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Tag: Walt Disney

  • Walt Disney to buy out Hungama TV, take 15% stake in UTV

    Walt Disney to buy out Hungama TV, take 15% stake in UTV

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company today announced that it has entered into an agreement to wholly acquire Hungama TV and take a 14.9 per cent equity interest in media company UTV Software Communications Ltd, in each case subject to regulatory approval.

    Disney has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of United Home Entertainment LTD (Hungama TV) at an enterprise valuation of $30.5 million and purchase equity stake of 14.9 per cent of expanded capital in UTV Software Communications LTD, at a consideration of $ 14 million. So, the total combined investment is $ 44.5 million.

    The announcement confirms the news first put out by Indiantelevision.com that Disney would be buying into Hungama TV and picking up a small stake in UTV.

    Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta will be working closely with the Disney team for the next three months to ensure a smooth organisational and operational integration of Hungama TV into Disney’s portfolio of kids channels. Post that Mehta will be working with Disney as a consultant for a period of six months to a year.

    Once final, the acquisition will firmly establish Disney’s ties in a rapidly growing media market where local content product is key. The combination of the three kids’ channels — Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Hungama TV — will establish Disney as a strong contender against the market leader Turner India (Cartoon Network and Pogo).

    “India is a long term strategic priority for the Walt Disney company. The acquisition of Hungama TV and the investments in UTV will significantly advance our presence in India and allow us to develop a strategic relationship with one of the countries leading integrated media companies,” said Walt Disney International president Andy Bird.

    “Not only will we be acquiring a great channel asset, we will also be able to participate in UTV’s diversified businesses and bring to UTV our global media and synergy expertise, including developing and distributing high quality family friendly content in nearly 200 countries worldwide and expanding related franchises across film, TV, music, merchandise, new media and live entertainment,” said Bird.

    When queried on Disney’s plans to launch a theme park in India, Bird answered in the negative. “We are not looking at a theme park in India,” he said.

    “TV is and will continue to be the major growth engine in building franchise affinity in India. Integrating Hungama TV in the Walt Disney Company’s existing India channel portfolio of Disney Channel and Toon Disney will allow Disney to fortify its already strong presence in India’s kids TV market,” said Disney Channel Worldwide president Rich Ross.

    When queried about the integration process of Hungama TV into Disney, Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific) senior vice president and managing director Nicky Parkinson said, “At present we are not sure how the integration will take place. We are in the process of finding out a way to best talk to kids. We are not here to cannabalise the market place. India is a relatively nascent market but one which has phenomenal potential.”

    “Hungama TV has proven its appeal to Indian children and families with compelling entertainment choices and has in a brief period built a strong management team and sucked out a leadership position in the competitive children’s TV environment. We are also delighted that Disney has chosen to make a strategic investment in UTV, which will augment our business in India and around the world,” said UTV group CEO Ronnie Screwvala.

    Launched in September 2004, Hungama is a 24-hour Hindi-language entertainment cable channel for children and is currently in a close fight with Turner’s Pogo channel for the the number two position in the Indian kids space behind leader Cartoon Network. Hungama TV has a staff strength of 71.

    Disney currently reaches over 107 million television homes in India through a programme block on Doordarshan and Disney Channel and Toon Disney/Jetix reached approximately 30 million homes on cable and satellite in India.

    UTV has a diversified set of businesses, which includes television and film production and distribution, animation production, and other services.

  • Dish TV inks deal with BVITV for MoD service

    Dish TV inks deal with BVITV for MoD service

    MUMBAI: The direct-to-home Dish TV has added Walt Disney movies to its movie-on-demand (Mod) offering besides providing Bollywood movies.

    For this, DishTV has entered into an agreement with the international television distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company -Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) to air the latest blockbuster movies on its value added service.

    Subscribers of the Mod pay-per-view service will have access to a slate of box office hit features from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax and Jerry Bruckheimer Films including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Disney’s highest grossing film to date, Casanova, Cinderella Man, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Dark Water, and Flight Plan, informs an official release.

    Speaking about the tie-up, Dish TV CEO Sunil Khanna said, “Strategic alliances of this magnitude and nature are very important for any operator in any market. We are happy to tie up with BVITV at a juncture when the Mod services for Hindi movies has already been launched and now Dish TV is all set to launch the same service for English movies as well. With this move, we will be able to offer this service to more than 1.2 million subscribers of Dish TV spread across the country”.

