The Disney Channel (Please Read!)

[trekkie]

Read this "entire" post, y'all:

"It is not myself I am thinking about, but it is the affect of what might happen to whatever is left that bothers me" -- Walt Disney
The "new" Disney Channel is ignoring the very principles they were founded under and is spitting on the Disney name as a whole.
The following comment is from a once proud Disney Channel viewer who has signed the official petition. They sum up our case perfectly:
"I live in an area where the Disney Channel is a premium channel. After subscribing for nearly ten years, we un-subscribed in the fall of 1998 ... Fall [of] 1998 was when I started college, so I had grown up with the Disney Channel but had lost interest with the changing program. Without me at home, my parents nixed the channel. Through the 'old' Disney Channel, I was introduced to wonderful old movies. It was on Disney that I first saw a lot of the Disney classics as well as Hollywood classics like the musicals of Rogers and Hammerstein. It used to be programming that my parents and I could watch together when I was younger. Now the only group your channel plays to is the 12 and under crowd. Shame on you! Disney is about family and once this channel was for family, now it's a commercial filled un-watchable channel for Disney fans. I might as well watch Nickelodeon or MTV and I don't have to pay extra."
We are not saying that they should get rid of programs such as Lizzie McGuire and Boy Meets World. Rather, mix current shows in with other daytime programming such as higher quality behind the scenes shows, Classic Hollywood (A Disney Channel series that used to show live action films from Hollywood's Golden Age), cartoon shorts, old cartoon series from Disney Afternoon (Perhaps the channel could have its own two hour Disney Afternoon show with rotating cartoons each day; like Pepper Ann, Ducktales, Talespin, and Doug one day; Tarzan, Recess, Goof Troop and Darkwing Duck another; and so on), and vintage episodes of Walt Disney's television shows. Bring back the yearly Animation Festival, Disneyland/Walt Disney World history shows and opening day programs on each parks birthday. It's not too much to ask for. The station would not only re-gain its legacy and original reputation, but it would undoubtedly receive a broader and more diversified audience.
Hey; Why not just turn Disneyland into a giant playground with shops? There's an idea. After all, it would be cheaper to operate and future generations will know it only it as a giant kiddy area. Not the family entertainment giant it once was.
Just like the Disney Channel.
If certain areas in this company ignore their principles, they stop the Disney name from flourishing. Not just as a company. But also as a man. A pioneer. Walt Disney, to be precise. Whose philosophy in the Disney Company was always to entice people to visit all of their masterpieces by providing nothing but "High quality family entertainment." The company he built currently preaches about family, yet at the same time ignores the very aspects and principles of family entertainment upon which they were built.
When the Disney Channel began to ignore these ideals, they helped to stop the Disney name from flourishing. Not just as a company. And Flourishing into what it was destined to be.
But also as a man. And What he was always meant to be.
If anything, transform ABC Family or Toon Disney into Walt Disney Family or Disney Channel Family; and put old Disney programming there. What is the harm of mixing in classic Disney films and TV shows for current and future generations to enjoy? After all, "this" is where Disney came from; "this" is where Disney was more of a magical legacy than a generic brand name, such as Nickelodeon or MTV.
I remember watching Bonanza on the Hallmark Channel one night, and I got kind of teary eyed during the commercial breaks when they showed previews of what westerns, Disney classics and original all-American movies were coming up. I remember thinking to myself "This is how the Disney Channel used to be; these are the values upon which it was built." The only difference is that Disney included cartoons and other children's programming during weekday mornings and afternoons.
But the Hallmark Channel is what the Disney Channel once was; and what the Disney Channel was always meant to be.
And It's sad. It's insulting and demeaning to not only Walt, but also his friends, family and everyone else whose un-dying love and dedication helped him achieve his lifelong dreams.
Back in the good days of the channel (1980's-early 90's), the station was widely flourishing; maybe not as much as today with the 16 and under crowd, but it was doing just fine. It would have been fine if they added a few more kiddy shows to make the channel more popular with the young crowd, but instead they converted the entire daytime lineup to a preteens dreamland. At least the Disney Channel had Vault Disney; that us until last year, when it was totally done away with. Why wouldn't today's generation like Old Yeller, Davy Crockett or Heidi? This is where Disney came from; films like these are true family classics; and they deserve to be showcased on the Disney Channel! I grew up during the 1980's, and I loved programs like Old Yeller, Heidi, Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Pollyanna, Davy Crockett, the Parent Trap, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Swiss Family Robinson, the Shaggy Dog, the Apple Dumpling Gang, Mary Poppins, classic Disney animated films, etc when I first saw them in the 1980's. I even know for a fact that many, many people under the age of 16 love the older stuff and behind-the-scenes television specials!
You want to know why Disney stock has been a joke since 1995 and Eisner became CEO? They are alienating many of the most loyal Disney fans!
The real Disney philosophy of high quality FAMILY entertainment wasn't rocket science. Taking that away is morally wrong.
Not to mention the fact that Eisner is too clueless to realize he's losing tons of money -- from us loyal Disney fans --because of it. And Instead of trying to fix it, he continues to alienate -- not to mention saturate with cheap "tween-oriented" stuff -- the Disney brand.
Anybody can gaurantee that the Disney Channel won't completely get rid of its current programming; ten years from now, a new generation of twelve year olds will probably be squealing over old Lizzie McGuire and Kim Possible re-runs. We can't change that. But ... what we are fighting for is classic movies and television shows thrown into the mix. No, old DISNEYLAND and WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR episodes with ZORRO & DAVY CROCKETT might not score as high in the ratings as LIZZIE MCGUIRE, but it will score high with thousands of fans around the nation who no longer watch the Disney Channel because it's no longer family entertainment. Balancing ratings with the kiddy and family-oriented programming makes more sense anyway. I'm not just speaking of principle (Although that is important); I'm also speaking of reputation. Many people today still see Disney as a company that has alienated them to no end; frankly, I do as well. If the channel were to retain some of its ideals and principles -- more importantly, some of Walt Disney's ideals and principles -- it would increase customer satisfaction. People in areas where the Disney Channel is a pay channel will suddenly start purchasing it, and Disneyland could even plan special events around the station, such as an animation celebration in Fantasyland co-insiding withe the animation festival on the Disney Channel, or one week where Zorro and Davy Crockett roam around in Frontierland, taking photos outside of Rancho Del Zeco and the Golden Horseshoe.
So many possibilities to make the entire family happy; and just as Walt would have wanted it, too.
Here is a somewhat heartbreaking note that I got from a person who signed the petition:
"I know that I took some of the excellent shows for granted that were on the Disney Channel in the evenings (My Tivo would automatically record anything with Disneyland in the title). But now some short sighted execs have cut many of the true "Disney" shows. I teach 4th grade, and interestingly enough, one of my students asked one time "You mean Walt Disney was a PERSON?" Bring back the classics so that the kids will learn about Walt and his dream."

