The Jim Henson Company’s preschool series Dinosaur Train will be featured when Disney Channel in Germany transitions from a pay TV service to free-to-air service in January.

The 24-hour family channel will take over the transmission slots currently occupied by entertainment channel Das Vierte (which Disney acquired in fall 2012) on cable, satellite and DTT in Germany. The animated children’s series has been airing on the Disney Junior pay-TV service in Germany since 2011.

Dinosaur Train‘s Germany licensing agent, Lizenzwerft, has brokered deals with Popstar for party goods, Universal Music for audio storytelling products (both physical and digital), and Nelson Verlag (coloring and activity books).

Disney Cinemagic, Disney Junior and Disney XD will remain as pay-TV channels in the German marketplace.