20 December 2007
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND CHANNEL ONE CONCLUDE
ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AGREEMENT IN RUSSIA
- Disney’s largest media agreement in the market to date London/Moscow – in line with its commitment to the international expansion
of its businesses and brands in emerging markets, The Walt Disney Company’s
international TV licensing arm, Disney-ABC International Television, has concluded a
major, multi-year partnership with Russian state broadcaster Channel One. This
agreement covers the licensing of features, live action series, animated series and
made-for-TV movies, and also the launch of monthly family film timeslot “The
Wonderful World of Disney.”
This follows strong growth of Disney’s Russian TV business in general, where
its total distribution revenues for the market have increased by more than 400% in
the last three years. At the cinema, Disney has also had a hugely successful year “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” was the number one foreign release of all
time in Russia and “Ratatouille” was the most successful non-sequel feature
animation. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Disney Consumer Products and
the Walt Disney Internet Group have also seen compelling growth in their Russian
business over the past year.
Marina Jigalova-Ozkan, Managing Director for The Walt Disney Company CIS,
said: “It is an important milestone in the history of Russian television and will
contribute to the further strengthening of Disney brand in Russia”.
Toumazis commented: “In this key market, we’re pleased to close this
significant step in the growth of our business, and the presence of Disney content on
Russian television. This agreement builds upon our long-standing successful
relationship with Channel One, covering some of the most creative and successful
content on television.”
Konstantin Ernst, General Manager of Channel One said: “This is a further step
of working closer with The Walt Disney Company that will allow Channel One to
present to a broader Russian audience all the latest Disney animated and live action
movies that have recently attracted the largest amount of viewers all around the
world. Our partnership will not be limited to movies acquisitions but will be
broadened towards the joint production of movies and shows here in Russia”
With this agreement, viewers across Russia will be able to enjoy a wide range
of hit first-run features from Walt Disney Pictures including “Pirates of the Caribbean:
Dead Man’s Chest,” and “Wild Hogs,” Disney/Pixar titles such as “Finding Nemo”. Also
included are much-loved Disney animated classics such as “The Jungle Book,” “101
Dalmations” and “Peter Pan,” to be shown on free TV in Russia for the first time.
Many of these blockbuster titles will premiere on Russian TV within Channel
One’s new family film timeslot “The Wonderful World of Disney,” which will run
monthly, for 10 months a year.
Following the success of ABC Studios network series such as “Lost” in Russia,
the hit series “Dirty Sexy Money,” starring Peter Krause and Donald Sutherland, has
been picked up by the broadcaster.
-Ends-
Contact:
Elena Yamshikova: + 7 (495) 646-90-43
Contact:
Sarah Hird: +44 (0)7866 470072
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY CIS
The Walt Disney Company CIS - the subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company – was
founded in April 2006. General Manager of The Walt Disney Company CIS is Marina
Jigalova-Ozkan.
In Russia and CIS the company develops all main lines of business of the global company,
which include:
1. Marketing and distribution of films;
2. Distribution of TV content;
3. Home Entertainment (production of DVD);
4. Licensing of Disney consumer products – clothes, toys, goods for children, stationery,
food, cosmetics;
5. Production and distribution of games for PC and consoles;
6. Production and distribution of mobile and Internet content;
7. Licensing of publishing – books and magazines for children.
DISNEY-ABC INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION
Disney-ABC International Television is the international television distribution division of
The Walt Disney Company, licensing over 30,000 hours of programming to over 1300
broadcasters across 240 territories worldwide. Disney-ABC International Television
distributes a portfolio of motion pictures from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures
and Miramax Films, network TV series, TV movies and miniseries, Disney-branded kids
programming, ABC Daytime and ABC News programming as well as the Annual Academy
Awards®. The company also services the distribution of the Jetix Europe portfolio
internationally. Disney-ABC International Television has been expanding its business
portfolio to distribute U.S. - produced reality programs and exploits reality and scripted
formats for local production; including local editions of ‘Extreme Makeover’ in the UK,
India, Belgium, Scandinavia, Hungary and Colombia; ‘The Amazing Race’ in Central
Europe, Asia, and Brazil; local versions of 'Home Improvement' and 'Hope & Faith' in
Russia and Turkey respectively; and local versions of Desperate Housewives in Argentina,
Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and US Hispanic Market.