ITV

Category: Kids

  • Walt Disney 2Q earnings climb 19 per cent

    MUMBAI: Riding on the strong ratings success of ABC Network and cable channels shows coupled with the increased attendance at its theme parks, The Walt Disney Company‘s profits in the second quarter have risen by 19 per cent.



    The company‘s net income rose to $733 million from $657 million. Sales advanced 2.5 per cent to $8.03 billion in the period ended 1 April. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter increased 19 per cent to $0.37, compared to $0.31 in the prior year quarter. For the six months period, diluted EPS increased 16 per cent to $0.74 compared to $0.64 in the prior year period.


    “Disney‘s ongoing commitment to creative and operational excellence is evident in our strong second quarter results. At the same time, the strategic initiatives we pursued during the quarter help position us for future creative success, new opportunities to reach consumers with our products, and long term value creation for our shareholders,” said the Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A Iger.


    The company‘s Media Networks revenues for the quarter increased 18 per cent to $3.6 billion and segment operating income increased 20 per cent to $969 million driven by strong performance at broadcasting.


    The operating income at Cable Networks increased $41 million to $ 809 million for the quarter primarily due to growth at ESPN, which was driven by higher affiliate revenues from increased contractual rates. This increase was partially offset by higher revenue deferrals at ESPN, investments in ESPN branded mobile phone service, increased programming and production expenses and higher administrative costs at ESPN. ABC‘s hit dramas such as Desperate Housewives and Grey‘s Anatomy also help boost the network‘s revenues.


    Revenue deferrals at ESPN increased by $31 million versus the prior year quarter due to new programming commitments in an affiliate contract and higher affiliate rates. Revenue deferrals for the six month period increased $137 million as compared to the prior six month period. Cable Networks also experienced modest profit growth at the Disney Channel and ABC Family.


    Broadcasting


    Operating income at broadcasting increased $122 million to $160 million for the quarter primarily due to improved performance at the ABC Television Network and Television Production and Distribution, partially offset by investments in new initiatives at the Internet Group.


    The growth at ABC Television Network was due to increased primetime advertising revenues resulting from strong upfront sales and continued strength in ratings. Ad revenues also increased due to the Super Bowl and the timing of Bowl Championship Series games, although this increase was essentially offset by related programming and production expenses. The increase at television production and distribution was driven by higher third party license fees for Scrubs, as this series entered its fifth season of network television, and increased international sales of Touchstone Television dramas.


    Parks and Resorts


    Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased seven per cent to $2.3 billion and segment operating income increased 17 per cent to $214 million. Operating income growth at the resorts was due to increased theme park attendance, higher hotel guest spending and occupancy and strong sales at Disney Vacation Club.


    Studio Entertainment


    Studio Entertainment revenues for the quarter decreased 22 per cent to $1.8 billion and segment operating income decreased 39 per cent to $ 147 million. This was mainly because the company‘s DVD releases have not sold well. “Lower segment operating income was due to a decline in worldwide home entertainment partially offset by increases in domestic theatrical motion pictures distribution and worldwide television distribution,” an official statement said.


    Consumer Products


    Consumer products revenues for the quarter decreased three per cent to $451 million and the operating income decreased eight per cent to $104 million. The decrease in operating income was driven by lower results at Buena Vista Games and Merchandise Licensing.

  • Disney and Optus to launch Disney Connection in Australia













    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and Optus have signed an agreement to launch an interactive broadband service Disney Connection on the Optus broadband portal.


    The service will offer kids and families a broad range of media-rich Disney entertainment and learning activities. It will be available to Optus broadband customers in July 2006.



    The agreement marks the Australian launch of the popular Disney-branded internet channel, which is available in eight other countries, including the US, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Argentina.


    “We‘re very pleased to work with Optus to make this high-quality broadband content available to Australian consumers,” said Walt Disney Internet Group International executive vice president and managing director Mark Handler.


    “Disney Connection provides unique, high-quality and differentiated online entertainment that kids and families can enjoy. We look forward to bringing more of our rich library of online interactive entertainment to this market,” he added.


    Disney Connection will offer Optus broadband customers a regularly-updated slate of interactive games and activities, as well as video, based on both classic and new Disney characters. Its Studio Showcase will provide video shorts from Disney, including Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney clips, cartoon shorts, music videos, and movie trailers.


    “As Australians increasingly embrace broadband, we are pleased to launch an interactive and educational entertainment destination designed especially to meet the needs of children and families,” said Optus Consumer group director products and delivery Chris Lane.


    “This is a cornerstone deal in Optus‘ strategy of featuring the internet‘s leading online brands and entertainment providers. It is another step in Optus‘ vision of a digital future where PC and mobile phones become sources of everyday entertainment,” he added.


