Disney & Starz Extend Output Deal

BURBANK/ENGLEWOOD: Starz Entertainment and Disney-ABC Domestic Television have signed an new, exclusive long-term agreement for the theatrical releases from The Walt Disney Studios through 2015.

The previous output deal was set to run through 2012. The extension provides Starz with exclusive pay-TV rights to exhibit theatrically released Walt Disney Studios live-action and animated feature films on its Starz, Encore and MoviePlex linear channels, and its related on-demand and IP-based services. Walt Disney Studios theatrical releases in the agreement, in addition to Marvel, include pictures produced under the Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney-Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, and Hollywood Pictures labels. Theatrical releases from DreamWorks Studios and Miramax Films will not be licensed to Starz under the new agreement.

Walt Disney Studios animated movies and live-action feature films coming exclusively to Starz in 2010 include Up, The Princess and the Frog, The Proposal, G-Force, Old Dogs, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Alice in Wonderland and Race to Witch Mountain.

"Disney and Starz have been partners since the launch of the flagship Starz premium channel back in 1994, and we are pleased to be able to extend our very successful relationship," said Janice Marinelli, the president of Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "With this long-term extension, Starz’s subscribers will continue to experience the magic and excitement of our Walt Disney Studios motion pictures."

Bill Myers, Starz Entertainment’s president and COO, commented, "Commercial-free movies from Disney have always been a cornerstone of our programming and will remain so for years to come even as we add original series to our movie mix."

Myers added, "This agreement secures our ability to meet the needs of current and future subscribers in a fast-changing media landscape."