By rikififi90 
Disney shuts down channels in Brazil during Carnival, shifts focus to Disney+ streaming
The 2025 Carnival marked a significant shift for pay-TV subscribers in Brazil: as of March 1, The Walt Disney Company pulled several traditional channels, including Disney Channel, Baby TV, Cinecanal, FX, and National Geographic, off the air. Announced in December 2024, this decision reflects Disney’s global strategy to prioritize Disney+, its streaming platform, which now exclusively hosts content previously available on linear programming. Only ESPN channels, dedicated to sports broadcasts, remain active on pay-TV grids, while the others ceased transmission, signaling the end of an era for Brazilian cable television. The move affects millions of viewers and underscores the ongoing transition of entertainment to digital platforms.
Starting on Carnival Saturday, pay-TV operators began displaying messages on screens where the discontinued channels once aired, explaining that the interruption stemmed from Disney’s own directive. Beloved children’s shows, classic movies, and documentaries that filled these schedules are now accessible solely through Disney+, which boasts a robust catalog and a growing subscriber base in Brazil. In 2024, the company reported 124.6 million global Disney+ subscribers, a milestone that bolsters its shift toward streaming as the future of media consumption.
This isn’t a standalone move. Disney has been scaling back its linear TV presence in other markets, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and parts of Latin America, since launching Disney+ in 2019. In Brazil, the channel shutdowns during the festive Carnival period caught some subscribers off guard, yet they align with the broader trend of audiences migrating to on-demand services that offer greater flexibility and exclusive content.
Disney’s global push toward digital dominance
Focusing entertainment efforts on Disney+ is a deliberate part of the company’s roadmap. In December 2024, Disney explained that phasing out channels responds to evolving media and entertainment landscapes, aiming to meet consumer needs with agility. The transition has unfolded gradually in Brazil, with channels like Disney XD and Nat Geo Kids already discontinued in 2022, but now it hits iconic names like Disney Channel and National Geographic, longtime staples of pay-TV.
The shift also mirrors financial gains from streaming. In its 2024 earnings report, released in February, Disney recorded a revenue of $24.7 billion, up 5% from the previous year. The Disney+ subscriber base, exceeding 124 million worldwide, stood out as a key driver, proving the platform’s profitability in multiple regions. In Brazil, the 2024 merger of Star+ into Disney+ expanded the service with adult-oriented content and sports, further solidifying its digital offerings.
Meanwhile, pay-TV in Brazil faces ongoing challenges. The subscriber base dropped from 19.5 million in 2014 to roughly 11 million by 2023, a decline fueled by the rise of services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. Disney’s decision accelerates this shift, redirecting content once tied to fixed schedules into an on-demand experience.
Immediate impact on Brazilian subscribers
Millions of families tuning into Disney Channel during Carnival noticed its absence starting in early March. Children used to watching shows like “Phineas and Ferb” or “Gravity Falls” must now turn to Disney+ to keep up. Fans of National Geographic documentaries and Cinecanal or FX movies face the same shift, losing their spots on traditional grids.
Operators such as Claro, Vivo, and SKY displayed notices clarifying that the blackout was Disney’s call, unrelated to their own policies. For many subscribers, this demands quick adaptation, particularly in households without high-speed internet, a prerequisite for streaming. ESPN, however, remains a constant, delivering live coverage of events like the NBA, NFL, and Libertadores, which still draw sizable linear TV audiences.
What changes with the channel shutdowns
Removing Disney’s channels from pay-TV reshapes how Brazilians access entertainment. Launched in Brazil in 2001, Disney Channel long led the kids’ programming category, rivaling Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. Hits like “Hannah Montana” and “Wizards of Waverly Place” defined generations, while National Geographic delivered award-winning documentaries on nature and science. These are now confined to the digital realm, requiring a Disney+ subscription.
The platform offers perks, such as viewing flexibility across devices and on-demand access. In Brazil, Disney+ starts at R$ 33.90 monthly for the basic plan, a competitive price compared to pay-TV packages. Its catalog also features exclusives like “The Mandalorian” and “WandaVision,” unavailable on linear channels. The Star+ merger added adult-focused movies and series, broadening its appeal.
However, the shift may exclude regions with poor connectivity. Around 25% of Brazilian households lack fixed broadband, potentially hindering the move to streaming in rural or underserved areas. For these audiences, pay-TV was often a more viable option, especially in affordable bundles that included Disney channels.
Timeline of Disney’s transition in Brazil and beyond
Disney’s channel exit in Brazil follows a global pattern over recent years. Key milestones include:
- 2019: Disney+ launches in markets like the U.S. and Canada, kicking off linear channel reductions.
- 2020: Disney Channel ends in the UK, with content shifting to streaming.
- 2022: Disney XD, Nat Geo Kids, and others shut down in Latin America, including Brazil.
- 2024: Star+ merges with Disney+ in Brazil, unifying general entertainment and sports.
- March 1, 2025: Disney Channel, National Geographic, FX, Cinecanal, and Baby TV cease broadcasting on Brazilian pay-TV.
ESPN’s survival on linear TV highlights the enduring appeal of live sports, a segment resistant to a full digital shift due to real-time viewing demands.
Content now exclusive to Disney+
With channels off-air, Disney+ becomes the sole home for a vast library. Classic Disney Channel shows like “Lizzie McGuire” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” join National Geographic’s wildlife and space exploration content in one digital space. The platform also invests in local productions, with Brazilian series like “Mundo Mistério” and “Que História É Essa, Porchat?” launched in recent years to engage national audiences.
The Star+ integration further enriched the lineup, bringing blockbusters and series like “The Simpsons” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” previously on FX and Star Channel. This consolidation ensures a diverse offering, accessible through a single subscription.
Market reactions to the shift
Disney’s move sparked varied responses in the pay-TV sector. Operators lost high-profile channels, potentially hastening subscriber losses to digital platforms. Yet ESPN’s staying power, especially among sports fans, provides some stability. In 2023, Disney’s sports channels led Brazil’s sports segment, with Libertadores matches peaking at over 5 million viewers.
Financially, the strategy paid off. Post-2024 earnings, Disney’s stock rose about 3%, driven by Disney+ performance. Analysts note that prioritizing streaming cuts operational costs tied to linear channels while boosting recurring subscription revenue.
The future of entertainment in Brazil
Ending pay-TV channels during the 2025 Carnival underscores a turning point for Brazilian media consumption. With Disney+ as its primary distribution channel, Disney bets on streaming’s flexibility to capture younger audiences. Features like offline downloads and personalized profiles meet the expectations of an increasingly connected demographic.
This trend may ripple across the industry. Pay-TV’s subscriber base, down nearly 40% from its peak, suggests other programmers might follow suit, favoring digital services. For consumers, this expands options but highlights the need for reliable internet infrastructure to keep pace with the evolution.
Disney shuts down channels in Brazil during Carnival, shifts focus to Disney+ streaming
The 2025 Carnival marked a significant shift for pay-TV subscribers in Brazil: as of March 1, The Walt Disney Company pulled several traditional channels, including Disney Channel, Baby TV, Cinecanal, FX, and National Geographic, off the air. Announced in December 2024, this decision reflects Disney’s global strategy to prioritize Disney+, its streaming platform, which now exclusively hosts content previously available on linear programming. Only ESPN channels, dedicated to sports broadcasts, remain active on pay-TV grids, while the others ceased transmission, signaling the end of an era for Brazilian cable television. The move affects millions of viewers and underscores the ongoing transition of entertainment to digital platforms.
Starting on Carnival Saturday, pay-TV operators began displaying messages on screens where the discontinued channels once aired, explaining that the interruption stemmed from Disney’s own directive. Beloved children’s shows, classic movies, and documentaries that filled these schedules are now accessible solely through Disney+, which boasts a robust catalog and a growing subscriber base in Brazil. In 2024, the company reported 124.6 million global Disney+ subscribers, a milestone that bolsters its shift toward streaming as the future of media consumption.
This isn’t a standalone move. Disney has been scaling back its linear TV presence in other markets, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and parts of Latin America, since launching Disney+ in 2019. In Brazil, the channel shutdowns during the festive Carnival period caught some subscribers off guard, yet they align with the broader trend of audiences migrating to on-demand services that offer greater flexibility and exclusive content.
Disney’s global push toward digital dominance
Focusing entertainment efforts on Disney+ is a deliberate part of the company’s roadmap. In December 2024, Disney explained that phasing out channels responds to evolving media and entertainment landscapes, aiming to meet consumer needs with agility. The transition has unfolded gradually in Brazil, with channels like Disney XD and Nat Geo Kids already discontinued in 2022, but now it hits iconic names like Disney Channel and National Geographic, longtime staples of pay-TV.
The shift also mirrors financial gains from streaming. In its 2024 earnings report, released in February, Disney recorded a revenue of $24.7 billion, up 5% from the previous year. The Disney+ subscriber base, exceeding 124 million worldwide, stood out as a key driver, proving the platform’s profitability in multiple regions. In Brazil, the 2024 merger of Star+ into Disney+ expanded the service with adult-oriented content and sports, further solidifying its digital offerings.
Meanwhile, pay-TV in Brazil faces ongoing challenges. The subscriber base dropped from 19.5 million in 2014 to roughly 11 million by 2023, a decline fueled by the rise of services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. Disney’s decision accelerates this shift, redirecting content once tied to fixed schedules into an on-demand experience.
Immediate impact on Brazilian subscribers
Millions of families tuning into Disney Channel during Carnival noticed its absence starting in early March. Children used to watching shows like “Phineas and Ferb” or “Gravity Falls” must now turn to Disney+ to keep up. Fans of National Geographic documentaries and Cinecanal or FX movies face the same shift, losing their spots on traditional grids.
Operators such as Claro, Vivo, and SKY displayed notices clarifying that the blackout was Disney’s call, unrelated to their own policies. For many subscribers, this demands quick adaptation, particularly in households without high-speed internet, a prerequisite for streaming. ESPN, however, remains a constant, delivering live coverage of events like the NBA, NFL, and Libertadores, which still draw sizable linear TV audiences.
What changes with the channel shutdowns
Removing Disney’s channels from pay-TV reshapes how Brazilians access entertainment. Launched in Brazil in 2001, Disney Channel long led the kids’ programming category, rivaling Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. Hits like “Hannah Montana” and “Wizards of Waverly Place” defined generations, while National Geographic delivered award-winning documentaries on nature and science. These are now confined to the digital realm, requiring a Disney+ subscription.
The platform offers perks, such as viewing flexibility across devices and on-demand access. In Brazil, Disney+ starts at R$ 33.90 monthly for the basic plan, a competitive price compared to pay-TV packages. Its catalog also features exclusives like “The Mandalorian” and “WandaVision,” unavailable on linear channels. The Star+ merger added adult-focused movies and series, broadening its appeal.
However, the shift may exclude regions with poor connectivity. Around 25% of Brazilian households lack fixed broadband, potentially hindering the move to streaming in rural or underserved areas. For these audiences, pay-TV was often a more viable option, especially in affordable bundles that included Disney channels.
Timeline of Disney’s transition in Brazil and beyond
Disney’s channel exit in Brazil follows a global pattern over recent years. Key milestones include:
- 2019: Disney+ launches in markets like the U.S. and Canada, kicking off linear channel reductions.
- 2020: Disney Channel ends in the UK, with content shifting to streaming.
- 2022: Disney XD, Nat Geo Kids, and others shut down in Latin America, including Brazil.
- 2024: Star+ merges with Disney+ in Brazil, unifying general entertainment and sports.
- March 1, 2025: Disney Channel, National Geographic, FX, Cinecanal, and Baby TV cease broadcasting on Brazilian pay-TV.
ESPN’s survival on linear TV highlights the enduring appeal of live sports, a segment resistant to a full digital shift due to real-time viewing demands.
Content now exclusive to Disney+
With channels off-air, Disney+ becomes the sole home for a vast library. Classic Disney Channel shows like “Lizzie McGuire” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” join National Geographic’s wildlife and space exploration content in one digital space. The platform also invests in local productions, with Brazilian series like “Mundo Mistério” and “Que História É Essa, Porchat?” launched in recent years to engage national audiences.
The Star+ integration further enriched the lineup, bringing blockbusters and series like “The Simpsons” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” previously on FX and Star Channel. This consolidation ensures a diverse offering, accessible through a single subscription.
Market reactions to the shift
Disney’s move sparked varied responses in the pay-TV sector. Operators lost high-profile channels, potentially hastening subscriber losses to digital platforms. Yet ESPN’s staying power, especially among sports fans, provides some stability. In 2023, Disney’s sports channels led Brazil’s sports segment, with Libertadores matches peaking at over 5 million viewers.
Financially, the strategy paid off. Post-2024 earnings, Disney’s stock rose about 3%, driven by Disney+ performance. Analysts note that prioritizing streaming cuts operational costs tied to linear channels while boosting recurring subscription revenue.
The future of entertainment in Brazil
Ending pay-TV channels during the 2025 Carnival underscores a turning point for Brazilian media consumption. With Disney+ as its primary distribution channel, Disney bets on streaming’s flexibility to capture younger audiences. Features like offline downloads and personalized profiles meet the expectations of an increasingly connected demographic.
This trend may ripple across the industry. Pay-TV’s subscriber base, down nearly 40% from its peak, suggests other programmers might follow suit, favoring digital services. For consumers, this expands options but highlights the need for reliable internet infrastructure to keep pace with the evolution.
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