    The movie can be ordered through SMS, phone or by logging on to www.dishtvindia.in. The consumer can watch the movie for 24 hours at his/her own convenience at a cost of Rs. 50 per movie.

  • Disney Online to offer public libraries free access to Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online

    Disney Online to offer public libraries free access to Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online

    MUMBAI: Disney Online, part of the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG), will offer public libraries free subscriptions to Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online, a safe, ad-free interactive learning experience for preschoolers.

    Disney Online will offer this service, normally a $49.95 annual subscription fee, beginning 24 June 2006 at the American Library Association conference.

    Developed in conjunction with education experts, Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online offers entertaining, story-driven games and activities that teach skills in crucial areas such as letter and number recognition, shape and color identification and counting.

    “Librarians often play a significant role in helping preschool-age children prepare for kindergarten. Resources that support early learning are valuable and allow parents and children to work together,” said Teachers College Columbia University professor and Education for the 21st Century president Renee Cherow O’Leary.

    Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online is hosted by “Bear” from Disney Channel’s Bear in the Big Blue House. Bear and other Disney characters lead activities that focus on eight key skill areas including reading readiness, thinking skills, daily living skills, social skills, imagination and self-expression, motor skills and computer skills. Lessons automatically adjust to each individual child’s skill level, keeping preschoolers engaged and challenged. New content is introduced every two weeks, letting each child continue to advance at his or her natural pace.

    “We’re very pleased to be able to offer Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online free to public libraries. We believe the public library is a perfect fit for the fun learning offered in Preschool Time Online, especially for guests who may not have easy access to a broadband connection elsewhere,” said Disney Online vice president of premium products Steve Parkis.

  • Disney taps former P&G’s John E. Pepper as chairman

    Disney taps former P&G’s John E. Pepper as chairman

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company has elected independent Disney director and former Procter & Gamble chairman and CEO John E. Pepper, Jr., to serve as non-executive chairman of the board with effect from 1 January 2007.

    Pepper will succeed Senator George J. Mitchell, who has served as Disney chairman since March 2004.

    Last December, the Disney Board of Directors requested that Senator Mitchell postpone his planned retirement at the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders and stand for re-election to facilitate an orderly chairman succession process. With the selection of his successor as chairman now in place, Senator Mitchell will step down and retire from the board on 31 December 2006.

    “Since joining the Disney Board, John has quickly immersed himself in our business and shared his broad and deep expertise in corporate management, global brand building and leadership development. In John’s leadership of the board, Disney’s shareholders will benefit from his notable record of success in leading and growing one of the world’s largest consumer products companies. He is a man of great integrity and we all look forward to working with him in his new role,” said The Walt Disney Company president and CEO c.

    “I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with Senator Mitchell for many years, both as a director and as chairman. He is an extraordinary leader with numerous and significant accomplishments both nationally and internationally. The Walt Disney Company has benefited greatly from George’s wisdom and leadership, and I am deeply appreciative of having him as our chairman during my first year as CEO,” he added.

    Senator Mitchell stated, “During the past year, the board undertook a very thoughtful and deliberative approach to the chairman succession process. With the election of John as chairman, Disney will benefit from his outstanding leadership skills and unique experience in cultivating global brands. It has been a true privilege for me to serve the shareholders of Disney and we will now begin a smooth transition with John.”

    Pepper said, “I am incredibly honoured to be elected the next chairman of the world’s preeminent entertainment company. The board recognises the trust investors have placed in us with respect to corporate governance and long term shareholder value creation. I look forward to continuing my close collaboration with the directors and senior management as the company takes full advantage of the significant and exciting opportunities before us to grow and build our brands and businesses worldwide.”

  • Summer vacation fuels ‘Narnia’ DVD sale in India

    Summer vacation fuels ‘Narnia’ DVD sale in India

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company has claimed that its The Chronicles of Narnia, has become the highest selling DVD in India. The DVD, released last month, acquired the feat by dethroning the Lion King DVD by over 30 per cent in sales.

    The DVD sales were fueled on account of summer vacation and the unique sales promotion activities aimed at children.

    The Narnia DVD has been topping the international DVD charts for continuous weeks since its release, according to an official release.

    Buena Vista Home Entertainment International VP Daniel Solnicki says, “The success of the DVD has been phenomenal in India echoing its success worldwide (as the highest selling DVD of 2006). The growing hardware (DVD / VCD players) penetration and the aggressive marketing efforts by our partner in India are taking the home entertainment business to new heights.”

