Will Disney close all the UK linear kids channels?

It’s been mooted on several occasions that Sky can’t launch a linear outlet as a condition in their Nickelodeon partnership - not sure if that is still the case or not but hypothetically if it was not I imagine they have enough data to determine whether it’s viable to go linear but the increased focus of the on demand brand suggests it is not forthcoming. Plus given that so much of Sky’s content is now running on genre based channel brands, adding kids’ programming to Sky1 helps extends its remit as a general entertainment flagship with a less specific focus.

Reported in this month's (Dec 2020) Ofcom update -
A whole slew of licences for Disney operated channels in the UK and Europe were cancelled by The Walt Disney Company Limited last month.

I'm not surprised to be honest

It doesn't mean all these European channels are closing down though, they're moving the licences there elsewhere (esp. Czechia)

However,,Disney XD Scandinavia, along with Fox Sweden, closes down on the 1st of January

Yes, with it finally happening in 4 weeks time licenses are having to be moved elsewhere.

Sadly yes. A UK broadcasting licence for a channel aimed at the EU is worthless after 31st December. This month will see the final flurry of licences moving to the continent. The Netherlands and Czech Republic have had particular success in attracting UK licenced broadcasters who need an EU licence.

Which is why on most Discovery continental operations, we now get Dutch "difficult" ratings (while Italian Discovery FTA channels licences are in Italy)

While Czechia has even less restrictions.

Sony has chosen Spain for their CEE channels, and now they probably regret it
Not only they have to insert ratings, they also have strict limits on promos minutage (autopromociones), which is why they don't have a 60 minutes based schedule (top of the hour, half hour) anymore, as with many Spanish channels

Has much actual playout moved abroad, or have they been able to get away with just the license?

That's presumably going to be a bit of a loss of income for Ofcom

I think that the playout has moved abroad...no point in keeping playout facilities here in Britain after ALL of Disney's UK TV channels have been closed

The playout in most cases has remained in Britain, actually , as the management often is there, with exceptions (e.g. the CEE management of Discovery has been in Poland for some years)

Turner and NBCU have gone to Munich (Bavarian Media Authority), this includes a number of services aimed at different EU countries, including TCM Spain and E! France.

With the announcement that Disney will be launching Star as a brand for general entertainment on Disney+ in the UK and other countries, I did wonder whether a rebrand of FOX to Star might be a possibility.

I don't think Viacom would be too pleased due to 5Star being an established channel but not sure they could prevent it.

It's also possible that Disney may simply close FOX at some point, as well as both National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD.