Disney Officially Renames Its TV Empire

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Published Jun 15, 2026, 5:02 PM EDT

Ryan O'Rourke is a Senior News Writer at Collider with a specific interest in all things adult animation, video game adaptations, and the work of Mike Flanagan. He is also an experienced baseball writer with over six years of articles between multiple outlets, most notably FanSided's CubbiesCrib. Whether it's taking in a baseball game, a new season of Futurama or Castlevania: Nocturne, or playing the latest From Software title, he is always finding ways to show his fandom. When it comes to gaming and anything that takes inspiration from it, he is deeply opinionated on what's going on. Outside of entertainment, he's a graduate of Eureka College with a Bachelor's in Communication where he honed his craft as a writer. Between The IV Leader at Illinois Valley Community College and The Pegasus at Eureka, he spent the majority of his college career publishing articles on everything from politics to campus happenings and, of course, entertainment for the student body. Those principles he learned covering the 2020 election, Palestine, and so much more are brought here to Collider, where he has gleefully written on everything from the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes to Nathan Lane baby-birding sewer boys.

If you grew up watching Disney Channel, Disney XD, or any other younger-skewing shows under the wider Disney banner, then you were likely watching the productions of Disney Channels Worldwide, ABC Cable Networks Group, or whatever name the Mouse House's cable division was under at the time. No matter the title, the mission has remained the same — to provide content made for younger audiences and families, from animated shows like Duck Tales and Phineas & Ferb to live-action favorites like Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place. In 2020, with Disney merged with 20th Century Fox, the operation shifted under the all-encompassing banner of Disney Branded Television, headed by Disney Channel veteran Gary Marsh, which would handle similar duties across an even wider range with streaming becoming a big part of the formula.

Now, though, the Disney Branded Television era is officially over. According to a new report, the House of Mouse has moved to rename its children, teen, and family-oriented television division once again following a review by Disney Entertainment Television chair Debra OConnell. It will now operate under the name Disney Kids & Family, designed to better represent the varied content the banner provides across Disney's myriad platforms, from Disney+ to Disney Channel and other digital offerings. In particular, the "branded" part was a bit of a sticking point, considering the division doesn't just produce series connected to the entertainment giant's biggest IP.

As it stood, Disney Branded Television had its fair share of titles based on established Disney names, like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Descendants, and Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, as well as shows adapted from books licensed by the company, like Percy Jackson & The Olympians and partnerships with other Disney banners like Marvel and Pixar. However, much of its work involves original IP, like Phineas & Ferb, the Zombies franchise, Sofia the First: Royal Magic, and Camp Rock, and there's a mix of television and TV/streaming movies. Third-party shows, like the global smash-hit series beloved by kids and adults alike, Bluey, also don't fit under the "branded" name either. In a letter about the name change, OConnell and division head Ayo Davis emphasized why Disney Kids & Family is the perfect fit for their mission now and how a facelift isn't changing where their commitments lie.

"Together, we have built enduring franchises beloved by kids and families around the world. Our new name better reflects the creativity, ambition and storytelling we’re known for, while bringing greater clarity to the creative community about who we are and what we create. While our name is changing, our commitment to great storytelling – and to all of you – remains exactly the same. Thank you, as always, for your partnership, collaboration and creativity. We’re grateful for everything we’ve built together… and everything still to come."

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