ITV

Tag: Walt Disney Company

  • Disney rolls out ‘Disney’s Little Princess’ promotional activity across categories

    Disney rolls out ‘Disney’s Little Princess’ promotional activity across categories

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company in India has launched a country-wide promotion titled – “Disney’s Little Princess”, an across-the-line event around Disney Princess franchise.

    Little girls across India can participate in this festive event by purchasing any Disney Princess product worth Rs 100 or more and win an entry to audition for the ‘Disney’s Little Princess’ contest. Disney Princess spans across categories with merchandise to include toys, clothing, footwear, games, home videos, home products, paints, stationery, television, theatrical content and mobile downloads.

    The Disney Princess franchise has added a noticeable sparkle to the company’s entertainment offerings in the previously underserved segment of girls aged 4-14. The strong presence of the franchise is set to delight little girls throughout the festive season with a host of initiatives and launches planned across all product categories. Disney Princesses are popular across the globe. The franchise is on track to become the largest girls franchise in 2006 with 40 per cent growth in 2005 and 300 per cent growth over the last three years, states an official release.

    “Disney Princess success is an example of the company’s focus on content, creativity and innovation and demonstrates our ability to provide a 360 degree entertainment experience for kids. We have a strong heritage in great story telling and have cemented a rock-solid emotional connection with our consumers through our popular Disney characters and stories,” said Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain.

    Little girls turned up to sing, dance, act and display other talents at auditions in Gurgaon. Besides, auditions will also be held in malls around Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The event in each of these cities will be recorded and aired in special interstitials on the Disney Channel. The search for ‘Disney’s Little Princess’ is powered by major lines of businesses of The Walt Disney Company India namely consumer products, internet group, home entertainment divisions and ofcourse Disney Channel.

    Disney Princess licensees in India include: United Toys, Me n Moms, Prasima Marketing, Mahindra Intertrade, Bodycare, Nerolac, Sterling Metaplast, Ramlax Exports, Kores India Ltd., H.M. International, Envogue Furnishings and many others. All licensees have come together for this special promotion, adds the release.

    Funskool (India), the licensees for Princess dolls and role play range GM Sales and Marketing R. Jeswant says, “Funskool (India) Ltd has had a long association with Disney. The market response to Disney Princess Dolls and Playsets has been particularly encouraging. This year is being celebrated as the year of the Mermaid and therefore, ‘Ariel, the Little Mermaid’, will be the focus of attention. A full range of Ariel Dolls and Playsets will be on the shelves of leading toy stores shortly. We cherish our association with Disney and expect the relationship to flourish and grow in years to come.”

    Commenting on the popularity of Princess themes of Disney Nerolac Paints- Nerolac GM marketing C. Venugopal says, “Every little girl dreams of a fantasy world where clothes are spun of gold and balls are held in her honor. The princess range allowed Nerolac to do just the same. With a wide range of characters, huge business potential, Disney Nerolac Paint’s Disney Princess range bring the little girls into a world filled with romance and royalty where she can feel as special as a princess.”

    “Disney’s classic Princess stories are extremely popular with kids across the country. We have 12 princess titles in three different formats and each of these are loved not just by kids but also their parents alike. The stories reflect values and ethos that Indian readers relate to. We are proud to bring these stories from the Disney stable to kids across India,” adds Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. director Gaurav Ghai.

    Furthermore, Disney Princess is also being promoted in the television space with a branded block – Disney Princess hour. Viewers can also experience the magical world of Disney Princesses through Disney Movie Magic, every weekend in select Adlabs locations in cities across India through classic titles like Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and the Prince of Thieves.

    The latest Princess platinum title movie was released in October on Home Video – Little Mermaid, a special edition DVD. Taking home, Disney’s Classic, the ‘Little Mermaid’ will also help little girls gain an entry to participate in the mega event this festive season, Excel Home Videos MD M.N. Kapasi said, “Disney Princess celebrates the spirit of the endearing female characters created by the Walt Disney Company over the years. We are pleased that Little Mermaid’s DVD will be an opportunity for children to participate in this prestigious event.”

    This franchise also extended itself to an on-ground experiential delight last year – Disney Channel’s ‘My Little Princess Hunt -2005’.

  • Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), the international TV distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, and BT Plc, have announced that they have concluded a multi-year broadband video-on-demand rental agreement in the UK.

    This will make available, on-demand, a selection of upcoming, current and library movies from BVITV’s portfolio via BT’s upcoming next-generation TV service, BT Vision. This agreement is in line with The Walt Disney Company’s focus on the application of technology to enhance its content and expand its distribution, asserts an official release.
    Through this agreement, BT Vision’s customers will be able to purchase on-demand a selection of current and upcoming features from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films. Titles include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Shaggy Dog and Scary Movie 4. The agreement also includes a range of library features, adds the release.

    BVITV EMEA executive vice president and managing director Tom Toumazis said, “As flexibility and choice of content become increasingly important factors to the entertainment consumer, we’re pleased to be working with BT to offer this strong selection of our movie titles to BT Vision’s customers across the UK, in a convenient range of ways on this exciting new digital service.”

    BT Vision CEO Dan Marks said, “We are delighted to announce this agreement with The Walt Disney Company. BT Vision’s film service will be immensely strengthened by our ability to offer current movies from one of the strongest studios and a great selection of titles from Disney’s magnificent catalogue. We look forward to working with Disney to develop and use innovative technology to continue providing our customers with choice, convenience and control over their movie-watching.”

    At launch, BT Vision customers will be able to enjoy a vast range of film, music and television programming available on-demand as well as interactive services and all the Freeview channels, all available on the TV, with no compulsory subscription. This combination, delivered on a software platform powered by Microsoft and through a set-top box made by Philips, will allow customers choice, control and convenience.

    BT Vision has already announced content deals with a range of entertainment companies including Dreamworks, i-concerts, Eagle Rock, BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music Group, National Geographic Channel,Universal,SONY BMG, Viacom and Turner Broadcasting; as well as with independents including Lionsgate, Entertainment Rights plc, NBD Television and Wall to Wall Television. BT Vision has also announced near-live FA Premier League matches from the 2007-2008 season, adds the release.

    This agreement was concluded by BVITV vice president Digital Media Damian Newton and executive director Sales UK and Ireland Catherine Powell, working with BT Vision’s director business affairs Mark Cranwell and head of film Bobbie Fox.

  • Disney’s ABC News Now to be available via Dish TV

    Disney’s ABC News Now to be available via Dish TV

    MUMBAI: Disney-ABC Television Group’s ABC News Now channel will soon launch on Dish TV, the direct-to-home platform.

    This is the first deal outside of United States that the Walt Disney Company’s Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has entered into.

    The 24-hour ABC News Now channel is likely to launch on Dish TV later this year – subject to downlinking approval by the information and broadcasting ministry, according to an official statement.

    ABC News Now is a 24/7 international news channel that provides live breaking news coverage, complete shows, exclusives, news specials, in-depth coverage and more. The channel also offers viewers exclusive uncut interviews from award-winning ABC news programming such as 20/20, Primetime and World News with Charles Gibson as well as insightful, original programs with the latest on health, money and Hollywood.

    “We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Dish TV for the ABC News Now channel, and look forward to working closely with them to bring ABC’s first class news service to the Indian audience,” commented BVITV-AP senior vice president and managing director Steve Macallister. “India is a key strategic market for our company so this deal marks a particularly significant achievement.”

    “This is a major step forward for ABC News Now,” said ABC News president David Westin. “As ABC News strives to reach news audiences anytime and anywhere around the globe, we are delighted that one of the largest English-speaking countries in the world should be our first step.”

    “As technology rapidly evolves in the Indian media landscape, a new generation of consumer is embracing all it has to offer. With Dish TV, the Walt Disney Company would be able to provide top-of-the-class global news coverage to a savvy and discerning Indian audience,” said The Walt Disney Company India MD Rajat Jain.

    “In the last year, Dish TV has emerged as one of the fastest growing digital platforms in Asia. Our association with ABC News Now is in line with our commitment to provide the best of infotainment, available in India or abroad, to our subscribers. We are sure that Dish TV subscribers would be happy to access ABC News Now in India shortly,” mentioned Dish TV business head Jawahar Goel.

