Disney plans to shut down its SoapNet channel in favor of launching a 24-hour preschool channel in its place. Disney Junior for kids ages 2 to 7 is expected to premiere in 2012.

Leading up to the launch in 2011, Disney will rename its Playhouse Disney preschool block on the Disney Channel to Disney Junior. When Disney Junior goes live in 2012, the preschool block on Disney Channel will continue to exist. The new 24-hour channel will be headed up by Carolina Lightcap, president of Disney Channels Worldwide. Nancy Kanter, senior vice president of Playhouse Disney will continue to lead preschool programming. The channel will air series such as "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Handy Manny," "Special Agent Oso" and "Imagination Movers."

Disney Junior will be competing against a number of other preschool networks, including Nick Jr (Nickelodeon), PBS Sprout (Comcast, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop) and Qubo (Scholastic, Ion Media, NBC Universal and Corus Entertainment), as well as the upcoming fall launch of The Hub (Hasbro and Discovery Communications). In addition, BBC Worldwide America is looking to distribute a U.S. version of CBeebies.