DreamWorks Channel

{{Short description|NBCUniversal-owned TV network}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = DreamWorks Channel

| logo = DreamWorks Animation SKG logo with fishing boy.svg

| logo_size = 250px

| logo_alt = Dreamworks

| image =

| launch_date = {{start date and age|2015|8|1|df=y}}

| picture_format = {{ubl|1080i HDTV}}

| network =

| owner = NBCUniversal (Comcast)

| parent = NBCUniversal International Networks

| country =

| language = {{collapsible list|Arabic|Cantonese|Dutch|English|Filipino|French|Indonesian |Korean |Malay|Mandarin|Portuguese|Spanish|Thai|Vietnamese}}

| area = {{ubl|Asia-Pacific|Australia|Europe|Latin America|MENA|Sub-Saharan Africa}}

| headquarters =

| former_names =

| replaced_by =

| sister_channels = {{collapsible list|13th Street|CNBC|CNBC Africa|CNBC Arabiya|CNBC Asia|CNBC Europe|CNBC World|E!|Golf Channel|Sky News|Studio Universal|Syfy International|Universal TV}}

| timeshift_service = DreamWorks Channel +1

| website = {{official website|dreamworkstv.com}}

}}

DreamWorks Channel, commonly known as DreamWorks, is a pay television network owned and operated by the international networks division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. First launched in Southeast Asia on 1 August 2015, it expanded to the rest of Asia as well as Europe, Africa and Oceania. Its programming is mainly sourced from DreamWorks Animation.

In the United States, DreamWorks Animation’s shows were instead aired on Universal Kids, which launched on 9 September 2017 as a rebranding of Sprout before shutting down on 6 March 2025, with the streaming rights to DreamWorks Animation's programming in the country handled by Netflix in the United States and internationally alongside NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock, also in the US.

History

= As a standalone TV Channel =

DreamWorks Animation announced plans to launch its own TV channel on 9 December 2014 starting in Asia, rolling out over 19 countries in the second half of 2015. Singapore-based broadcaster HBO Asia was contracted to handle marketing, sales and technical services for the channel in Southeast Asia.{{cite web|last=Schwartzel|first=Erich|title=DreamWorks Wants to Start Television Channels in Asia|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dreamworks-wants-to-start-television-channels-in-asia-1418174876|access-date=22 April 2016|website=Wall Street Journal|date=9 December 2014|archive-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322034402/https://www.wsj.com/articles/dreamworks-wants-to-start-television-channels-in-asia-1418174876|url-status=live}} The studio's first foray into television channel operations in any part of the world was represented with the launch of its first dedicated channel on 1 August 2015 in Thailand through a joint venture through with CTH.{{cite web|last=Frater|first=Patrick|title=DreamWorks Animation Launches TV Channel In Thailand|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/asia/dreamworks-animation-launches-tv-channel-in-thailand-1201551924/|access-date=22 April 2016|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=28 July 2015|archive-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122207/https://variety.com/2015/tv/asia/dreamworks-animation-launches-tv-channel-in-thailand-1201551924/|url-status=live}}

A Middle East and North Africa feed of the channel launched on 1 August 2016 in partnership with the beIN Channels Network.{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Elizabeth|date=29 July 2016|title=DreamWorks channel heads to MENA|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/07/29/dreamworks-channel-heads-to-mena/|access-date=29 July 2016|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications|archive-date=10 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210072241/http://kidscreen.com/2016/07/29/dreamworks-channel-heads-to-mena/|url-status=live}}