    Disney Connection content on the Optus broadband portal will be refreshed every other week. Kids and families will be able to personalise their site experience through the “My Disney” link by selecting their favourite theme – from Buzz Lightyear to Disney Princess – and choosing their preferred games and other content to appear on the Disney Connection home page.


    A separate mobile section will highlight Disney-branded mobile content available on the Optus Zoo WAP portal.


    In the Asia Pacific region, Disney.com has well-established, localized Internet sites in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Australia. WDIG launched its first broadband content service in Japan in 2003 with NTT FLET‘s broadband network, reaching more than 7.9 million subscribers. In June 2005, it launched its first broadband service in Taiwan with Chungwa Telecom‘s HiNet ADSL, the country‘s leading broadband provider, with more than 3.5 million subscribers.


    WDIG has mobile content distribution in 13 markets in the Asia Pacific region, including Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, China, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Macau. In this region, more than 695 million mobile consumers have access to Disney-branded mobile content.

  • McDonald’s and Warner Home Video introduce new live action home entertainment DVDs













    MUMBAI: Children will be entertained and inspired to achieve happy active lives as McDonald‘s and Warner Home Video (WHV) unveil two live-action home entertainment specials, with McKids Adventures Volume 1: Get Up and Go with Ronald and McKids Adventures Volume 2: Treasure Hunt with Ronald. Both will be available on 15 August 2006 and will be available globally.



    Produced in association with Dic Entertainment, the worldwide licensor for the McKids brand, The McKids Adventures DVD specials are part of McDonald‘s active lifestyle campaign which promotes physical activity.


    In each DVD, Ronald McDonald leads a group of children through various adventures that entertain, engage and inspire while providing opportunities for singing and dancing along the way. Volume 1 and 2 will be sold separately and each will retail at $14.98.


    “We are pleased to be able to offer parents high-quality videos that not only educate and entertain children, but also encourage them at an early age to develop an active lifestyle. Ronald McDonald is loved and admired by kids around the world. Children look up to him as a wonderful role model and he‘s the ideal personality to star in this DVD series,” said Warner Home Video vice president kids and sports marketing Dorinda Marticorena.


    “This new high-energy series is another way that McDonald‘s is committed to helping families lead active lifestyles. Ronald McDonald makes it easy for kids to learn how much fun being active can be,” said McDonald‘s senior director global marketing Cathy Nemeth.


    The DVDs are packed with original music videos which are sure to get kids up on their feet and participating in the fun.


    WHV will promote the debut of McKids Adventures Volume 1: Get Up and Go with Ronald and McKids Adventures Volume 2: Treasure Hunt with Ronald with a broad consumer advertising campaign that encompasses national television and print media outlets. McKids Adventures will be trailered on all WHV Kids Summer and Fall DVD releases as well as in select McDonald‘s restaurants.

  • Disney completes Pixar acquisition













    MUMBAI: Advancing its strategy of developing outstanding creative content, The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A. Iger announced today that Disney has completed its acquisition of animation company Pixar. In the all-stock transaction, 2.3 Disney shares will be issued for each Pixar share.



    Former Pixar president Dr. Ed Catmull will serve as president of the new Pixar and Disney animation studios, reporting to Iger and The Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.


    In addition, former Pixar executive vice president John Lasseter, will be chief creative officer of the animation studios, as well as principal creative advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he will provide his expertise in the design of new attractions for Disney theme parks around the world. Lasseter will report directly to Iger.


    Former Pixar chairman and CEO Steve Jobs has joined Disney‘s board of directors as a non-independent member. With the addition of Jobs, 11 of Disney‘s 14 Directors are independent.


    “For the last 15 years, Disney and Pixar have shared one of the most successful partnerships in entertainment history. From Toy Story through The Incredibles, the success of these animated films was due to the creativity, innovation and immense talent of the phenomenal Pixar team, led by Steve, Ed and John. We also fully recognize that Pixar‘s extraordinary record of achievement is in large measure due to its vibrant creative culture, which is something we respect and admire and are committed to supporting and fostering in every way possible. As we begin the next chapter, all of us at Disney are pleased to welcome the incredibly talented Pixar team to our company to continue to create quality entertainment for audiences to enjoy around the world,” said Iger.

  • ‘Sesame Street’ to launch in Northern Ireland













    MUMBAI: The American Ireland Fund has forged a partnership with Sesame Workshop to bring an adaptation of Sesame Street to Northern Ireland as a means of promoting the values of tolerance, acceptance and understanding among children.



    Working in partnership with Sesame Workshop, the AIF has pledged significant financial support to enable the creation of a localised version of Sesame Street programming which is slated to begin airing in early 2007. The initiative will consist of 26 episodes to broadcast over an 18-month period that promote the values of respect, tolerance and understanding. Elements of the shows will be created in Northern Ireland. In addition to the series, an educational outreach initiative will also be developed for use in schools to reinforce the show‘s important messages to children in the region.


