Disney Channel Spain goes free
Company claims move is global first
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It will bow on Spain's digital terrestrial TV platform on July 1 in what Disney described as a global first.
The hope is that it will both attract audiences to the DTT platform and significantly boost its own auds.
Disney Channel Spain VP-general manager Jose Vila: "This is not just important news for Disney Channel, but for the success of DTT in Spain. There is a big call for family content, and making Disney Channel available is an incredibly attractive incentive for families to make the switch to DTT" before the country's analog signal is shut off in 2010.
Two years ago, when the Mouse House switched the Disney Channel from premier pay to basic pay in Blighty, its reach rocketed by 60%.
The company clearly hopes that moving Disney Channel Spain to free-to-air will reap an even bigger dividend and, as a result, raise the profile of other Disney products in Spain.
A company spokeswoman said there are no plans for a free, ad-funded service in other European markets.
"We remain a subscription-based channel and are happy to follow both business models," she said.
Disney Channel debuted on pay cable in Spain in 1998 and will remain available on pay platforms.
