ESPN Blighty bound
Mouse to launch classic net on BSkyB
More Articles:
Most Viewed:
Spielberg abandons 'Harvey'(1943 views)'Blind Side' gains B.O. yardage over 'New Moon'(1838 views)Nine(1797 views)Taylor Lautner to star in 'Max Steel'(969 views)Johnny Depp eyes Pancho Villa role(893 views)Bennett Miller to direct 'Moneyball'(692 views) |
On Monday Disney announced that the net will launch ESPN Classic as part of a previously announced carriage deal that brings premium movie service Cinemagic to Rupert Murdoch-backed satcaster BSkyB (Daily Variety, Dec. 1). Total value of the deal, including both services, is around $1.5 billion for seven years. The agreement, described as Disney's biggest distribution deal outside the U.S., also means Disney movies will be available via BSkyB on broadband Internet, video-on-demand and the satcaster's soon-to-bow high-definition service.
Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and prexy of Disney-ABC Television Group, hailed the agreement as "enhancing an already rich association with Sky."
"Viewers will now be able to access an even broader array of Disney content, either through their TVs or via broadband on personal computers," she said.
ESPN Classic, which bowed in France in 2002 and now is available in more than 40 European markets, will launch on BSkyB on March 13, three days before the debut of Disney Cinemagic. Latter will be available as either a stand-alone premium channel or a bonus station for subscribers to Sky Movies 1 and 2.
If British auds respond favorably to family-skewed Cinemagic, which will feature pics including "The Incredibles," "Lady and the Tramp" and "Cinderella," the channel will roll out across Europe.
The two new channels come as Disney moves its other U.K. kids' channels, Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney, to basic-tier packages on BSkyB, reflecting its U.S. strategy.
As digital TV grows across Europe, this approach is almost certain to be adopted on the continent.
Jetix and Jetix+1, aimed at viewers ages 7-11, also have secured carriage on BSkyB for another five years when the current agreement runs out in 2007.
No one would comment on the value of the contract, but BSkyB, now in 8 million U.K. homes, was in a position to drive a much harder bargain with Disney than it was a decade ago. Back then, the business was still establishing itself and, arguably, needed the kudos of the Disney brand more than the studio needed the paybox.
