Best president of Disney Channel - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-25-2022, 05:08 AM

It just occurred to me that a exactly a year from now will officially mark 40 years since Disney Channel officially launched (April 18, 1983).

This is going to be a bit hard, because there are two distinctively different versions of Disney Channel. The one that was a premium service from 1983 until 1996 and the ad-supported, basic cable version from 1997 through now.

Alan Wagner (1983–1984)
James P. Jimirro (1984-1985)
John F. Cooke (1985-1996)
Anne Sweeney (1996-2004)
Rich Ross (2004-2009)
Carolina Lightcap (2009-2011)
Gary Marsh (2011-2021)
Ayo Davis (2021-present)

AMackII · 04-25-2022, 01:38 PM

The One & Only John F. Cooke

merlinjones · 04-25-2022, 07:20 PM

The best Disney Channel was the WALT Disney Channel in its premium days, so Jim Jimirro and John Cooke are the ones to thank for the memories.

One thing is certain, it was Anne Sweeney from Nickelodeon that destroyed it - not only the ad supported Channel with her 'tween emphasis, but by successfully arguing to the board to phase out Walt's "dated" programming, she sewed the seeds for the implosion of everything the name stood for and then went on to do it again and again for Family Channel and ABC.

TMC · 10-06-2025, 03:02 AM

What were the pros and cons of Alan Wagner's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1983–1984)?
What were the pros and cons of James P. Jimirro's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1984-1985)?
What were the pros and cons of John F. Cooke's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1985-1996)?
What were the pros and cons of Anne Sweeney's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1996-2004)?
What were the pros and cons of Rich Ross' tenure as Disney Channel's president (2004-2009)?
What were the pros and cons of Carolina Lightcap's tenure as Disney Channel's president (2009-2011)?
What were the pros and cons of Gary Marsh's tenure as Disney Channel's president (2011-2021)?
What were the pros and cons of Ayo Davis' tenure as Disney Channel's president (2021-present)?

Dude111 · 10-06-2025, 06:58 PM

From the beggining (Alan) until the end of Johsn term in 1996 was the BEST for Disney Channel......

Alan and John probably look at Disney channel now and cant believe the rubbish on there!!!

View Poll Results: Who was the best president of Disney Channel?
Alan Wagner	1	25.00%
James P. Jimirro	0	0%
John F. Cooke	3	75.00%
Anne Sweeney	0	0%
Rich Ross	0	0%
Carolina Lightcap	0	0%
Gary Marsh	0	0%
Ayo Davis	0	0%
Voters: 4. You may not vote on this poll

04-25-2022, 05:08 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,380	Best president of Disney Channel It just occurred to me that a exactly a year from now will officially mark 40 years since Disney Channel officially launched (April 18, 1983). This is going to be a bit hard, because there are two distinctively different versions of Disney Channel. The one that was a premium service from 1983 until 1996 and the ad-supported, basic cable version from 1997 through now. Alan Wagner (1983–1984) James P. Jimirro (1984-1985) John F. Cooke (1985-1996) Anne Sweeney (1996-2004) Rich Ross (2004-2009) Carolina Lightcap (2009-2011) Gary Marsh (2011-2021) Ayo Davis (2021-present)
	Last edited by TMC; 04-29-2022 at 05:47 AM.

10-06-2025, 03:02 AM	#4
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,380	What were the pros and cons of Alan Wagner's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1983–1984)? What were the pros and cons of James P. Jimirro's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1984-1985)? What were the pros and cons of John F. Cooke's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1985-1996)? What were the pros and cons of Anne Sweeney's tenure as Disney Channel's president (1996-2004)? What were the pros and cons of Rich Ross' tenure as Disney Channel's president (2004-2009)? What were the pros and cons of Carolina Lightcap's tenure as Disney Channel's president (2009-2011)? What were the pros and cons of Gary Marsh's tenure as Disney Channel's president (2011-2021)? What were the pros and cons of Ayo Davis' tenure as Disney Channel's president (2021-present)?

04-25-2022, 01:38 PM	#2
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,198	The One & Only John F. Cooke

04-25-2022, 07:20 PM	#3
merlinjones Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2019 Location: los ángeles Posts: 931	The best Disney Channel was the WALT Disney Channel in its premium days, so Jim Jimirro and John Cooke are the ones to thank for the memories. One thing is certain, it was Anne Sweeney from Nickelodeon that destroyed it - not only the ad supported Channel with her 'tween emphasis, but by successfully arguing to the board to phase out Walt's "dated" programming, she sewed the seeds for the implosion of everything the name stood for and then went on to do it again and again for Family Channel and ABC.

10-06-2025, 06:58 PM	#5
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,313	From the beggining (Alan) until the end of Johsn term in 1996 was the BEST for Disney Channel...... Alan and John probably look at Disney channel now and cant believe the rubbish on there!!!