The channel was placed under now-former NBCU International executive vice president of Lifestyle and Kids, Duccio Donati, in August 2017, following the NBCU's owner Comcast's takeover of DreamWorks Animation. This paired the channel with E! international channels and NBCU Lifestyle Channel content.{{cite web|title=NBCU EVP Duccio Donati Takes on DreamWorks Channel|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/people/nbcu-evp-duccio-donati-takes-on-dreamworks-channel/|website=Animation Magazine|date=3 August 2017|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214548/http://www.animationmagazine.net/people/nbcu-evp-duccio-donati-takes-on-dreamworks-channel/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Duccio Donati tapped for new kids role at NBCUniversal|url=http://kidscreen.com/2017/08/04/duccio-donati-tapped-for-new-kids-role-at-nbcuniversal/|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications|date=4 August 2017|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804220600/http://kidscreen.com/2017/08/04/duccio-donati-tapped-for-new-kids-role-at-nbcuniversal/|url-status=live }} On 1 January 2018, NBCUniversal International Networks took over HBO Asia's role with DreamWorks Channel in Southeast Asia.{{cite web|last=Frater|first=Patrick|title=NBCUniversal to Take Full Control of DreamWorks Channel in Asia|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/asia/nbcuniversal-full-control-of-dreamworks-channel-in-asia-1202623340/|access-date=21 April 2020|work=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=27 November 2017|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804131549/https://variety.com/2017/tv/asia/nbcuniversal-full-control-of-dreamworks-channel-in-asia-1202623340/|url-status=live }}

The channel launched on KPN in the Netherlands on 23 July 2019.{{cite web|title=KPN is launching DreamWorks channel in The Netherlands|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2019/07/22/kpn-is-launching-dreamworks-channel-in-the-netherlands/|work=BroadbandTVNews.com|author=Robert Briel|date=22 July 2019|access-date=24 July 2019|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724113523/https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2019/07/22/kpn-is-launching-dreamworks-channel-in-the-netherlands/|url-status=live}}

The channel launched as a one-month pop-up channel in Australia via Foxtel on channel 700 throughout June 2020 and returned as a regular 24/7 network the following year.{{cite web|title=Foxtel launches DreamWorks pop-up channel with NBCUniversal|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/foxtel-launches-dreamworks-pop-up-channel-with-nbcuniversal-629534|access-date=30 May 2020|website=Mumbrella|date=27 May 2020|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606222245/https://mumbrella.com.au/foxtel-launches-dreamworks-pop-up-channel-with-nbcuniversal-629534|url-status=live}}

The Sub-Saharan African feed of the channel originally launched on StarTimes on 3 August 2020,{{cite news|title=NBCUniversal's DreamWorks Channel Launches in Sub-Saharan Africa|url=https://www.techafricanews.com/2020/08/05/nbcuniversals-dreamworks-channel-launches-in-sub-saharan-africa/|access-date=4 September 2020|website=Tech Africa News|date=5 August 2020|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920183013/https://www.techafricanews.com/2020/08/05/nbcuniversals-dreamworks-channel-launches-in-sub-saharan-africa/|url-status=live}} but closed/shut down on 17 February 2022 and was supplemented by Nickelodeon on StarTimes ON in July 2022.{{cite web|date=17 February 2022|website=TV with Thinus|title=DreamWorks axed on StarTimes and StarSat across Africa|url=https://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2022/02/dreamworks-axed-on-startimes-and.html|access-date=17 February 2022|via=Blogger}} MultiChoice and NBCUIN jointly announced on 8 March 2022 that the channel would launch on DStv a week later on 18 March.{{cite web|date=8 March 2022|title=Multichoice, NBCUniversal international Networks launch new 24-hour channel on DStv|url=https://dstv.com/en-za/news/37360/multichoice-expands-content-offering-with-new-24-hour-channel|website=DStv South Africa|access-date=8 March 2022}} On its launch, the channel took over the service channel number slot previously held by Disney XD which was shut down on 1 October 2020 and supplement eToonz alongside PBS Kids.{{cite web|date=10 March 2022|title=MultiChoice to launch DreamWorks channel|website=Content Nigeria|url=https://contentnigeria.net/multichoice-to-launch-dreamworks-channel/|access-date=30 May 2022}}{{cite web|date=9 March 2022|title=DreamWorks launching on DStv this month|website=YOMZANSI|url=https://www.yomzansi.com/2022/03/08/dreamworks-on-dstv-channel-304/|access-date=30 May 2022}}{{cite web|title=DreamWorks Launches on DStv in Sub-Saharan Africa on March 18|website=Mwebantu|date=10 March 2022 |url=https://www.mwebantu.com/dreamworks-launches-on-dstv-in-sub-saharan-africa-on-march-18/|location=Lusaka, Zambia|access-date=30 May 2022}} The Sub-Saharan African channel was available on the DStv Compact, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Premium subscription packages in South Africa and on the DStv Premium and DStv Compact Plus subscription packages in the rest of Africa, although the channel was made available on the lower-tiered DStv Family and DStv Access subscription packages until 18 April to promote Team Zenko Go, The Bad Guys and The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib.{{cite web|last=Ferreira|first=Thinus|date=14 March 2022|title=TV with Thinus: Multichoice add DreamWorks kids channel from NBCUniversal International Networks to DStv.|url=https://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2022/03/multichoice-adds-dreamworks-kids.html|access-date=14 March 2022|via=Blogger}} From 27 June to 15 July 2022, the channel was made available on DStv Family alongside Disney Channel to promote Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight and Illumination's Minions: The Rise of Gru.{{cite web|title=DStv KidsOpen Window from 27 June - 15 July 2022|url=https://www.dstv.com/en-za/news/48956/kids-open-window-from-27-june-15-july|website=DStv South Africa|access-date=20 June 2022}} It is currently available on the DStv Compact Plus and DStv Premium packages, with the channel only available on DStv's other packages; DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access, during Christmas and summer time.{{cite web|date=5 June 2024|title=What to watch during school holidays on DStv|url=https://www.dstv.com/en-za/news/108422/school-holiday-line-up-on-dstv?|website=DStv South Africa|access-date=5 July 2024}}

