What happens when Disney disappears?

Dedicated Disney channels on aggregated streaming services will start to disappear from Australian screens next month.

Dedicated Disney channels on aggregated streaming services will start to disappear from Australian screens next month as the US entertainment juggernaut pulls back its content in preparation for the launch of its Disney+ service.

As of November 7, Foxtel will remove The Disney Movie channel but children’s channels Disney and Disney Jnr will remain on the service over summer.

Local streaming service Stan declined to comment on when it would lose its Disney content, which has been a major driver of subscription numbers since a short-term deal was struck last December.

In the absence of The Disney Movie channel, Foxtel will launch a new movie channel called Foxtel Movie Kids, which will have more than 1000 movies including Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit and Adventures of Elmo in Grouch Land.

Foxtel will also remain the exclusive home of Disney’s FX studio, which includes programs such as Fosse/Verdon, Pose and American Crime Story. The service, which is owned by The Australian’s publisher, News Corp, will also refresh a number of its movie channels.

Masterpiece Movies will be rebadged as Drama. More Movies will become Movie Hits and Movie Greats will be renamed Movies Masterpiece.

Foxtel has made a number of changes to its programming and channel offerings. On the same day as the removal of The Disney Movie Channel, Foxtel will also launch its revamped entertainment line-up, Fox One, Fox Funny, Fox Hits and Fox Crimes.

On Thursday, Foxtel will launch BBC Earth, which is a replacement to BBC Knowledge. Disney+ will launch in Australia on November 19, one week after the November 12 US launch. Australian subscribers will be charged $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year.

Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany said the latest changes were just “the start”.

“The new channels across movies and entertainment add to our existing flagship channels and will be home to thousands of hours of the best live and on-demand TV all in one place,” Mr Delany said.

“There is no other collection of channel brands like those Foxtel offers on Australian television or streaming platforms.”

But both players have suggested there is still an opportunity for a local Disney tie-up.

Disney executives in April revealed they would extend the Hulu and ESPN+ streaming brands to an international audience, starting from the September quarter of 2020.

The Australian reported in June that Stan may look to do a partnership with other Disney properties, such as Hulu, and understands there is still the possibility of a bundle deal with Disney. However, nothing has been confirmed.

Foxtel’s Mr Delany has also said a Disney tie-up with a loyal player was “on the cards”.