High School Musical Secures British Terrestrial Slot with BBC

LONDON, August 11: Disney Channel’s mega-hit original movie High
School Musical has been licensed to the BBC
for broadcast on BBC One later this year.

“Following its huge, multi-platform success stateside and
elsewhere, we are sure that its appealing, well-drawn characters and storylines
and joyful, catchy musical numbers, will capture the imagination of U.K.
viewers,” said Tom Toumazis, the executive VP and managing director of BVITV
EMEA, which is distributing the film.

George McGhee, the controller of program acquisitions at the
BBC, noted, “This is a fun family film and we think it has every potential to
capture the imagination of a BBC One audience.”

In the U.S., the High School Musical premiere in January set ratings records for the
Disney Channel, and, through 13 airings, has now been seen by over 37 million
unduplicated total viewers. In June, the movie premiered on Disney Channels in
Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia and delivered the best-ever results
for a Disney Channel Original Movie in all of these markets. It will premiere
on other international Disney Channels and free TV broadcasters throughout
2006, with its U.K. Disney Channel premiere set for September.