Do You Think That There Should Be A Disney Classics Channel?

[Cosmic Creepers]

With many people in dislike of the way Disney films are aired on television [with heavy editing, too many commercials, logos and ads flashed across the screen during the film, etc.] I am posting this thread to ask: Do you think there should be a Disney Classics channel? I believe that Disney films should be given the exact same treatment as that given those airing on TCM and FOX Movie Channel. Two years ago TCM in fact aired several Disney classics over the course of a month in their original versions with their original aspect ratios as well as commentary before and after each film by Robert Osborne. Some of these titles do continue to air on the channel but they are few and far between. This is why Disney needs a channel like TCM: they can air their films in their entirety and commercial free in constant rotation. Since Disney Channel has itself stopped airing pretty much anything made prior to 1995 and whatever they do air is riddled with commercials they should make this channel. So, do you think there should be a Disney Classics channel or not?

[Elladorine]

I would really enjoy something like that. Not only would it please a lot of us old-school fans, maybe they could acquire some new old-school fans in the process. So many are growing up without any exposure to Disney outside of Hannah Montana and Princess merchandise because the company isn't bothering to make it available.

[KubrickFan]

Aren't there too few classics to use for a television channel? Wouldn't the titles rotate very often? I don't know how TCM does that (we don't get it here, unfortunately) but I think they can broadcast more titles because they're affiliated with more and different studios.
Of course the best thing would be to have a Vintage bit on the Disney Channel, with an episode of Disneyland (how many of those survived) prior to it, or classic cartoons.
Warner does this for many old titles on DVD, called 'Warner Night At The Movies', which gives the viewer a cartoon, a short subject and newsreel footage, prior to the actual movie. You almost feel like you're in a real theater around that time.

[UmbrellaFish]

Aren't there too few classics to use for a television channel? Wouldn't the titles rotate very often? I don't know how TCM does that (we don't get it here, unfortunately) but I think they can broadcast more titles because they're affiliated with more and different studios.

If there was a "Vault Disney Channel", I think they'd have plenty material if they went from Laugh-O-Grams to the Disney Afternoon. I mean, it wouldn't have to be all movies all the time, because you're right, I don't think Disney has enough material to spread out over a TV schedule like that. But a mixture of Alice cartoons, WWII-era Silly Symphonies, an episode of Darkwing Duck, a 1970s Disney slapstick comedy, and maybe a brand new documentary about the creation of the Buena Vista distribution company for an average day's schedule would please me.

[KubrickFan]

Aren't there too few classics to use for a television channel? Wouldn't the titles rotate very often? I don't know how TCM does that (we don't get it here, unfortunately) but I think they can broadcast more titles because they're affiliated with more and different studios.

If there was a "Vault Disney Channel", I think they'd have plenty material if they went from Laugh-O-Grams to the Disney Afternoon. I mean, it wouldn't have to be all movies all the time, because you're right, I don't think Disney has enough material to spread out over a TV schedule like that. But a mixture of Alice cartoons, WWII-era Silly Symphonies, an episode of Darkwing Duck, a 1970s Disney slapstick comedy, and maybe a brand new documentary about the creation of the Buena Vista distribution company for an average day's schedule would please me.

It could definitely work, but would the demand be big enough? And even more important (for me) would it be broadcast in other countries as well .

[IagoZazu]

That would be great! If it could also play TV shows that aren't aired anymore like House of Mouse along with the movies and classic cartoons, I would watch it every day.

[PatrickvD]

Disney Channel actually does an okay job broadcasting classic films over here in Holland. Still, a classic channel would be amazing. Too many kids today grow up not knowing the Disney classics. From the shorts to the full length features.

[Mason_Ireton]

Well the kids are familar with the classic films but not a whole due to the new Disney makin a impact thru TV, Parks, etc.

But I'd love a Disney Classics network and they can show the classic tv shows (M..M Club, Disneyland: The Series) it'd defintly be worth watchin than the new Disney Channel.

[toonaspie]

I think they should have plenty of material for their channel though knowing Disney I would assume that it would be a cable channel that you have to get a satellite dish for or something.

[Margos]

I agree, that would be an excellent idea, as long as they showed plenty of animation. They could really just run marathons of randomly-selected shorts for like 2 hourse each day, and that would be enough to keep me happy, I think.

