Nat Geo, other Disney channels end broadcast in SE Asia
People who grew up watching documentaries on the National Geographic channel are now witnessing the end of a broadcasting era as Disney has stopped the broadcast of the National Geographic channel and several of their linear television channels in the Southeast Asian region, starting Sunday, October 1.
The announcement was made on the official website of cable provider Sky Cable, who announced that aside from the National Geographic channel, channels National Geographic Wild, Baby TV, Star Chinese Movies, and Star Chinese Channel will also stop airing. The channels' last transmission was on September 30.
This isn't the first time that Disney has pulled their linear television channels from being broadcast. As far back as 2020, Disney has closed its sports channels in Taiwan. In 2021, Disney also closed Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Fox, Fox Crime, Fox Life, FX, Fox Action Movies, Fox Family Movies, Fox Movies, and Star Movies China, Fox Sports, Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports 3, Star Sports 1, and Star Sports 2. Nat Geo People and SCM Legend also stopped broadcasting in 2021.
The moves are meant to funnel viewers onto Disney's streaming service, Disney+. Disney+ first launched in the Philippines back in November, with films and television shows from National Geographic and Star.
Disney+ also has multiple shows from the Disney Channel on the streaming service, such as favorites like That's So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
Aside from nostalgic American shows, Disney+ has also had a significant amount of Korean shows and other foreign productions on it.