  • 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.

  • Channel 4 signs Vod deal for ‘Lost’, ‘Desperate Housewives’

    Channel 4 signs Vod deal for ‘Lost’, ‘Desperate Housewives’

    MUMBAI: UK broadcaster Channel 4 has announced an agreement with Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), the international TV distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, to acquire the exclusive UK video-on-demand rights to Lost and Desperate Housewives.

    In India, the shows airs on Star Movies and Star World respectively.

    This deal is Disney’s first in Europe for VOD rights to its network series and is in line with Disney’s focus on the application of technology to enhance its content and expand its distribution.

    The pay per view Vod service will launch tomorrow 27 April when the entire series of Lost season one will be available on-demand at www.channel4.com/lost and to digital TV customers via ntl Telewest’s on-demand service. Episodes of the hit series can be purchased for 99p and watched an unlimited number of times within a 24 hour period.

    Access to the service will be limited to the UK. ntl Telewest has also secured the rights for content to be shown in high-definition.

    Channel 4 CEO Andy Duncan said, “Channel 4 is the most distinctive brand in UK television and we want to protect and enhance this reputation by making our award-winning content available across multiple platforms. By partnering exclusively on the VOD rights to two of the biggest shows on TV, we will work together to reach and grow on-demand audiences. This deal with BVITV reinforces Channel 4’s plans to make content available ‘anytime, anywhere’ and is a fantastic way of demonstrating our ambitions in this area.”

    BVITV VP, MD Europe, Middle East and Africa Tom Toumazis said, “This ground-breaking agreement represents our first step in launching our network series on Vod to the European market. We’re committed to working with partners with strong new media strategies, such as Channel 4, to harness new technology in bringing our hit programming to viewers in fresh and innovative ways. We also remain committed to providing legitimate ways in which to download content, and believe that offering these two series in this way is a significant step.”

    Touchstone Television president Mark Pedowitz says, “The creative appeal of Lost and Desperate Housewives transcends borders and we are thrilled the content will be available on-demand to UK consumers”.

    Channel 4 new business director Rod Henwood said, “This is a significant step in Channel 4’s plans to launch a full video-on-demand service across multiple platforms later this year. Partnering with Disney on these two stand-out shows illustrates the critical strategic importance of VOD to Channel 4.”

    Also, Lost season two will be available via www.channel4.com and to subscribers of ntl Telewest 14 days after their first UK broadcast and to promote the service for a two week period the first two episodes will be offered to viewers free of charge. Episodes will be streamed on Channel4.com and can be viewed on a PC using Windows Media Player.

    On demand episodes of Desperate Housewives season two will be available from 4 May with episodes of the first season available later that month.

  • Walt Disney unveils wireless service specifically designed for families

    Walt Disney unveils wireless service specifically designed for families

    MUMBAI: Consistent with its strategic focus to pursue technologies that deliver outstanding creative content and services in new ways, The Walt Disney Company unveiled Disney Mobile (www.disneymobile.com) in the US, which is the first national wireless phone service specifically designed for families.

    Disney Mobile will operate as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) utilising the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. This service will be a follow-up MVNO from the Walt Disney Company. Mobile ESPN, the only mobile phone service built from the ground up for sports fans was launched in the US in February.

    This was launched at the CTIA Wireless 2006 tradeshow in Las Vegas. This wireless service will launch in June with innovative features that, for the first time, allow parents to directly manage their family’s wireless experience.

    Unlike traditional family plans that focus on shared minutes, Disney Mobile will offer a comprehensive, family-tailored service. It will provide customisable tools to balance kids’ cell phone use with controls that allow parents to manage family phone use and help teach kids responsible use. In addition, Disney Mobile will come equipped with all the things tweens and teens are looking for in a cell phone today – from a camera to messaging to popular ring tones and content.

    At the core of Disney Mobile’s family plans are the Family Center features, which allow parents to:

        set spending allowances and track usage for voice minutes, text messaging, picture messaging and downloadable content
        determine the hours of the day and days of the week when kids can use their phones
        program restricted and always-on phone numbers to manage with whom kids may communicate
        prioritize important family messages
        locate kids’ phones with GPS capabilities

    Beyond the Family Center features, Disney Mobile will offer wireless voice service, text and picture messaging, and a broad range of entertainment and content that will appeal to every family member, and to Disney fans of all ages.