    “We are proud to be a prime supporter of this historic initiative aimed at bringing values of tolerance and understanding to the children of Northern Ireland. All children deserve a chance to learn and grow, to understand the world and each other. Shockingly, research has revealed that Northern Ireland children as young as three years old have begun developing sectarian beliefs. The need to counteract this was the impetus for our commitment to this initiative,” said AIF vice president Kieran McLoughlin.


    Sesame Workshop co-founder and chairman of the executive committee Joan Ganz Cooney said, “We are so pleased with this commitment from the American Ireland Fund which will enable this worthwhile program to move forward. All of us at Sesame Workshop are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the children of Northern Ireland a program that will encourage mutual respect, understanding and appreciation within their community, which we hope will resonate for many years to come.”


    The series will encourage children to develop the skills to challenge ignorance, dispel stereotypes and champion diversity. The program will also serve as a valuable resource for children, parents and educators by:




    • Contributing to a “Shared Future” in Northern Ireland.


    • Presenting to children positive images of themselves and others.


    • Imparting the values of mutual respect, understanding and the appreciation of diversity to counter negative stereotypes that attempt to dehumanize the “other.”


    • Helping the early childhood community in Northern Ireland achieve its strategic goals.


    As with all of the Workshop‘s local adaptations, this program will truly reflect the issues of the region. The program will encourage a shared society in which people make choices that are not bound by historical divisions and where there is respect and tolerance for cultural diversity. Sesame Workshop will partner with local organisations to help bring the program to the youngest audience and develop an education plan focused on topics related to diversity and acceptance: racism, sectarianism, gender, and respecting people with disabilities.


    Senior executives from Sesame Workshop traveled to Northern Ireland to meet with representatives of the public and private sectors, including broadcasters, government ministries, and educational organisations to bring this project to fruition. A broadcast partner is expected to be finalised shortly. This project follows on the success of several other Sesame Street initiatives designed to bring educational values to children in over 25 countries around the world including Israel, Palestine, Kosovo and South Africa.

  • Disney’s ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ launches on DVD

    Disney’s ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ launches on DVD

    MUMBAI: Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is out on Excel Home Videos DVDs this summer. Winner of 13 awards and nominated 40 times, the movie was the highest grosser worldwide in recent times.

    Based on C.S. Lewis’ timeless adventure, the DVD is packed with added features like fun facts on Narnia, bloopers on the sets and making of the movie. The DVD has options for Hindi and English audio tracks. Other regional language editions will also be launched shortly.

    The movie’s popularity across the globe reverberated extensively during the theatrical launch in India with dubbed versions in several Indian languages, ahead of many Hindi and regional movies. The movie was among the top three movies in India, topping the list in the south ahead of regional movies for several weeks.

    The Walt Disney Company India managing director Rajat Jain said, “With our range of world-class business assets and the productive working relationships we’ve developed, India represents excellent opportunities to create meaningful and across-the-board presence. Our Home Entertainment business in the country through local partnership with Excel Home Videos represents long term growth potential as more and more consumers are being exposed to Disney hallmark quality entertainment.”

    Excel Home Videos managing director M N Kapasi added, “Considering the huge theatrical response, the positive reaction from retail and the impending summer vacations, we have doubled the number of DVDs to be released, making it the largest release in recent times. The huge retail penetration Excel enjoys in the country, with DVDs sold out from local stationery and general stores to premium book stores and malls further justify the magnitude of the release. The DVD is a value product with its inbuilt language selection feature (English, Hindi) enabling the viewer to watch the Movie in the language of his choice.”

    The DVD launch will be bolstered with an exciting pan-India contest on Disney Channel, promotion on Disney Channel India website and several on ground events. Kids buy the DVD and avail a chance to win wardrobes full of Disney goodies and other prizes.

  • Cartoon Network to air ‘Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia’ on 30 April

    Cartoon Network to air ‘Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia’ on 30 April

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network will be airing Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia on 30 April at 12 noon. In the movie Barbie stars as the beautiful fairy Elina who transforms into a mermaid. The movie brings to life a never-before-seen fairytale set under the sea.

    Barbie as Fairy Elina travels with her trusted friend Bibble to a magical underwater world called Mermaidia. The adventure begins when she learns that the Evil Laverna has kidnapped their mer-friend Prince Nalu. Elina and the brave mermaid Nori set off to save Prince Nalu and prevent Laverna from poisoning the water.

    The movie will be repeated on Cartoon Network on the same day at 9 pm.