The Philippines feed of the channel launched via Cignal on 11 September 2021, with aired productions dubbed in the Filipino language.{{cite web|title=New channels on Cignal starting September 2021|url=https://cignal.tv/article/2683/new-channels-more-awesome|access-date=2 September 2021|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902142107/https://cignal.tv/article/2683/new-channels-more-awesome|url-status=live}} It was also launched on SkyCable in mid-November that same year, though SkyCable uses its original English feed instead.{{Cite web |title=DreamWorks on SKYcable |url=http://www.mysky.com.ph/metromanila/updates/1527/2021/11/15/dreamworks-on-skycable |access-date=20 November 2021|website=SKY - Cable TV and Fiber|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203004637/https://www.mysky.com.ph/metromanila/updates/1527/2021/11/15/dreamworks-on-skycable |url-status=live }} Like the Sub-Saharan African DStv channel feed, it replaced on launch the country channel feed of Disney Channel, which shut down on the same date as the Southeast Asian Disney Channel feeds, i.e. on 1 October.

A Latin American feed launched on 1 April 2022.{{cite web|last=Salgado|first=Maria|title=DreamWorks Channel será lanzado en Latinoamérica este año|trans-title=DreamWorks Channel will be launched in Latin America this year|date=January 28, 2022|url=https://www.tvlaint.com/2022/01/dreamworks-channel-sera-lanzado-en.html|website=TVLaint|access-date=June 29, 2024|language=es-LA}}

The Malaysia feed of the channel launched via Astro on 15 January 2023 initially on Channel 622 (HD) until 31 January 2023 and will stop broadcasting for free and become part of the Kids Pack, starting 1 February 2023. On the same day, after a month later on 1 February 2023, the channel moved to Channel 612 (HD) as a replacement for TA-DAA! which closed on 1 February 2023.{{cite web|last=Ashaari|first=Alleef|date=20 January 2023|title=The DreamWorks Channel Is Now On Astro Malaysia|url=https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2023/01/the-dreamworks-channel-is-now-on-astro-malaysia/|website=Kakuchopurei|access-date=1 July 2024}}

= Universal+ launch with DreamWorks =

The channel and Universal+ launched in Spain with two television providers Movistar+ and Orange on 21 February 2021.{{cite web|title=NBCUniversal teams with Movistar+ to launch Universal+ and DreamWorks channel in Spain|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2021/01/13/nbcuniversal-teams-with-movistar-to-launch-universal-and-dreamworks-channel-in-spain/|website=DigitalTVEurope|first=Stuart|last=Thomson|date=13 January 2021|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=15 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215152206/https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2021/01/13/nbcuniversal-teams-with-movistar-to-launch-universal-and-dreamworks-channel-in-spain/|url-status=live}}

The Indian feed of the channel was launched in English via Jio TV on 25 November 2021.{{efn|name=a|The network primarily distributes NBCUniversal film and television content, with every dedicated content hub for each of their brands under Universal+ after the launch in Spain.}}