    The Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain said, “Creativity and great stories traverse all boundaries and this movie has been a great Disney experience that audiences across India have embraced with equal fervor.”

    Says M N Kapasi Excel Home Videos, “The DVD being a value product with its inbuilt language selection feature (English, Hindi) enabling the viewer to watch the movie in the language of his/her choice has further helped the cause. The pan India response has prompted us to add more Indian Languages to future editions. The huge success has also been attributed to the summer vacations and the unique sales promotions activities for children.”

    Says Mehul Rathod, Movies and More,(India ‘s only exclusive chain for Movie DVDs).”The DVD has received a huge response, with the summer vacation and the unique sales promotion activities aimed at children. The DVD with its competitive pricing has done extremely well across the country. The product has been a best seller since its release, and has been our highest selling product in terms of its volume and value. “

  • Disney launches Power Rangers’ merchandise, new season & contest

    Disney launches Power Rangers’ merchandise, new season & contest

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney India has three aces up its sleeves. The company has launched the latest season of Power Rangers — Power Rangers SPD (Space Petrol Delta) coupled with an extensive range of merchandising for the franchise and a contest weaved around the show.

    The merchandising around Power Rangers includes toys, books, apparel, bed linen, stationary and mobile games. The price of the products will be in the range of Rs 50 – Rs 899.

    Power Rangers now has five different series namely – Power Rangers Wild Force, Power Rangers Ninja Storm, Power Rangers Dino Thunder, Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue and the latest one being Power Rangers SPD. Touted as the highest performing property on Disney, this franchise airs on the Jetix block on Toon Disney and has a new series with novel adventure plots releasing every season.

    Disney will go all out to promote the new multi-product merchandise launch of the Power Rangers franchise with an integrated online, on-ground and on-air campaign.

    Disney’s different businesses namely Disney Consumer Products (DCP), Disney Worldwide Publishing (DWP) and the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) have tied up with various merchandisers across India for the products. DCP has partnered with New Boy, Weekender, Funskool, Milton, Frank Educational Aids and Art for All to retail the products. DWP has tied up with Sterling Publishing to launch a wide range of comics, story books, colouring and activity books, whereas the WDIG will soon be launching a new Power Rangers game on the mobile.

    Additionally, the company will also make available the merchandising in Lifestyle, Shoppers’ Stop, Archies, Pantaloon and Funskool outlets across the country.

    The Walt Disney Company India managing director Rajat Jain said, “Product innovation drives Disney. Our teams, in every corner of the world have a shared passion to design and develop world class products that bring stories alive. In recent years, Disney has transformed from passive to active licensing. From a deal-making focus where relationships were singularly with the licensee without much value add from Disney beyond great brands we create; the focus has shifted to consumers, retailers and product. Now, we work with licensees and retailers as partners.”

    What’s more, the channel is also planning to weave a contest around this property called the SPD contest that will aim to find the biggest Power Rangers fan in India. GlaxoSmithKline’s brand Boost ChocoBlast will be the main sponsor of the contest and will give away four special Power Rangers special edition badges with every purchase of Boost ChocoBlast. Kids will have to collect seven unique badges in order to become the biggest fan. Brands like Peppy, Maggi and New Boy have been roped in as associate sponsors for the contest. The grand prize of the contest will be a trip to the NASA museum in the US.

    “With the Power Rangers show, which enjoys the highest GRPs across all kid shows in India in the 4 – 14 age group, we are confident that this contest will be immensely popular and will break all records,” said Walt Disney Television International India director programming Nachiket Pantvaidya.

    In March – April this year, Toon Disney had rolled out the Power Your Rangers contest and had partnered Reliance and Britannia for the same. The contest received 523,000 entries, the highest number of mobile downloads on Reliance and also stepped up Britannia Treat’s sales by 40 per cent. Disney had branded 10 million Britannia Treat packs, which alone amounted to a display value of Rs 71 million.

    “The response we got for the Power Your Rangers contest was huge and we are sure that this one surpass all expectations,” Pantvaidya added.

  • Disney Channel Fun Zone creates rollicking time for over 15,000 kids

    Disney Channel Fun Zone creates rollicking time for over 15,000 kids

    MUMBAI: Disney Channel brought yet another innovative opportunity for kids to experience the Disney Channel shows, win goodies and have a blast with their family. Over 15,000 kids and families had a rocking time this weekend at Disney Channel Fun Zone at the DNA YA! Station, an indoor festival for kids organised by the English daily DNA.

