Disney adds to international deals
Pacts cover India, Latin America, Hungary
Its reupping its multiyear film deal with Indian cable film channel Zee Studio; launching a Playhouse Disney Channel in Latin America; and inking a licensing deal in Hungary with Magyar Telekoms STB video-on-demand rental service and Origos PC service Teka.
The three deals are another indication of the Mouse Houses ambition to continue its international expansion by pursuing a multiplatform strategy. The accords cover licensing, distribution and new media.
Coming under the Zee deal are live-action library features, Disney animated titles and telepics. It is believed to be wider in scope than the previous agreement between the two.
Playhouse Disney Channel, which will air around the clock, will preem June 1 via subscription on Cablevision, Multicanal and Teledigital. It will be available in 19 countries across Latin America. There will also be a Portuguese-language feed for auds in Brazil.
Deal with Hungary marks the first new-media entry into the East European country. Films from Walt Disney Pictures, Disney/Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax will all be included.
