The Jim Henson Company’s popular Dinosaur Train series is set to air on Disney’s new terrestrial Disney Channel in Germany.

The advertising-financed 24-hour family channel will take over the transmission slots currently occupied by entertainment channel Das Vierte on cable, satellite and DTT across the territory from January 1st, 2014. The popular pre-school series has been airing on the Disney Junior pay-TV service in Germany since 2011. “Dinosaur Train was first introduced to German audiences through Disney’s pay-TV service Disney Junior, and we are eager to make the transition to free-to-air broadcast in association with Disney Channel,” said Richard Goldsmith, EVP of Global Distribution. ”We see this as a wonderful opportunity for Dinosaur Train to be enjoyed by even more children throughout Germany.”

Lars Wagner, general manager, Disney Channel Germany, Switzerland and Australia, added: “The wide range of programming content on our new free-to-air Disney Channel will address children and families, as well as adult, predominantly female prime time viewers. Dinosaur Train is immensely popular with our youngest viewers so we were very happy that The Jim Henson Company was on board with the transition of the series to our free-to-air channel. ”It’s a great way to maintain continuity and do something new at the same time.”

The transition to the new channel comes as the property begins to strengthen its hold on the German market with numerous licensing deals already in place, including party ware, audio story telling products and coloring and activity books across the region.