It later stopped airing on Disney XD in Canada and moved to Disney Channel due to DHX Media losing Disney rights. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it first aired as a preview on March 29, 2012, and officially premiered on April 19, 2012. In South Africa, it premiered on Disney XD on June 10, 2012. In Australia and New Zealand, it first aired on Disney Channel on December 31, 2012, and officially premiered on January 10, 2013. "Variety" television critic Brian Lowry knocked the series' one-hour premiere for failing "to exhibit basic elements of coherence" and for featuring "too many lapses in logic". The series launch of "Lab Rats" in February 2012 was the most-watched series premiere in Disney XD history, drawing 1.3 million viewers and performing well in key demographics. The followup encore of the premiere that aired on Disney Channel on March 2, 2012, ranked as the number-one telecast in kids 2–11 for the week of February 27–Match 4, 2012, drawing 2.3 million viewers in the demographic. On September 3, 2015, it was announced that "Lab Rats" would have a joint spinoff series with "Mighty Med" under the title of "". Only Billy Unger and Kelli Berglund from "Lab Rats" were reported to be returning for the new series, alongside Bradley Steven Perry, Jake Short, and Paris Berelc from "Mighty Med". It was subsequently announced that "Lab Rats: Elite Force" would premiere on Disney XD on March 2, 2016.