Disney Channel Games Explained
Disney Channel Games are a Battle of the Network Stars-based annual television series that aired on the Disney Channel during the summer from 2006 to 2008.[1] [2] [3] Phill Lewis was the co-host of the 2006 and 2007 editions and Brian Stepanek hosted all three of them. The show had various stars from Disney Channel and its international iterations competing for charity as team-based contestants. The Games were filmed at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando.[4]
Disney Channel Games were not aired after 2008, but a similar series called Disney's Friends for Change Games aired in 2011.
Series overview
The Disney Channel Games began as a series of shorts that aired during summer 2006. A second edition followed in summer 2007, with the final edition of the series airing in summer 2008.
A Disney spokesperson confirmed in February 2009 that the Disney Channel Games would not be held that year due to actor availability and Disney's "focusing on the launch of a new pro-social initiative with Disney Channel and Disney XD stars".[5] [6] The result was Disney's Friends for Change initiative.[7] The series also did not air in 2010.[8]
Disney's Friends for Change Games
Disney's Friends for Change Games aired on the Disney Channel as part of Disney's Friends for Change initiative. It replaced the Disney Channel Games. The series was hosted by Jason Earles and Tiffany Thornton,[9] and again featured various Disney Channel stars as team-based contestants competing for their chosen charity. Disney's Friends for Change Games premiered on June 24, 2011, and aired five episodes through July 31, 2011, plus a recap special.
The first event was viewed by between 3.4 million and 4.9 million viewers.[10] The finale special was viewed by 3.6 million viewers, with Kids 6–11 (1.9 million/7.7 rating) and Tweens 9–14 (1.6 million/6.4 rating) making up a sizable portion of the total.[11] The entire series was viewed by over 37 million unique viewers.
Notes and References
- Web site: Richard Huff. Disney's kid 'Games': It's a big World after all. New York Daily News. April 6, 2008.
- Web site: Disney Channel Games To Begin This Week in Orlando. Jacci Lewis. TV Envy. April 28, 2008.
- Web site: Hannah Montana: The Disney Channel Games Are Underway . Buddy TV . July 29, 2008 . January 12, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180224053045/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/hannah-montana/hannah-montana-the-disney-chan-21589.aspx . February 24, 2018 . dead .
- Web site: Kristin Ford . Find the Disney Channel stars at WDW . Orlando Sentinel . June 17, 2009 . August 27, 2020.
- Web site: POPSTAR! » Disney Channel Games...CANCELLED!. Popstar!. February 4, 2009. January 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170118054228/http://dev.popstaronline.com/disney-channel-gamescancelled/comment-page-1/. January 18, 2017. dead.
- Web site: Farewell, Disney Channel Games . Orlando Sentinel . February 5, 2008 .
- Web site: The Walt Disney Company Launches Friends for Change . . May 15, 2009 . June 5, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090519223045/http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=3121352&type=lead . May 19, 2009 . mdy-all .
- Web site: Disney Channel: No Disney Channel Games this year . Orlando Sentinel . February 16, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110218220833/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/02/disney-channel-no-disney-channel-games-this-year.html . February 18, 2011.
- Web site: Kristin Ford . Jason Earles co-hosts Disney Friends for Change Games, stars in 'Kickin' It' . Orlando Sentinel . June 22, 2011 . January 17, 2017.
- Web site: Friday Cable Ratings: TNT Movie, 'American Restoration' Lead Cable; 'Smackdown' Steady + "A.N.T. Farm," "Phineas and Ferb" & More . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629162946/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/27/friday-cable-ratings-tnt-movie-american-restoration-lead-cable-smackdown-steady-a-n-t-farm-phineas-and-ferb-more/96662/ . dead . June 29, 2011 . Robert Seidman . TV by the Numbers . June 27, 2011.
- Web site: 'Disney Friends for Change Games' Scores Across Multiple Platforms . https://web.archive.org/web/20110816152136/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/08/03/disney-friends-for-change-games-scores-across-multiple-platforms/99531/ . dead . August 16, 2011 . Robert Seidman . TV by the Numbers . August 3, 2011.
