Disney Preschool Series to Make Korean Debut

SEOUL, March 10:
Disney-ABC International Television has inked a deal with Korea’s Educational
Broadcasting System (EBS) to launch a range of Playhouse Disney animated
preschool series on the free-to-air network.

Among the Playhouse Disney
series that will be delivered to the Korean terrestrial are My Friends
Tigger & Pooh, Little
Einsteins and Handy Manny. The CG-animated series My Friends Tigger &
Pooh airs this month on EBS, while
Little Einsteins and Handy
Manny will air at a later date.

“We are pleased to be
expanding the reach of Disney content in Korea, a key strategic market for the
company, with these highly successful preschool series,” said Hyesuk Lim, the
senior VP and managing director of The Walt Disney Company Korea. “This
announcement reflects Disney’s continued commitment to bringing high quality
and compelling content that kids and families everywhere can enjoy.”

“This package deal will
create new value between EBS and Disney,” added Sang-ho Park, the director
general of EBS. “These three series are programs that fulfill the high
educational standards that EBS have been keeping. I hope the precious qualities
of the programs—feelings of self-esteem, problem-solving skills, moral development—will
be deeply imprinted in the memory of kids familiar with Disney characters. That’s
the point where EBS and Disney can meet.”

—By Ned Berke