Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire

The inside story of the inner workings—and ultimate breakdown—of the Disney Channel machine.

For many kids growing up in the 2000s, there was no cultural touchstone more powerful than Disney Channel. At its peak, Disney Channel was the most-watched cable channel in primetime, generating billions of dollars from its related movies, albums, merchandise, and more. Today, it might best be known for introducing the world to talents like Hilary Duff, Raven-Symoné, Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Zendaya.

It wasn't always destined for greatness: when The Disney Channel launched in 1983, it was a forgotten stepchild within the Walt Disney Company, forever in the shadow of Disney’s more profitable movies and theme parks. But after letting the stars of their Mickey Mouse Club revival--among them Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling--slip through their fingers, Disney Channel reinvented itself as a powerhouse tween network. In the new millennium, it churned out original content and triple-threat stars whose careers were almost entirely controlled by the corporation. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of the pie—and there were constant clashes between the studio, network, labels, and creatives as Disney Channel became a pressure cooker of perfection for its stars.

From private feuds and on-set disasters to fanfare that swept the nation and the realities of child stardom, culture journalist Ashley Spencer offers the first unauthorized look at the heyday of TV’s House of Mouse, featuring hundreds of exclusive new interviews with former Disney executives, creatives, and talent to explore the highs, lows, and everything in between.

About the Author

ASHLEY SPENCER is a culture writer and reporter whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, Vice, Vulture, and elsewhere. This is her first book.