DreamWorks Channel's programming are currently available to stream on Universal+ which launched as an on-demand service in South Africa on DStv Catch Up and DStv Stream on 14 October 2022.{{cite web|title=TV with Thinus: Multichoice adds NBCUniversal's on-demand service Universal+ to DStv Catch Up from 14 October.|date=September 2022 |url=https://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2022/09/multichoice-adds-nbcuniversals-on.html|access-date=1 September 2022}}

The channel was launched along with Universal+ in France on SFR on 17 November 2022 on Prime Video Channels in 6 December 2022 and on Bouygues Telecom in 8 December 2022.{{Cite web|last=Wojciak|first=Thierry|date=7 November 2022|title=La chaine Dreamworks bientôt en France via Universal+|trans-title=The Dreamworks channel soon in France via Universal+|url=https://www.cbnews.fr/medias/image-chaine-dreamworks-bientot-france-via-universal-72550|website=CB News|access-date=20 December 2022|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|last=Gauthier|date=8 December 2022|title=Les chaînes Universal+ disponibles chez Bouygues Télécom|trans-title=Universal+ channels available at Bouygues Télécom|url=https://www.planetecsat.com/les-chaines-universal-disponibles-chez-bouygues-telecom/|website=Planète CSAT|access-date=20 December 2022|language=fr-FR}}

Programming

The content on the channel mainly consists of productions from the libraries of DreamWorks Animation Television and DreamWorks Classics including some of the former's content originally produced for Netflix; films and specials from DreamWorks Animation, Illumination and sometimes from third parties only broadcasts in the international versions.{{cite web|last=Bond|first=Paul|title=DreamWorks Animation to Launch TV Channel in Asia|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-launch-tv-channel-755631|access-date=22 April 2016|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=9 December 2014|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629023717/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-launch-tv-channel-755631|url-status=live}}

=Programming blocks=

Versions

class="wikitable sortable"
Market Type Launch date Universal+ included?{{efn|Unless otherwise indicated, "Yes" means Universal+ programming has been available since February 22, 2021, and the launch of DreamWorks Channel in the indicated country/territory.}}source
Thailand {{small|(in English)}}

| rowspan=7 |channel

| {{dts|2015|8|1|format=dmy}}

| rowspan="14"| No

| rowspan="2"|

Thailand {{small|(in Thai)}}

| {{dts|2015|9|1|format=dmy}}

Malaysia

| {{dts|2015|9|10|format=dmy}}

| {{cite news|title=Telekom Malaysia adds DreamWorks channel to HyppTV platform|url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/telekom-malaysia-adds-dreamworks-channel-to-hypptv-platform--1102124|access-date=April 22, 2016|work=Telecompaper|archive-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216143823/https://www.telecompaper.com/news/telekom-malaysia-adds-dreamworks-channel-to-hypptv-platform--1102124|url-status=live}}

Indonesia

| {{dts|2016|3|2|format=dmy}}

| {{cite news|title=First in Indonesia: Indihome Presents Channel DreamWorks|url=http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/press-release/first-indonesia-indihome-presents-channel-dreamworks/|access-date=April 22, 2016|work=Jakarta Globe|date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512230651/http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/press-release/first-indonesia-indihome-presents-channel-dreamworks|archive-date=12 May 2016|url-status=dead}}

Singapore

| {{dts|2016|3|3|format=dmy}}

| {{cite news|last=Yee|first=Yip Wai|date=25 February 2016|title=DreamWorks launches TV channel here|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/dreamworks-launches-tv-channel-here|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919025105/https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/dreamworks-launches-tv-channel-here|archive-date=19 September 2018|work=Straits Times|publisher=Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.|access-date=22 April 2016}}

Hong Kong {{small|(in English and Cantonese)}}

|rowspan=2| {{dts|2016|4|1|format=dmy}}

|rowspan=2| {{cite news|last1=Padovano|first1=Joanna|title=DreamWorks Channel Heads to Hong Kong, Macau|url=http://worldscreen.com/tvkids/dreamworks-channel-heads-to-hong-kong-macau/|access-date=April 22, 2016|work=WorldScreen: KidsTV.ws|publisher=WSN Inc.|date=April 1, 2016|archive-date=5 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505114004/http://worldscreen.com/tvkids/dreamworks-channel-heads-to-hong-kong-macau/|url-status=live}}

