Disney is canceling SOAPnet in favor of new kids channel

With soap operas going the way of land line telephones, Walt Disney Co. is pulling the plug on its cable channel SOAPnet.

In its place, Disney is launching a new kids channel that it says will target preschoolers and their parents. The network, dubbed Disney Junior, will make its debut in 2012. The competition is already tough in that arena. There is Viacom's Nick Jr., a sister channel to its powerful Nickelodeon network, and PBS Kids Sprout, which is controlled by cable giant Comcast Corp. and includes as partners HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop. Discovery is also launching the Hub in partnership with Hasbro. Turner has Cartoon Network, although it appeals to older kids.

In a statement, Disney Media Networks President Anne Sweeney blamed technology for the demise of SOAPnet.

"SOAPnet was created in 2000 to give daytime viewers the ability to watch time-shifted soaps, before multi-platform viewing and DVRs were part of our vocabulary. But today, as technology and our businesses evolve, it makes more sense to align this distribution with a preschool channel that builds on the core strengths of our company."

In other words, what few soaps are left on broadcast television are being recorded by fans who no longer tune in to SOAPnet.

Disney Junior is Disney's latest push to rule the kids TV landscape. Last year, it launched Disney XD, a network aimed at young boys that has already found success. Disney said it will use its vast library of cartoons and movies as well as create new content for Disney Junior.

-- Joe Flint

Comments

[Gwendolyn Freeman]

My second thought. What is needed on television are more educational channels/programs for children of all ages. Parents can be teaching their preschoolers their ABCs and their 123s. Let us have SoapNet and the kids can look at all the other channels geared them on tv and cable already.

[Blake]

What's the point? We already have Nick Jr., Playhouse Disney on The Disney Channel, Sprout, and PBS Kids. Isn't 4 1/2 channels enough already? I mean my mother watches SOAPnet and she's pissed. I mean look at G4; it used to be about video games and now it's about random crap thanks to Neal Tiles! I'm telling ya, society is going to hell!

[Rosemary Bertinelli]

...as if our society needed MORE television programming for our children. As a mother of 5, ranging in ages 5-26, I can speak with authority in saying that another channel to pull our children away from socialization and interpersonal reaction with others is the last thing we need.

I will admit that there are and have been quaility shows for little children and I have used the same over the years to watch with my children. Blues Clues, Oswald, Maggie & the Ferocious Beast, Pappa Beavers Storytime, Franklin, Little Bear, from Nick Jr., Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, Big Big World, Word Girl, Word World, Super Why, Dinosaur Train, Franny's Feet, etc., to name a few are tops in terms of quality children's programming. (note that none of them are Disney) Disney, the channel that one would expect to be first rate in this programming misses the mark for daily viewing.

The programming for Nick Jr, PBS, Qubo/Ion for example, are all slower paced calming influences. One can watch with his or her children or grandchildren without the young child getting all "wound up." The shows are patient, relaxing, slow paced, and full of calm social interactions, friendships, and relationships.

Disney, including playhouse disney is a steroidal plunge of energy throughout the morning. To a parents eye, Playhouse Disney offers and has not offered anything other than either computer generated, action oriented, poorly written characters, or the "wannabe-next-big-thing" children's band who are loud mouthed, "running-around", acting & dressed foolish adults or older children.

Also typical of Disney programming is the "girl power" that makes the male look like an idiot" mentality. My boys, a few of whom are old enough to exercise freedom of choice with their viewing, bypass Disney because of this. They noticed without my saying a word. As I am one of the few stay at home moms in our neighborhood, I have most of the neighborhood boys over after school. I can say that because of Disney's excessive "Girls Rool, Boys Drool" programming, Disney is not a favorite. Disney should fix what they have broken and quit going for the "big pop" all the time. It seems as if they are struggling to reach for the stars all the time and have their arms extended out so far to reach that they block their own vision. Instead of going for a more sophisticated audience, those of us who actually pay for extra quality programming with our providers, you infuse your extra channels with "appeal to the masses, miss the mark shows. What a shame! This "approaching middle aged" parent, remembers when Disney stood for quality for children. Now the younger parents see it as anything other than that.

Message to Disney, to up your ratings, you need to appeal to the parents. We watch this stuff with our children. What our children watch, matters to us. We have control over the remote control.

