DisneyNOW - Shows & Live TV
By Christy Matte,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Disney Channel faves plus branded games; lots of ads.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this app.
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
DisneyNOW - Shows & Live TV
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Dull, and better to use Hulu or Netflix for Disney than this
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No parental control; too many ads
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What’s It About?
DISNEYNOW - SHOWS & LIVE TV allows kids to enjoy their favorite Disney Channel (as well as Disney Junior, Disney XD, and Radio Disney) content on the go. There's a wide range of TV shows and movies, as well as curated selections like holiday content. Kids can even find extras like the "As Told by Emoji" videos. There are plenty of older shows as well as all the new favorites, and the offerings do change over time. To access their favorites more quickly, kids can create their own list. Some cable providers also include access to live content. DisneyNOW - Shows & Live TV includes dozens of games based on popular franchises in a range of genres, including puzzle, cooking, endless runner, and so forth. There are also a few creative endeavors, like a coloring game and one that invites kids to put together their own Bizaardvark video.
Is It Any Good?
For kids who are huge Disney Channel fans, this collection of TV shows, movies, and games is pretty close to nirvana. DisneyNOW - Shows & Live TV allows kids to continue to enjoy their favorite content without monopolizing the family TV. Moreover, they can extend their play into games and creative activities featuring their favorite characters. The app isn't without pitfalls, though. The advertising feels heavy-handed at times, especially when it comes to younger players, and the settings should really include an appropriate parent gate to keep little ones from switching from Disney Junior to Disney XD. In the end, the success of the app in your family will likely match your feelings about Disney Channel programming to begin with. It's an easy-to-navigate experience, so if you can't bear to listen to one more episode of Jessie, this colorful and jam-packed app might just save your sanity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about respect. Are the characters in DisneyNOW - Shows & Live TV respectful to each other? How can you tell? What are the rules in your own house around respect?
What makes a good friend? How do you show your friends that you care about them? Has a friend ever done something unkind to you?
Talk to your kids about screen use and limits. How can kids enjoy digital media in balance with other activities?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Kindle Fire
- Subjects: Hobbies: cooking, gardening
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: solving puzzles, Creativity: imagination, making new creations, producing new content, Emotional Development: empathy, Communication: friendship building, Responsibility & Ethics: embracing differences, learning from consequences, making wise decisions
- Pricing structure: Free (some content may require a paid cable subscription)
- Release date: October 7, 2017
- Category: Entertainment
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Brothers and Sisters, Music and Sing-Along
- Publisher: Disney
- Version: 6.0.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 9.0 or later; Android varies by device
- Last updated: October 9, 2017
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Where to Download
Our Editors Recommend
Disney Junior TV
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