[RWCTV]

Originally posted by trekkie
"It is not myself I am thinking about, but it is the affect of what might happen to whatever is left that bothers me" -- Walt Disney
If certain areas in this company ignore their principles, they stop the Disney name from flourishing. Not just as a company. But also as a man. A pioneer. Walt Disney, to be precise. Whose philosophy in the Disney Company was always to entice people to visit all of their masterpieces by providing nothing but "High quality family entertainment." The company he built currently preaches about family, yet at the same time ignores the very aspects and principles of family entertainment upon which they were built.
When the Disney Channel began to ignore these ideals, they helped to stop the Disney name from flourishing. Not just as a company. And Flourishing into what it was destined to be.
But also as a man. And What he was always meant to be.
If anything, transform ABC Family into Walt Disney Family and put old Disney programming there. What is the harm of mixing in classic Disney films and TV shows for current and future generations to enjoy? After all, "this" is where Disney came from; "this" is where Disney was more of a magical legacy than a generic brand name, such as Nickelodeon or MTV.

Thank you for this post. I totally agree with all of this. Walt Disney did his movies for the enjoyment of kids first, and the money second. Today, under the leadership of Michael Eisner, the Disney company is one big COMPANY. In fact, Michael Eisner is so money-hungry, that even the satirical show "Family Guy" satirized him.

Notice this:
I am sure everyone has noticed all of the unecessary made-for-video sequels made in the Disney Animation Department (a lower budget department) of classic films that many have grown up with for decades. Now, some of these made-for-video sequels to classic Disney films have been released in theaters, I believe to "make them look respectable enough for the people to go and see". Of course many people see the "quality" through marketing campaigns and TV spots and see the cheap quality.

Walt Disney, the man would not make an unecessary sequel to one of his animated classics. Now we have seen sequels to Aladdin, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, and more. In terms of sequels, Fantasia 2000 was definately worth it and went through a cycle in IMAX and regular movie theaters before it hit VHS and DVD.

Have you also noticed the corny made-for-TV/Cable/Satellite movies that has come out of there? On Sunday, there will be some movie about a girl at the Plaza Hotel in New York. To me, I thought "Oh crap, they are re-creating Home Alone 2 (and they did make a Home Alone 4 by the way for Disney TV) with a girl instead of Macaulay Culkin as well as shoving Julie Andrews (whom I loved in Mary Poppins) in it to attract viewers.

Roy E. Disney (Walt's real-life nephew) is a mere Vice President and the only known survivor connected to the Walt Disney bloodline. You would think that he would carry on the tradition that his Uncle brought to the world through his talent, but no.

Money is the key issue here. Michael Eisner is so money hungry that he is the man who asked Bill Clinton to start a talk show.

[trekkie]

I have changed the goal of this campaign, to get a VAULT DISNEY or DISNEY FAMILY CHANNEL on television.

Please, I urge every one of you to sign the petition.

We "can" get the Disney magic and guiding principles back on television!

[spunkygirl]

Originally posted by LucyFan

I hate it. It has gone to good to bad to worse in a matter of six years and probably less than that. The channel has completely changed from it's original programming. The old Disney channel back then was far more better than it is now. Back then, they had everything from classic movies to great cartoons (Ducktales, Goof Troop, ect.) to series of all kinds. It was great.

I actually like the Disney Channel better now than in the past. When they had the Mickey Mouse club and all those other shows on it I didn't care much for the channel. I think it's alot better now than it used to be. Yes there are things they can add to honor the Disney history and traditions.

For me Disney is a basic cable channel. It used to be premium until January of this year.

[Czas na Zywiec]

Originally posted by Topanga

For me Disney is a basic cable channel. It used to be premium until January of this year.

Disney has been on my basic cable line-up since around 97/98.

[*PinkLady*]

I didn't have the Disney Channel when it showed the good stuff. Figures. I do sort of like it now...I watch certain episodes of BMW and Smart Guy. But they have way overdone it with the 5 million episodes of Sister Sister and their ******** movies.