HSM2 Premiere in Asia Notches Up High Ratings

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, September 10: Disney Channel Asia’s
debut of High School Musical 2 ranked as
the most-watched telecast on its premiere day in Malaysia and Singapore,
defeating terrestrial and pay-TV channels among the youth demographic in both
markets.

In Singapore, against all subscription TV and terrestrial
programs, High School Musical 2 was the
number-one telecast among all people with cable on its premiere day. Among kids
aged 4 to 14 in subscription TV homes, the movie achieved a 22.11 rating and an
audience share of 48.5 percent, more than double the rating of the second highest-rated
program of that day, Disney Channel’s American Dragon: Jake Long. High School Musical 2 stands as the highest-rated telecast on the Disney
Channel among cable kids 4 to 14 since cable ratings became available in April
2001. High School Musical 2 is
also the number-one movie on any pay-TV channel and the fourth highest-rated
movie across all channels.

In Malaysia, against all pay-TV or terrestrial channels,
High School Musical 2
was the number-one
telecast among kids 6 to 14 for Astro on the day it premiered. The premiere
posted an 11.03 rating and a 26.6-percent share
among kids 6- to 14-years old in subscription-TV households. High
School Musical 2
was the highest-rated
telecast on Disney Channel among kids 6-14 years old in Malaysia since ratings
became available in April 2005. Among Malay kids, there was a 35-percent
increase in viewership to High School Musical 2 as compared to the premiere of the first movie last
year. High School Musical 2 is
available for viewing in both English and Bahasa Malaysia.

The debut of High School Musical 2 in Hong Kong also ranked number-one in its timeslot,
beating all other pay-TV channels in the territory among all people, as well as
kids aged 4 to 14 in pay-TV households.

High School Musical 2’s
premiere in the U.S. attracted more than 17 million viewers to become the
most-watched cable telecast of all time in total viewers. The High
School Musical 2
soundtrack which debuted
at number-one in the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart, is now Gold in Malaysia
and Singapore.

Laura E. Wendt, the VP and managing director of Walt Disney
Television International (Southeast Asia), commented: “The sequel's fabulous
ratings performance in Malaysia and Singapore reflects just how much kids and
families love the stories and characters of High School Musical. Southeast Asia is the first region outside North
America to premiere High School Musical 2 and we’re pleased to kick-start the international roll-out on a very
high note.”