Disney Content Now on iTunes in France

PARIS, May 30: Television programming from The Walt Disney Company is now available on Apple’s iTunes Store in France, including Lost, alongside fare from French networks like TF1, France Télévisions and Arte and content owners such as Mediatoon.

Television shows can be purchased and downloaded from the iTunes Store for viewing on a Mac or PC, iPod nano with video, iPod classic, iPod touch, fifth generation iPod, iPhone or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV. The shows are priced at 1.49 euros, 1.99 euros and 2.49 euros per episode.

Disney-ABC dramas such as the second and third seasons of Lost, the first and second seasons of Desperate Housewives and the first season of Ugly Betty will be available through iTunes. Programming from the Disney Channel will soon be added to the iTunes lineup. Furthermore, content from MTV Networks is on offer as well, including Comedy Central’s South Park, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and MTV shows like Made and Pimp My Ride.

French television programming on the iTunes Store in France includes shows from TF1’s VOD subsidiary TF1 Vision: the crime drama La main blanche and Paris  Criminelles, as well as selections from French comedy performer Coluche. Additional French content includes France Télévisions’ drama Les Contes de la Collection Chez Maupassant and Arte’s geopolitical series Le dessous des cartes.

“iTunes is the number one digital music store in France and we’re off to a great start with TV shows,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s VP of iTunes. “We’re thrilled to launch with over 25 programs and 450 episodes available on the iTunes Store in France.”

Animated French content from Mediatoon will also be available through iTunes, including Tintin TV’s long-running animation Tintin; Dupuis TV’s Spirou et Fantasio; and Dargaud TV’s Les Nouvelles aventures de Lucky Luke. Other offerings from Mediatoon include Kid Paddle and Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline. Throughout 2008, programs produced by Dargaud Media, Dupuis, Ellipsanime and Storimages will be added to the catalogue of Mediatoon cartoon series available on iTunes.

Isabelle Denis, the manager of Mediatoon Interactive, commented: “We’re very happy to be part of this launch. Our aim is to offer end users fast and easy access to our content wherever they are, at any time and on any screen. The presence of our cartoons on iTunes means they can now be watched on increasingly widespread mobile formats.”

—By Irene Lew