Why doesn't Disney Channel show old Disney movies anymore?

[TheSequelOfDisney]

The oldest movie that I have seen on Disney Channel is Mulan. Except once where I saw The Rescuers on at like 2:00 pm. Why is Disney not putting on these movies? I don't think I've ever seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Little Mermaid, Bambi, Beauty and the Beast, and many, many others. Are they trying to kill us by not showing these movies? I enjoy watching these movies, but if I don't have one of them, I'd like to see it on TV. The one time I saw The Rescuers it was the first time I've ever seen a movie from pre-Mulan ever. I pretty sure that Disney Channel showed The Little Mermaid once or twice, but why aren't they showing it anymore? What's with this Disney?

[magicalwands]

They showed Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Aladdin II & III and also Alice in Wonderland on Toon Disney. I don't know about other movies but I'm sure they play those too. As for Disney Channel, I think it has too many tv shows kids would rather watch than sitting at the tv for 1 1/2 hours for a movie.

[Escapay]

AFAIK, Snow White has never been aired on broadcast or cable television. Ever.

And while it wasn't on Disney Channel, ABC aired Bambi on WWoD last year.

Usually DAC's pre-Mulan (1998 seems to be the cutoff year) don't get broadcast much on the Disney Channel, since it's much easier and cheaper to pimp out their DCOMs and DTVs as opposed to paying hefty royalties to air Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin. And a lot of the live-action stuff is usually limited to stuff from the past 10 years, because given the current "intended" audience for The Disney Channel these days (read: tweens), you ain't gonna find too many 11-13 year olds planning a viewing party when Disney schedules Pete's Dragon on Friday at 8. However, if they were gonna show High School Musical: The Smello-Version (breathe in that musky sweaty scent during "Getcha Head in the Game!"), you can bet there's gonna be a group of friends gathering together and making a whole event out of it because their preteen social lives aren't as wonderful as the ones they watch on WB.

Escapay

[my chicken is infected]

paying hefty royalties to air Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin

Ok, call me dumb, but why would Disney have to pay royalties to air their own movies?

[Escapay]

paying hefty royalties to air Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin

Ok, call me dumb, but why would Disney have to pay royalties to air their own movies?

Because while they may own the movies, they don't own Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Scott Weinger, Lea Salonga, etc. So every time that movie is show, they need to be paid for their work on it, as would the producers, the directors, the animators, etc.

Royalties are simply ways of paying people involved in a movie or tv show's production when that movie or tv show is aired again beyond its original run, or distributed on home video/dvd.

Escapay

[magicalwands]

paying hefty royalties to air Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin

Ok, call me dumb, but why would Disney have to pay royalties to air their own movies?

Possible decrease in DVD sales and lack of interest for it to come out of the vault. Why buy it when you can watch it for free on tv?

"They played Toy Story 2 so many times on Disney Channel. Let's not get it on DVD in December."

[Karushifa]

Perhaps Disney could do a series of "classic nights," maybe once or twice a month, where they could show older movies, both live-action and animated. That way, royalties don't take too much of a bite (I still think this is a lame excuse seeing as how they still show recent movies as opposed to old ones), the 'tween market isn't too disrupted, and fans of classic Disney are made happy. Plus, younger fans will have no choice but to endure movies from the good old days even before Raven was on The Cosby Show

[Kram Nebuer]

^ I like that idea! I wish Vault Disney would come back.

Also, they hardly show their old DCOMs. When was the last time you saw You Lucky Dog and Stepsister From the Planet Weird? Okay, the latter was a bad example, but they don't replay them as much as they used to. I liked Johnny Tsunami and almost had it memorized since they replayed it a million times.

[Wonderlicious]

If you scroll down to the bottom of the Wikipedia entry on The Wonderful World of Disney, there's a link to the list of episodes pre-1997 of the series, including a version in the 90s on the Disney Channel back when it wasn't as widespread where a huge number of old films (aka films from between 1937-1977) were shown. And I know that in the UK, The Great Mouse Detective, The Rescuers and Oliver and Company still get huge exposure on the Channels, and I believe Alice in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty were shown a lot a few years ago over here (yeah, I don't have any Disney Channel, but I religiously follow the rota ).

Another reason for some of the original classics not being shown (at least a lot) may link to Disney's desire to keep them ultra-popular. If headliners like Pinocchio, Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book were shown a lot, then video sales may be affected. A screening on the WWOD or the Channel once or twice a few months after the DVD release may be a good idea, but nothing more. Some of the less popular though able to draw in good figures films will get shown, and these probably include films from Mulan onwards.

And of course, now it seems like kids want to watch High School Musical 24/7 as opposed to any other Disney film...

[TheSequelOfDisney]

And of course, now it seems like kids want to watch High School Musical 24/7 as opposed to any other Disney film...

Hey now, I really like High School Musical and wouldn't mind seeing it 24/7. I guess I just brainwashed.
Oh, Escapay, I've changed my name and I shall always be called Gideon. If your not Escapay, don't worry it was a very long story!

[my chicken is infected]

Because while they may own the movies, they don't own Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Scott Weinger, Lea Salonga, etc. So every time that movie is show, they need to be paid for their work on it, as would the producers, the directors, the animators, etc.

Royalties are simply ways of paying people involved in a movie or tv show's production when that movie or tv show is aired again beyond its original run, or distributed on home video/dvd.

But then wouldn't they have to pay royalties to the actors in the DCOMs or their series too?

[numba1lostboy]

The had a "Special Viewing" of Cinderella a couple of weeks back. Does no one remember that? I see them doing the same for Little Mermaid when it has been out on DVD a couple of months.

The have also done something like someone's animated classics nights. They have had several Anim8te Weeks, when they show 8 animated films over 8 days. But granted, most of these tend to be LATT2, An Extremely Goofy Movie, and other less-than-pleasing sequels.

But I agree with the classics idea.

And, not to be morbid, but what if they air a classic film whose cast and crew has all died?

[jwa1107]

just fyi
royalties imply part ownership of an art project, such as a song
musicians get paid royalties

residuals are paid on films and television shows and are not based upon ownership

SAG made an agreement back in the mid-1950s that actors would receive TV residuals only for movies made after 1948.

as for actors who died I am not sure if their estates are eligible to receive residuals or not...

[The Sorcerer's Apprentice]

Here in the UK, a new channel has very recently popped up alongside the regular Disney Channel . . . . Disney Cinemagic!

http://www.disney.co.uk/DisneyChannel/cinemagic/

Just a few days ago they showed Bambi and Dumbo - which I saw bits of (ive seen those film so many times though ) .

Now any movies or movie related TV series are shown on Cinemagic. Plus, they show house of mouse and reruns of Classic short cartoons.

Steven.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Just a few days ago they showed Bambi and Dumbo - which I saw bits of (ive seen those film so many times though ) .

Now any movies or movie related TV series are shown on Cinemagic. Plus, they show house of mouse and reruns of Classic short cartoons.

Steven.

That's not fair!!! Why can't it be that way in the U.S.????????? I'd love to see those movies. Well, I mean I have them, but I'd like to see them on TV once in awhile. Some movies that I don't own, I would kind of like to see them on TV once in awhile. Then again, the people who do the scheduel, don't know what movies and I do and don't have. GRRR! I'm mad! GRRR!

[totallyminnie86]

Here in the UK, a new channel has very recently popped up alongside the regular Disney Channel . . . . Disney Cinemagic!

http://www.disney.co.uk/DisneyChannel/cinemagic/

Just a few days ago they showed Bambi and Dumbo - which I saw bits of (ive seen those film so many times though ) .

Now any movies or movie related TV series are shown on Cinemagic. Plus, they show house of mouse and reruns of Classic short cartoons.

Steven.

Now THAT is real Disney!! man I wish they'd do that here in the states. Why is it that disney is so ignorant to the rest of their audience in the us? all they do is cater to one demographic and that knocks out almost all original (in the sense that it was actually disney, not manufactured fake, new crap slapped with the disney labe lol) classic disney programming.

[HappyPug]

Someone told me once that they don't show them cos they want you to buy them.

Which is true, cos why would you buy any DVD if its on cable every five minutes. Just tape it.

And if its not available to buy anymore they don't put it on.
Like Peter Pan was on, then like two weeks later it was discontinued so they didnt show it here again. Stuff like that.

And if and when they do show em, like Bambi & Cinderella, its like 6 months after the DVDs have been out so you should have already bought them.

I remember watching Fantasia like 5 years ago on Disney Channel.
That was fun.

But since i have every movie of theirs I'm not phased. I can watch them
whenever.

[The Sorcerer's Apprentice]

Just a few days ago they showed Bambi and Dumbo - which I saw bits of (ive seen those film so many times though ) .

Now any movies or movie related TV series are shown on Cinemagic. Plus, they show house of mouse and reruns of Classic short cartoons.

Steven.

That's not fair!!! Why can't it be that way in the U.S.????????? I'd love to see those movies. Well, I mean I have them, but I'd like to see them on TV once in awhile. Some movies that I don't own, I would kind of like to see them on TV once in awhile. Then again, the people who do the scheduel, don't know what movies and I do and don't have. GRRR! I'm mad! GRRR!

I can sympathise with you Thesequalofdisney, there are some channels over here (like TCM) which are lousy compared to the exact same channel the USA. It's lame I know - but who knows, maybe they're trying this new channel out over here first - and if it's sucessful, they'll start up in the states?

Anyway - I have embrassed it - and I probably watch that more than the original Disney channel now.

Steven.

[Escapay]

just fyi
royalties imply part ownership of an art project, such as a song
musicians get paid royalties

residuals are paid on films and television shows and are not based upon ownership

SAG made an agreement back in the mid-1950s that actors would receive TV residuals only for movies made after 1948.

as for actors who died I am not sure if their estates are eligible to receive residuals or not...

Thanks. I always assumed royalties and residuals were the same thing.

As for your question, my chicken is infected, it'd be a lot cheaper paying residuals to DCOM actors than to actors attached to DACs. DACs get more exposure and so they're worth more, while DCOMs are limited to The Disney Channel, where Disney controls when people are allowed to watch it (aside from the few DCOMs on DVD).

Escapay

[musicradio77]

Here in the UK, a new channel has very recently popped up alongside the regular Disney Channel . . . . Disney Cinemagic!

http://www.disney.co.uk/DisneyChannel/cinemagic/

Just a few days ago they showed Bambi and Dumbo - which I saw bits of (ive seen those film so many times though ) .

Now any movies or movie related TV series are shown on Cinemagic. Plus, they show house of mouse and reruns of Classic short cartoons.

I've never of that channel before. Cinemagic is a new channel made by the Disney Channel in the UK. I don't in the UK, but I'm in the US. Cinemagic has loads and loads of Disney animated films and live action films from the 50's through the 90's. That harkens back to the "Vault Disney" days. I don't see Cinemagic coming to the US anytime soon. It's like Disney Channel meets Turner Classic Movies.