[merlinjones]

I definitely think a Disney Classics Channel is needed and wanted, not just by film buffs, but by families and nostalgic baby boomers.

If the Walt Disney library material -- with all the Walt classics and cartoons and characters -- is not better perpetuated to new generations (as it always was until 10-15 years ago), the whole goose-that-laid-the-golden-egg thing is threatened for future years. These shows provide the emotional heart and soul and potent nostalgia that all the new stuff draws upon. Without this specificity and context, "Disney" is just another brand - - not a meaningful name or ideal.

[disneyfella]

I think there is plenty of stuff in the Disney film library to fill up a complete "Vault Disney" Channel. Excluding the over 300 films released theatrically under the Disney banner, don't forget all the hundreds and hundreds of television movies and mini-series that Disney created....not to mention acquisitions and 'off label' production (i.e. Splash, Country, etc) that Disney could air on that channel. The problem is, that Disney needs to start treating these films like the important part of film history and history of the company that they are.

On a somewhat related note I found this on YouTube and it reminded me that The Disney Channel used to be the channel we all want it to be. Check out these original movies made for The Disney Channel circa 1991.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHhTL7FwfdU

[Wonderlicious]

I have to agree that a Vault Disney Channel would be a good idea, even if it didn't play completely round the clock (perhaps 9am to 12am). In the UK, there's Disney Cinemagic, which does show quite a few of the major animated classics (I believe that they're even showing Snow White soon) and that could at least foreshadow the potential success of a movie channel not related to High School Musical or Miley Cirus. There are thousands of feature films, shorts, featurettes, TV shows and documentaries that are otherwise gathering dust, and there certainly would be demand for it (I believe that Vault Disney was at the very least a modest success and only shut down in the light of the success of the first teeny-bopper wave).

[DisneyJedi]

Yes, yes, YES!! THIS IS EXACTLY THE ANSWER!!!!

[zackiellovedisney]

I think Disney should do this
movies.
The channel will show a Disney movie about every 3 hours. Whether it be something new as Princess and the Frog or something old like Snow White. It will also include the gigantic amount of live action movies. Also Disney owns a lot of companies and could use more adult movies maybe after 11 o clock. In between movies they could show a hour and a half of old Disney shorts. This will entertain old fans. The other hour and a half can be 3 episodes of 1 random Disney show. Each block can have a different show.

I actually think we should make a petition on this really happening. All we do is talk I think we should actually make this happen. It will be great for Disney because it will increase their fanbase. It will also make their older releases more popular

[merlinjones]

Definitely. New generations need easy access to Walt's classic works and characters to perpetuate the legacy.

[Scamander]

Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney, Disney Cinemagic (HD)

Aren't these enough Disney Channels? Disney Cinemagic shows almost only films and also beloved (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty) or less popular (The Sword in the Stone, The Black Cauldron) classics restored and in HD. There's no need for a sixth channel.

[BelleGirl]

Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney, Disney Cinemagic (HD)

Aren't these enough Disney Channels? Disney Cinemagic shows almost only films and also beloved (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty) or less popular (The Sword in the Stone, The Black Cauldron) classics restored and in HD. There's no need for a sixth channel.

The only one avialable for me is Disney XD.

[merlinjones]

>>Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney, Disney Cinemagic (HD)

Aren't these enough Disney Channels? Disney Cinemagic shows almost only films and also beloved (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty) or less popular (The Sword in the Stone, The Black Cauldron) classics restored and in HD. There's no need for a sixth channel.<<

There is here. In the US, none of these outlets (and I don't even know of the existence of Disney Cinemagic domestically) -- or ABC -- show Walt Disney's film, cartoon and TV library anymore at all, save some of the animated classics. It's easier to catch some of Walt's films on TCM or Hallmark on occaision. Families, baby boomers, animation and film buffs, fans and just plain folk would benefit from easier access to the complete works of Walt Disney. The Disney Channel once programmed a full mix of shows from all eras, back when it was a pay service, and it inspired a new generation of Walt's admirers. In the last 10-15 years this has been lost as all of the "old" shows were marginalized by the ironic Vault Disney label in late night, then swept away entirely in a rebranding effort.

[Giygas]

Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney, Disney Cinemagic (HD)

1) Playhouse Disney is a programming block, not a channel.
2) Toon Disney either turned into Disney XD or Disney Cinemagic, depending on what country you live in.

So there's really only two channels.