Macau {{small|(in English and Cantonese)}}
rowspan=2| South Korea

|channel

|rowspan=2| {{dts|2016|5|3|format=dmy}}

|rowspan=2| {{cite web|last=Alessi|first=Sara|title=DreamWorks Channel Reaches South Korea|url=http://worldscreen.com/tvkids/dreamworks-channel-reaches-south-korea/|access-date=22 April 2016|website=WorldScreen: KidsTV.ws|publisher=WSN Inc.|date=20 April 2016|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613085304/http://worldscreen.com/tvkids/dreamworks-channel-reaches-south-korea/|url-status=live}}

SVOD
Middle East & North Africa

|rowspan=16| channel

| {{dts|2016|8|1|format=dmy}}

| {{cite web|title=DreamWorks Animation unveils partnership with beIN Network|url=http://www.spielwarenmesse.de/toy-market-news/detail/dreamworks-animation-unveils-partnership-with-bein-network/|access-date=30 July 2016|website=Spielwarenmesse|date=29 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210232019/https://www.spielwarenmesse.de/toy-market-news/detail/dreamworks-animation-unveils-partnership-with-bein-network/?L=1}}

Netherlands

| {{dts|2019|7|23|format=dmy}}

|

Vietnam

| {{dts|2020|4|1|format=dmy}}

| {{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Australia {{small|(pop-up channel)}}

| {{dts|2020|6|1|format=dmy}}

|

Sub-Saharan Africa {{small|(original)}}

| {{dts|2020|8|03|format=dmy}}

|

Spain

| {{dts|2021|2|22|format=dmy}}

| Yes

|

Hong Kong {{small|(in Mandarin)}}

|rowspan=2| {{dts|2021|6|17|format=dmy}}

|rowspan="6"| No

|rowspan=2|

Macau {{small|(in Mandarin)}}
Australia {{small|(24/7 channel)}}

| {{dts|2021|7|1|format=dmy}}

| {{Cite web|date=25 June 2021|title=FOXTEL expands family offering with two new dedicated kids channels - DreamWorks and PBS KIDS|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/06/25/foxtel-expands-family-offering-with-two-new-dedicated-kids-channels-dreamworks-and-pbs-kids/|access-date=2021-06-25|website=TV Blackbox|language=en-AU|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625163224/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/06/25/foxtel-expands-family-offering-with-two-new-dedicated-kids-channels-dreamworks-and-pbs-kids/|url-status=live}}

Philippines {{small|(in Filipino)}}

| {{dts|2021|9|11|format=dmy}}

|

Thailand {{small|(TrueVisions relaunch)}}

| {{dts|2021|10|1|format=dmy}}

| {{Cite web|date=20 January 2021|title=คอแอนิเมชั่นถูกใจสิ่งนี้ "ทรูวิชั่นส์" จับมือ "ดรีมเวิร์คส์" คว้าลิขสิทธิ์รายเดียวในไทย|trans-title=Animator likes this. "TrueVisions" joins hands with "DreamWorks" to acquire the only license in Thailand.|url=https://www.tnnthailand.com/news/activities/94259/|access-date=17 November 2021|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117035857/https://www.tnnthailand.com/news/activities/94259/url-status=live|website=TNN|language=th-TH}}

Philippines {{small|(in English)}}

| {{dts|2021|11|15|format=dmy}}

|

India

| {{dts|2021|11|25|format=dmy}}

| rowspan="4" |Yes

|

Sub-Saharan Africa {{small|(relaunch)}}

| {{dts|2022|03|18|format=dmy}}

|

Latin America

| {{dts|2022|04|1|format=dmy}}

|

France

| {{dts|2022|11|21|format=dmy}}

|{{Cite web|last=Goldbart|first=Max|date=21 November 2022|title=DreamWorks Launches Kids & Entertainment Channel In France |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/dreamworks-launches-kids-entertainment-channel-in-france-1235178410/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=25 November 2022|language=en-US}}

See also

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}