  • Disney expands ToonTown Online

    Disney expands ToonTown Online

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) has introduced Lawbot Headquarters (HQ), the highly-anticipated expansion of Disney’s Toontown Online.

    Toontown Online is the critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online (MMO) game for kids and families. Lawbot HQ has been designed for advanced players and delivers more challenges and enemies, including new stealth-based gameplay and an epic final battle.

    Within Toontown, using personalised Toon avatars, players join forces to save Toontown from the robot Cogs – Bossbots, Lawbots, Cashbots, and Sellbots – who are attempting to turn the colourful world of Toontown into a dark metropolis of skyscrapers and businesses.

    Toons can now team up to infiltrate the Cog legal system by making their way through a maze-like office building using stealth and secrecy to avoid detection. They will have to overcome various obstacles such as security guards, searchlights, crashing traps and more on their way to the courtroom of the chief justice.

    “Toontown is a unique gaming experience in many respects. Not only is the game widely recognised as fun and safe for children to play, it continues to evolve with exciting new features that bring additional challenges and environments added every few months at no extra cost,” said the Walt Disney Internet Group, Europe managing director Attila Gazdag.

    Disney’s Toontown Online is the first MMO game for kids and families. Anyone can try Toontown free for three days at www.disney.co.uk/toontown.

  • Jakks Pacific and Hit Entertainment launch new TeleStory interactive books

    Jakks Pacific and Hit Entertainment launch new TeleStory interactive books

    MUMBAI: Jakks Pacific, Inc. has inked a worldwide licensing agreement with Hit Entertainment to market and distribute Jakks Pacific’s new TeleStory interactive books based on Hit’s popular Thomas & Friends, Barney, The Wiggles and Bob the Builder properties.

    The TeleStory system connects directly into a standard TV using Plug & Read technology and serves as a fun, introductory reading guide for preschool-aged children.

    The TeleStory product creates an engaging, interactive reading and learning experience that will help in the fundamental reading development of young children, while showing them how much fun reading can be. TeleStory interactive books take what children love, the TV, and use it to introduce children to the world of reading. The TeleStory system is book-shaped, plugs directly into the A/V jacks of any standard TV, and no DVD players are needed.

    Individual “mini-book” cartridges based on popular children’s books are inserted into the TeleStory system, so that children can build their own TeleStory libraries and collect their favorite books as they grow and master reading. By pressing the large, colored buttons on each TeleStory unit, kids can interact with the story and make the characters come alive on their TV screen, while also giving them the option to read at their own pace or with assistance.

    “The core concept of TeleStory interactive books is simple. The unit plugs directly into any standard TV. Just pop in batteries and turn it on to initiate an interactive reading experience through the use of various action buttons. We know that Thomas the Tank, Barney, Bob the Builder and The Wiggles will help provide hours of entertainment for children. The TeleStory system teaches them the fundamentals of reading, helps build vocabulary, encourages their reading confidence and nurtures a life-long appreciation of reading,” explains Jakks Pacific, Inc senior vice president of licensing and media Jennifer Richmond.

    Jakks plans to launch the TeleStory product line based on the Hit properties starting in summer 2006 with the Thomas the Tank TeleStory title at mass and specialty retailers nationwide. The suggested retail price for the TeleStory unit will be approximately $35, with each two-pack of ‘mini-book’ cartridges retailing for under $15.

  • Hungama TV’s comedy band delivers good numbers

    Hungama TV’s comedy band delivers good numbers

    MUMBAI: Hungama TV has beaten the summer heat with new refreshing comedy shows launch this month in the band called ‘Ha Ha Hungama Band’. The comedy band has struck the right chord with viewers giving the channel GRPs of 116 vis-à-vis Pogo’s 102 in the C&S 4 – 14 SEC ABC Hindi speaking markets in week 15 (9 – 15 April). Cartoon Network still stands tall with GRPs of 198 in the same market.

    The ‘Ha Ha Hungama Band’ that has shows like Doraemon, Gol Gol Gullam, Kochikame, Peep and Telematches contributed 60 GRPs in its launch week.

    The latest Tam ratings, the channel claims, have revealed a consistent week-on-week growth in the channel’s market share, with shows like Amdriver and Kochikame topping the charts in their respective time bands.

    What’s more, the channel also claims that it is the No. 1 kids channel in the key Mumbai market across SEC A, B, C in the C&S 4-14 category.

    UTV COO Zarina Mehta said, “The Ha Ha Hungama band is a super treat to our viewers and will definitely bring relief to kids from the heat by replacing it with fun and laughter.. The consistent increase in GRPs reiterates the fact that our multi-genre programming appeals to a wide spectrum of audiences. This is essentially the product of a thorough understanding of what our viewers desire and our capability in delivering the goods.”