Disney Channel Announces Pan-European Mobile Deal

LONDON, October 10: Disney Channel has signed its first
pan-European deal to provide content to mobile phones, entering into an
agreement with Orange that covers the U.K., Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal,
Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and eventually France.

The service will consist of 65- to 120-minute programming
loops featuring some of the most popular Disney Channel content, including full
22-minute episodes of That’s So Raven, The
Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Kim
Possible and Disney's Recess, among other content. In addition, consumers will be
able to watch clips from Hannah Montana and a selection of Disney Channel Original Movies.

Orange currently has more than 2.9 million mobile broadband
customers.

John Hardie, the EVP and MD for Disney Channels EMEA, said
of the agreement, “This is a breakthrough deal which we expect to be a huge hit
with kids all over Europe. With parents’ consent and knowledge, it allows kids
to watch their favorite Disney Channel programs on the way home or wherever
they are. It’s how today’s kids are growing up to watch TV—at a time and
in a place they choose and it’s important that content providers are able to
deliver that.”

In related news, Buena Vista International Television
(BVITV) will extend its broadband VOD movie licensing agreement in France
across other markets in Europe. With these agreements, Orange VOD subscribers
in Spain and TPSA VOD subscribers in Poland will be able to enjoy movies from
Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films.