend of Tarzan, Aaron Stone Season 2, Kid vs. Kat, Dragon Hunters, Incredible Hulk, Kick Buttowski, The Monkey King, The Fantastic Four, Pair of Kings, Madan Senki Ryukendo, The Adventures of King Vikram, Almost Naked Animals, Kick Buttowski, Munro the Wonder Chicken, The Owl, The Legend of Tarzan and Spiderman.
Toon Disney or Disney XD also features movies which are both animated and live action.