Replacing SoapNet? It doesn't matter. Soapnet is a dismal failure because of your horrible movies and excessive rerunning of One Tree Hill and BH90201, none of which I have ever choosen to watch. Old reruns from the old time soaps would be DVR material for many of us who used to watch with our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents and would love to see them as adults. That is what SoapNet should be about. That would have been your money, "reach for the stars" programming.

More Disney Children's programs, "meh." I'd much rather turn off the television and take my boys to the park, or the beach, or dump the lego bucket out on the floor of their bedroom and build things all day! ...that is, after watching Franklin & Super Why!

[Teresa]

Another kid show? There are so many channels and shows now. The world does not need another.

Regarding SOAPS--Bloggers and posters have been trying to tell Disney to knock off those cheesy movies and re-runs of 90210, One Tree Hill, etc.

A SOAP channel should be soaps. Bring back historical soaps. Feed our nostalagic memories. I love RYAN'S HOPE. I have to have SoapNet to get my RYANS'S HOPE fix. I would love to see other soaps get out of the vaults from wherever they are hiding.

[grace fuller]

thats dumb another kid show we have plenty everyone watched soapnet

[Sammye Moore]

I AM FURIOUS THAT RYAN'S HOPE WAS UNCEREMONIOUSLY SNATCHED OFF THE SCREEN!!! I WATCHED IT FOR SEVERAL YRS THE FIRST TIME AROUND AND ONE DAY - WITHOUT WARNING - IT STARTED FROM THE BEGINNING??? SO I AGAIN GOT 2 YEARS INTO IT AND SUDDENLY IT SIMPLY WASN'T THERE ANYMORE. THERE'S PLENTY OF OC, ONE TREE HILL, BH 90210 AND RUNNING THE SAME OLD MOVIES OVER & OVER (SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE FOR ONE)...I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD BELIEVE WE NEED ANOTHER CHILDREN'S CHANNEL -THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE. NOT EVEN A HINT WHERE RYAN'S HOPE WILL BE, IF ANYWHERE AT ALL. NO RESPECT - THAT'S WHAT I CALL IT!!! I HAVE PAID FOR CABLE AND WHOLE KIT & CABOODLE FOR YRS AND THERE'S NOT ONE BIT OF RESPECT OR REGARD FOR MY KIND OF VIEWER. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CONSIDERATION FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST THE KIDS.

[cliff dillon]

I would like to see Disney pull some of their old old stuff out of that vault that probably has about 20+ years of dust on it, like Dumbos Circus and Welcome to Pooh Corner.
It would be nice to see shows like Return to Avonly return to TV even if only while they are establishing their channel to fill it with modern landfill.
I really miss seeing Bear in the big blue house and Rollie Pollie Ollie and other wonderful shows like Jungle Cubs and Gummi Bears and DuckTales and other such wonderful shows.
Shows such as these gave kids of the 80s and 90s some fantastic story to watch and it usually taught you a lesson or helped you to use your imagination a little bit more. I say if Disney has to get rid of Soapnet and this is comming from a 30 year old mom of 2 kids and one on the way and a huge fan of Days of our Lives... Bravo Disney for bringing back something that the whole family can watch.
preschool-13years old. That should cover a great collection of your library and let this lost generation find hope in what you had done in years past.

[Jess]

I am also one who is pissed off. This is so ridiculous that they want to take away our SoapNet! >.< I along with many others out there are going to say the same damn thing until I am blue in the face, What parent allows their children to stay up at 1am or later to watch television?? Even so, we have plenty of channels for them to watch! I do not understand what the whole point is when they just put Disney Jr on the Disney channel! Why take our " adult time" away like that? What did we do to deserve this? Hello, not everyone has time to watch them during the day, so we record them. Or when you are watching them, something interrupts them for whatever reason..that is WHY we have SOAP NET! Like I said not everyone has time, or a DVR to record them...so that is why we are thankful and can fall back on Soap Net!

[Lori]

First Disney/ABC cancelled my soaps (All my children and OLTL) and now soap net too? I was a Disney fan but not anymore!! I am boycotting Disney and ABC and hope others do the same!!! Shame on the greedy clueless people who made these decisions!!!