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Disney Channel Eyes China, India To Expand TV Empire
September 15, 2006: 3:17 a.m. EST
KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--Walt Disney Co. is seeking to make inroads into Asia's biggest markets for children's television, with plans for Hindi-language original programs in India and possible co-productions in China, a top company official said.
Disney Channel Worldwide President Rich Ross said the network is chasing new opportunities, buoyed by record ratings in the United States and other territories following successes such as this year's international TV movie smash, High School Musical.
"We're always looking to expand to more homes, more kids and more individual markets," Ross said in an interview this week while visiting Malaysia to mark Disney Channel's 10th anniversary in Southeast Asia, where it broadcasts in eight countries.
China and India, which have Asia's largest populations, offer untapped potential, Ross said.
"In India, we just greenlit two original narrative shows made by Indians, for Indians - which we think is a huge step for us," Ross said. "We'd like to do the same in China."
Millions of India's households receive Disney Channel through cable and satellite. However, China has been harder to crack, with strict restrictions on media investment making the country slow to open up its television market.
"The challenge clearly is access" in China, Ross said. "We have at this point not launched a channel there. We would like to. We would certainly like to get more of our shows there."
Walt Disney Co., based in Burbank, California, has begun talks to jointly produce shows with Chinese companies and is hoping for a deal by 2007, Ross said, adding that such an outcome "would be a major breakthrough."
"I'd like it to go faster, but you learn that in China, patience pays off," Ross said.
Ross stressed that Disney Channel's shows possess cross-cultural appeal, noting that the song-and-dance romance High School Musical has dominated TV ratings and sold millions of soundtrack CDs worldwide following its January debut in the United States.
High School Musical will certainly help pay the bills for this year," Ross said. "People are calling it the Grease of the new generation. To hear the music sung in foreign languages to me is exhilarating, from Italian to Japanese to Spanish."
Disney's next international smash might be Hannah Montana, Ross said. The show, which scored the highest U.S. debut ratings of any Disney Channel series earlier this year, stars Miley Cyrus as a 14-year-old country music superstar who just wants to be a regular kid.
"Miley Cyrus is the most honest, funny and talented actress we may ever have worked with," Ross said. "I think she will be the toast of Asia before you know it."
Dow Jones Newswires 09-15-06 0317ET Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc
September 15, 2006: 3:17 a.m. EST
KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--Walt Disney Co. is seeking to make inroads into Asia's biggest markets for children's television, with plans for Hindi-language original programs in India and possible co-productions in China, a top company official said.
Disney Channel Worldwide President Rich Ross said the network is chasing new opportunities, buoyed by record ratings in the United States and other territories following successes such as this year's international TV movie smash, High School Musical.
"We're always looking to expand to more homes, more kids and more individual markets," Ross said in an interview this week while visiting Malaysia to mark Disney Channel's 10th anniversary in Southeast Asia, where it broadcasts in eight countries.
China and India, which have Asia's largest populations, offer untapped potential, Ross said.
"In India, we just greenlit two original narrative shows made by Indians, for Indians - which we think is a huge step for us," Ross said. "We'd like to do the same in China."
Millions of India's households receive Disney Channel through cable and satellite. However, China has been harder to crack, with strict restrictions on media investment making the country slow to open up its television market.
"The challenge clearly is access" in China, Ross said. "We have at this point not launched a channel there. We would like to. We would certainly like to get more of our shows there."
Walt Disney Co., based in Burbank, California, has begun talks to jointly produce shows with Chinese companies and is hoping for a deal by 2007, Ross said, adding that such an outcome "would be a major breakthrough."
"I'd like it to go faster, but you learn that in China, patience pays off," Ross said.
Ross stressed that Disney Channel's shows possess cross-cultural appeal, noting that the song-and-dance romance High School Musical has dominated TV ratings and sold millions of soundtrack CDs worldwide following its January debut in the United States.
High School Musical will certainly help pay the bills for this year," Ross said. "People are calling it the Grease of the new generation. To hear the music sung in foreign languages to me is exhilarating, from Italian to Japanese to Spanish."
Disney's next international smash might be Hannah Montana, Ross said. The show, which scored the highest U.S. debut ratings of any Disney Channel series earlier this year, stars Miley Cyrus as a 14-year-old country music superstar who just wants to be a regular kid.
"Miley Cyrus is the most honest, funny and talented actress we may ever have worked with," Ross said. "I think she will be the toast of Asia before you know it."
Dow Jones Newswires 09-15-06 0317ET Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc
