DreamWorks Channel
DreamWorks Channel, commonly known as DreamWorks, is a pay television network owned and operated by the international networks division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. First launched in Southeast Asia on 1 August 2015, it expanded to the rest of Asia as well as Europe, Africa and Oceania. Its programming is mainly sourced from DreamWorks Animation. In the United States, DreamWorks Animation's shows were instead aired on Universal Kids, which launched on 9 September 2017 as a rebranding of Sprout before shutting down on 6 March 2025, with the streaming rights to DreamWorks Animation's programming in the country provided by NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock in the United States as well as on Netflix internationally.
 | |
| Broadcast area | |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Languages | |
| Picture format | |
| Timeshift service | DreamWorks Channel +1 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | NBCUniversal (Comcast) |
| Parent | NBCUniversal International Networks |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 August 2015 |
| Links | |
| Website | Official website |
DreamWorks Channel, commonly known as DreamWorks, is a pay television network owned and operated by the international networks division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. First launched in Southeast Asia on 1 August 2015, it expanded to the rest of Asia as well as Europe, Africa and Oceania. Its programming is mainly sourced from DreamWorks Animation.
In the United States, DreamWorks Animation's shows were instead aired on Universal Kids, which launched on 9 September 2017 as a rebranding of Sprout before shutting down on 6 March 2025, with the streaming rights to DreamWorks Animation's programming in the country provided by NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock in the United States as well as on Netflix internationally.
History
[edit]As a standalone television channel
[edit]DreamWorks Animation announced plans to launch its own television channel on 9 December 2014 starting in Asia, with plans to launch in over 19 countries starting in the second half of 2015. Singapore-based broadcaster HBO Asia provided marketing, sales and technical services for the channel in Southeast Asia.[1] The studio's first foray into television channel operations in any part of the world was represented with the launch of its first dedicated channel on 1 August 2015 in Thailand through a joint venture through with CTH.[2]
A Middle East and North Africa feed of the channel launched on 1 August 2016 in partnership with the beIN Channels Network.[3]
The channel was placed under now-former NBCU International executive vice president of their children's and lifestyle programming, Duccio Donati, in August 2017, following the NBCU's owner Comcast's acquisition of DreamWorks Animation. This paired the channel with E! international channels and NBCU Lifestyle Channel content.[4][5] On 1 January 2018, NBCUniversal International Networks replaced HBO Asia's role with DreamWorks Channel in Southeast Asia.[6]
The channel launched on KPN in the Netherlands on 23 July 2019.[7]
The channel launched as a one-month pop-up channel in Australia through Foxtel on channel 700 throughout June 2020 and returned as a regular 24/7 network the following year.[8]
The Sub-Saharan African feed of the channel originally launched on StarTimes on 3 August 2020,[9] but closed on 17 February 2022 and was replaced by Nickelodeon on StarTimes ON in July 2022.[10] MultiChoice and NBCUIN jointly announced on 8 March 2022 that the channel would launch on DStv a week later on 18 March.[11] On its launch, the channel broadcast on the channel number slot previously held by Disney XD which was shut down on 1 October 2020 and supplement eToonz alongside PBS Kids.[12][13][14] The Sub-Saharan African channel was available on the DStv Compact, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Premium subscription packages in South Africa and on the DStv Premium and DStv Compact Plus subscription packages in the rest of Africa, although the channel was made available on the lower-tiered DStv Family and DStv Access subscription packages until 18 April to promote Team Zenko Go, The Bad Guys and The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib.[15] From 27 June to 15 July 2022, the channel was made available on DStv Family alongside Disney Channel to promote Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight and Illumination's Minions: The Rise of Gru.[16] It is currently available on the DStv Compact Plus and DStv Premium packages, with the channel only available on DStv's other packages; DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access, during Christmas and summer time.[17]
The Philippines feed of the channel launched on Cignal on 11 September 2021, with aired productions dubbed in the Filipino language.[18] It was also launched on SkyCable in mid-November that same year, though SkyCable uses its original English feed instead.[19] Like the Sub-Saharan African DStv channel feed, it replaced the country's channel feed of Disney Channel, which shut down on the same date as the Southeast Asian Disney Channel feeds on 1 October. SkyCable removed the channel on 1 September 2024 due to contract expiration.[20]
A Latin American feed launched on 1 April 2022.[21]
The Malaysia feed of the channel launched on Astro on 15 January 2023 initially on Channel 622 (HD) until 31 January 2023. In its first two weeks, the channel broadcast as a free trial period for customers before becoming part of an Astro's children's package starting on 1 February 2023. On the same day, the channel moved to Channel 612 (HD) as a replacement for TA-DAA! which closed on 1 February 2023.[22]
Universal+ launch with DreamWorks
[edit]The channel and Universal+ launched in Spain with two television providers Movistar+ and Orange on 21 February 2021.[23]
The Indian feed of the channel was launched in English via Jio TV on 25 November 2021.[a]
DreamWorks Channel's programming are currently available to stream on Universal+ which launched as an on-demand service in South Africa on DStv Catch Up and DStv Stream on 14 October 2022.[24]
The channel was launched along with Universal+ in France on SFR on 17 November 2022 on Prime Video Channels on 6 December 2022 and on Bouygues Telecom on 8 December 2022.[25][26]
Programming
[edit]The content on the channel mainly consists of productions from the libraries of DreamWorks Animation Television and DreamWorks Classics including some of DreamWorks Animation's content originally produced for Netflix;[1] films and specials from DreamWorks Animation, Illumination and sometimes from third parties only broadcasts in the international versions.[27]
Programming blocks
[edit]- DreamWorks Jr. - This block is composed of shows targeting preschool-age children every morning and is compared to various preschool blocks in the United States, including Paramount Skydance's Nick Jr. and Channel 5's Milkshake! in the UK, The Walt Disney Company's Disney Jr. and Warner Bros. Discovery's Cartoonito.[2] Programs currently seen in this block include Guess with Jess and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion
Versions
[edit]| Market | Type | Launch date | Universal+ included?[b] | source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand (in English) | Channel | 1 August 2015 | No | [2] |
| Thailand (in Thai) | 1 September 2015 | |||
| Malaysia | 10 September 2015 | [28] | ||
| Indonesia | 2 March 2016 | [29] | ||
| Singapore | 3 March 2016 | [30] | ||
| Hong Kong (in English and Cantonese) | 1 April 2016 | [31] | ||
| Macau (in English and Cantonese) | ||||
| South Korea | Channel | 3 May 2016 | [32] | |
| SVOD | ||||
| Middle East & North Africa | Channel | 1 August 2016 | [3][33] | |
| Netherlands | 23 July 2019 | [7] | ||
| Vietnam | 1 April 2020 | [citation needed] | ||
| Australia (pop-up channel) | 1 June 2020 | [8] | ||
| Sub-Saharan Africa (original) | 3 August 2020 | [9] | ||
| Spain | 22 February 2021 | Yes | [23] | |
| Hong Kong (in Mandarin) | 17 June 2021 | No | [31] | |
| Macau (in Mandarin) | ||||
| Australia (24/7 channel) | 1 July 2021 | [34] | ||
| Philippines (in Filipino) | 11 September 2021 | [18] | ||
| Thailand (TrueVisions relaunch) | 1 October 2021 | [35] | ||
| Philippines (in English) | 15 November 2021 | [19] | ||
| India | 25 November 2021 | Yes | ||
| Sub-Saharan Africa (relaunch) | 18 March 2022 | [11] | ||
| Latin America | 1 April 2022 | [21] | ||
| France | 21 November 2022 | [36] |
See also
[edit]- Peacock, through which some Universal Kids contents are hosted
- Universal Kids, this network's defunct American equivalent, formerly Sprout.
- Sky Kids, this network's British equivalent, owned by Comcast's Sky Group.
Notes
[edit]- ^ The network primarily distributes NBCUniversal film and television content, with every dedicated content hub for each of their brands under Universal+ after the launch in Spain.
- ^ Unless otherwise indicated, "Yes" means Universal+ programming has been available since February 22, 2021, and the launch of DreamWorks Channel in the indicated country/territory.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Schwartzel, Erich (9 December 2014). "DreamWorks Wants to Start Television Channels in Asia". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ a b c Frater, Patrick (28 July 2015). "DreamWorks Animation Launches TV Channel In Thailand". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ a b Foster, Elizabeth (29 July 2016). "DreamWorks channel heads to MENA". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ "NBCU EVP Duccio Donati Takes on DreamWorks Channel". Animation Magazine. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ "Duccio Donati tapped for new kids role at NBCUniversal". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. 4 August 2017. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (27 November 2017). "NBCUniversal to Take Full Control of DreamWorks Channel in Asia". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ a b Robert Briel (22 July 2019). "KPN is launching DreamWorks channel in The Netherlands". BroadbandTVNews.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Foxtel launches DreamWorks pop-up channel with NBCUniversal". Mumbrella. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ a b "NBCUniversal's DreamWorks Channel Launches in Sub-Saharan Africa". Tech Africa News. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "DreamWorks axed on StarTimes and StarSat across Africa". TV with Thinus. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022 – via Blogger.
- ^ a b "Multichoice, NBCUniversal international Networks launch new 24-hour channel on DStv". DStv South Africa. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "MultiChoice to launch DreamWorks channel". Content Nigeria. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "DreamWorks launching on DStv this month". YOMZANSI. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "DreamWorks Launches on DStv in Sub-Saharan Africa on March 18". Mwebantu. Lusaka, Zambia. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Ferreira, Thinus (14 March 2022). "TV with Thinus: Multichoice add DreamWorks kids channel from NBCUniversal International Networks to DStv". Retrieved 14 March 2022 – via Blogger.
- ^ "DStv KidsOpen Window from 27 June - 15 July 2022". DStv South Africa. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "What to watch during school holidays on DStv". DStv South Africa. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b "New channels on Cignal starting September 2021". Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ a b "DreamWorks on SKYcable". SKY - Cable TV and Fiber. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "DREAMWORKS & NHK WORLD PREMIUM Channel Discontinuation". SKY - Cable TV and Fiber. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ a b Salgado, Maria (28 January 2022). "DreamWorks Channel será lanzado en Latinoamérica este año" [DreamWorks Channel will be launched in Latin America this year]. TVLaint (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ Ashaari, Alleef (20 January 2023). "The DreamWorks Channel Is Now On Astro Malaysia". Kakuchopurei. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ a b Thomson, Stuart (13 January 2021). "NBCUniversal teams with Movistar+ to launch Universal+ and DreamWorks channel in Spain". DigitalTVEurope. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ "TV with Thinus: Multichoice adds NBCUniversal's on-demand service Universal+ to DStv Catch Up from 14 October". September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ Wojciak, Thierry (7 November 2022). "La chaine Dreamworks bientôt en France via Universal+" [The Dreamworks channel soon in France via Universal+]. CB News (in French). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ Gauthier (8 December 2022). "Les chaînes Universal+ disponibles chez Bouygues Télécom" [Universal+ channels available at Bouygues Télécom]. Planète CSAT (in French). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ Bond, Paul (9 December 2014). "DreamWorks Animation to Launch TV Channel in Asia". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ "Telekom Malaysia adds DreamWorks channel to HyppTV platform". Telecompaper. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ "First in Indonesia: Indihome Presents Channel DreamWorks". Jakarta Globe. 2 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ Yee, Yip Wai (25 February 2016). "DreamWorks launches TV channel here". Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ a b Padovano, Joanna (1 April 2016). "DreamWorks Channel Heads to Hong Kong, Macau". WorldScreen: KidsTV.ws. WSN Inc. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ Alessi, Sara (20 April 2016). "DreamWorks Channel Reaches South Korea". WorldScreen: KidsTV.ws. WSN Inc. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ "DreamWorks Animation unveils partnership with beIN Network". Spielwarenmesse. 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "FOXTEL expands family offering with two new dedicated kids channels - DreamWorks and PBS KIDS". TV Blackbox. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "คอแอนิเมชั่นถูกใจสิ่งนี้ "ทรูวิชั่นส์" จับมือ "ดรีมเวิร์คส์" คว้าลิขสิทธิ์รายเดียวในไทย" [Animator likes this. "TrueVisions" joins hands with "DreamWorks" to acquire the only license in Thailand.]. TNN (in Thai). 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (21 November 2022). "DreamWorks Launches Kids & Entertainment Channel In France". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website (Asia)
- Official website (Worldwide)
- DreamWorks' channel on YouTube
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