On 4 July 1998, Disney Channel officially began broadcasting in Italian on Telepiù. The channel used the slogan "Libera la tua Immaginazione", which translates to "Free your imagination". Among the first programs on the channel were Disney animated television series, such as Timon & Pumbaa and Aladdin: The Series. It also showed Disney films and some Disney Channel Original Movies on "Il Fantastico Mondo Disney" each evening at 20.30. A new film was shown every Saturday at the same time slot. In January 1999, Disney Channel Italy launched its original live presentation show: Disney Channel Live. In this program, hosted by Isabella Arrigoni and Massimiliano Ossini, viewers interact with the hosts and join games. Other popular programs were Live Zone - Musica, Live Zone - Sport, Live Zone - Da scoprire, Live Zone - Da ridere and Una stella per te. On 15 November 1999, Disney Channel Italy adopted the new "Circles" logo and idents of Disney Channel UK while still keeping the slogan "Free your Imagination". In 2002, Disney Channel Italy launched two new programs: Quasi Gol and L'ora della magia. The channel has been available since the beginning on Stream and SKY Italia and even after their mergers. On 31 May 2003, Disney Channel Italy adopted the American Disney Channel's new logo, along with new graphics and idents. Live Zone ended in September 2003; it was replaced by Prime Time, led by the hosts of Live Zone, Isabella Arrigoni and Massimiliano Ossini. Even programs secondary to Live Zone were replaced by newer ones like :it:Top of the Kids|Tok, Eta Beta, and Skatenati. Another program was added, Scooter. On 24 December 2004, Disney introduced Disney Channel +1, where all regular programs from Disney Channel are postponed an hour. In 2006, almost all live shows were taken off air. Prime Time got a refresh in September 2005, with a new logo, new computer-generated graphics, and Arrigoni being the voice-over host who presented the programs. In 2005, Disney Channel Italy launched a new series called Quelli dell'intervallo, which led to the similar versions in the UK, US, Australia and other countries under the title As the Bell Rings. In 2006, Disney Channel Italy began airing many English language series from Disney Channel US. These versions were moved to a new channel called Disney in English in 2008. In February 2007, Prime Time changed its logo once again, and Patrizio Prata became its new voice-over host, although the set design and cartoons remained the same. On May 14, 2007, Prime Time ended and Disney Channel Italy adopted the "Ribbon" graphics of Disney Channel. On 1 October 2011, Disney Channel Italy adopted new "Smartphone App" logo that was introduced in the US in 2010, and began broadcasting in the aspect ratio area, and sister channelToon Disney, which was the last one under this brand, ceased broadcasting along with this timeshift. Since February 1, 2012, Disney Channel Italy began broadcasting in HD. On 9 April 2018, timeshift channels Disney Channel +2 and Disney XD +2, which launched after Toon Disney's closure ceased to air. On 1 October 2019, Disney XD and Disney in English ceased broadcasting after a deal with Sky Italia was not renewed. On 1 May 2020, at midnight, Disney Channel, along with Disney Junior, ceased broadcasting due to the launch of Disney+ in Italy.