    In response to a clear need gap for weekend activities that are fun and involving for the entire family, Disney Channel – the entertainment partner for the DNA YA! Station designed the Disney Channel Fun Zone offering kids an opportunity to enjoy themselves with involving activities along with their families.

    Of the 2500 who registered at the Disney Channel Fun Zone, 40 kids got the opportunity to watch the ever best Disney movies in a specially designed Movie Theatre.

    What’s more, kids tested their acting skills at a special audition booth mimicking their favorite Disney characters and two lucky winners will be featured on Disney Channel.

    Walt Disney Television International (India) director marketing and communications Tushar Shah said, “We believe in providing a complete Disney brand experience every time we establish a contact with the viewer. There is a huge need gap today, of suitable content that has stickiness on-air which can also create involving on-ground-experiences. With innovative initiatives like Disney Channel Fun Zone, we aim to bridge the gap between TV content and on-ground brand experience for the viewers and enable viewers to develop a much stronger bond with Disney Channel.”

    The DC Fun Zone comprised six sub-zones, each representing a key property, which include That’s So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Recess, American Dragon: Jake Long and the Disney Movies.

  • Walt Disney 2Q earnings climb 19 per cen

    Walt Disney 2Q earnings climb 19 per cen

    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.

  • Former Disney honcho Eisner turns his attention to IPTV

    Former Disney honcho Eisner turns his attention to IPTV

    MUMBAI: Former Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner and media conglomerate Time Warner have invested in a startup that aims to build a delivery platform for IPTV.

    Media reports indicate that Eisner’s venture capital group Tornante Company together with Spark Capital and Time Warner will be investing a total of $12.5 billion in the company. How much Eisner is exactly pumping into the venture is another unknown.

    The San Diego based Veoh Networks is building a system for delivering broadcast-quality entertainment and informational content via the Internet, using distribution technology, the firm says will allow for unlimited capacity. Veoh envisions marketing its platform to everyone from independent video producers and hobbyists to large studios.

    In a statement Eisner said, “Cable and satellite fundamentally changed the way television was distributed by creating the capacity for greater choice in programming. Veoh revolutionises television again by leveraging the Internet to expand broadcast capacity to the point that every single user, whether an individual or a media company, can create their own `channel` and every `channel` can be supported by its own business model.

    “In the past, distributing television programming required an enormous broadcast infrastructure. Veoh enables anyone with an Internet connection to distribute and receive programming in the highest quality.”

    Eisner will be a member of the board of directors of Veoh Networks.Under Veoh’s model, TV networks and individuals will be able to programme their own channels on the service. At the moment, it shows programming already in the public domain and content sent by users.

    Veoh founder and CEO Dmitry Shapiro says, “Having Michael involved in the company gives us incredible credibility, experience and knowledge, not to mention the contacts”.

  • Walt Disney Internet Group signs distribution agreement with Boonty

    Walt Disney Internet Group signs distribution agreement with Boonty

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) has inked a distribution agreement with Boonty, a global expert in the digital distribution of video games, to make some of WDIG’s most popular downloadable games available to consumers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.

    The agreement further raises WDIG’s profile in the downloadable games category and expands its ability to deliver digital content across multiple platforms.

    Disney fans across Western Europe can now access exciting games in local language featuring favourite Disney characters, including The Lion King Grubalicious, the Little Mermaid Bubble Blast, Pirates of the Caribbean Pinball and Aladdin Magic Carpet Racing, by going to Boonty’s network of major portals and online retailers such as T-OnLine, Alice, AOL, TF1 and Eurosport.

    “The Walt Disney Internet Group intends to make Disney games content readily available to a broadening audience of consumers around Europe by expanding our distribution channels with leading aggregators. Boonty has the expertise, reach and robust infrastructure required for effective digital distribution, and we are pleased to add them to our network of partners,” said Walt Disney Internet Group, Europe managing director Attila Gazdag.

    According to media research consultancy Screen Digest, the European casual gaming market is expected to reach close to $400 million by 2009. Much of this growth is coming from the non-traditional gaming audience – up to 65 per cent of casual game players are female and 48 per cent are aged 35-54 – who are particularly attracted by the Disney-branded games experience.

    “We are seeing the gaming industry embrace digital distribution globally with increasingly sophisticated services. The intuitive interface and design simplicity of the Disney games are very appealing to our users and we are delighted to be able to add this content to our portfolio,” said Boonty founder and CEO Mathieu Nouzareth