    “Given our strong commitment to embracing innovative technology, coupled with Disney’s outstanding creative content, Disney Mobile is perfectly positioned to transform the way families come together and stay connected. Parents will appreciate Disney Mobile’s unique capabilities to manage family communications, and tweens and teens get the functions they’re seeking in today’s wireless service,” said The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A Iger.

    Disney Mobile phones will have a stylish, clam shell-style design that appeals to adults and kids alike, but the parents’ phones will be configured with additional, exclusive functionality for managing the family’s mobile experience. These controls may also be accessed via the Disney Mobile website.

    The service will be available to consumers at www.disneymobile.com and at Disney Mobile kiosks in malls throughout the US. Additional retail distribution channels are planned for later in the year. Pricing plans, which will be detailed closer to consumer availability, will be competitively priced with other family mobile plans and will include Family Center features as part of the basic service. Handset pricing will start at $59.99 when purchased with a two-year service agreement.

    “Disney Mobile uses sophisticated technology to make family communication better and easier to manage than ever before. We have addressed what parents are looking for in a comprehensive mobile service, while also balancing the needs of what kids want in a cell phone. Never before has a mobile service offered such a feature-rich, customisable experience for both parents and kids,” said Walt Disney Internet Group president Steve Wadsworth.

    The centerpiece of the Disney Mobile experience is the innovative Family Center features, which are accessible on Disney Mobile phones and www.disneymobile.com. Its features include:

    Family Monitor
    Disney Mobile’s Family Monitor feature can help make surprise cell phone bills a thing of the past by giving parents the unique ability to manage their kids’ cell phone use real-time. A parent can set monthly allowances for each kid for key aspects of cell phone use, including voice minutes, text and picture messages, and downloadable content such as ringtones, wallpapers and background themes.

    Call Control
    Disney Mobile’s Call Control feature allows parents to use an online tool to designate when kids can use their cell phones, as well as who they can and cannot call. Parents can choose the day of week or even the time of day they will allow their kids to use their phones, eliminating use at inappropriate times such as during school hours or late at night.

    Family Locator
    The Family Locator feature allows parents to locate their kids’ phones using advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Parents can access the Family Locator feature from their phones or from www.disneymobile.com by entering a PIN which each parent personally selects. Once access is authorized, parents can locate their kid’s phone by selecting “locate” through the feature. When the phone’s location has been found, the location, a map of the location, and an indication of accuracy appear.

    Family Alert!
    Family Alert! allows family members on the same Disney Mobile family plan to send each other prioritised messages so the messages are unlikely to be missed. Family Alert! messages prominently appear on the handset screen whenever the phone is idle, causing family members to acknowledge messages before using the phone for other services.

    “Parents told us that they value the extra convenience and security a cell phone provides the family, but they also expressed a desire to be able to supervise their children’s cell phone use and avoid the horror stories they have heard about excessive mobile bill surprises. Disney Mobile’s Family Center features give parents the best of both worlds. It provides the ultimate in flexibility for parents, giving parents maximum visibility to their family’s phone usage, and allowing them to apply as much or as little control as they see appropriate for their kids,” said Disney Mobile senior vice president and general manager George Grobar.

    ENTERTAINMENT
    In addition to its Family Center features, Disney Mobile will also offer parents, tweens and Disney fans of all ages a wide variety of Disney and other family-appropriate content to personalise and customise their Disney Mobile phones. The “Theme-It” function will allow multiple screens of the phone to be re-themed with a selection of related content chosen by the subscriber.

    Disney Mobile subscribers will also enjoy a broad offering of Disney content. The Disney Zone includes exclusive ‘Vault Disney’ content only available to Disney Mobile subscribers and applications that will extend many of the online and offline worlds of Disney. At launch it will include a Radio Disney application that will allow direct interaction with Radio Disney and its family friendly music.

    There also will be a broad assortment of general entertainment content to complement the service’s Disney offerings.