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MUMBAI:
UK pay TV service provider Sky and media conglomerate Disney
are working together to create a new television channel, Sky
Movies Disney.
The
new channel will be the home of new and classic Disney and
Disney/Pixar movies in the UK and Ireland.
This
is the first time that Disney has been involved in a co-branded
linear movie channel anywhere in the world. It is also the
first time that viewers in the UK and Ireland will be able
to watch all new blockbuster Disney-branded movies, as well
as classics from the past, on one single channel.
The
launch of Sky Movies Disney builds on Sky and Disney’s
24-year relationship in the UK and forms part of a new wide-ranging
agreement between the two companies, covering further movies,
and Disney Channels, across multiple platforms and devices.
Launching
in time for Easter on 28 March 2013, Sky Movies Disney will
show films like ‘Brave’ and ‘Wreck-It Ralph
‘in their first pay TV window. Future releases that will
be available include ‘Oz: The Great and Powerful’,
‘Monsters University’ and ‘The Lone Ranger’.
The
new movies will be available on Sky Movies Disney from around
six months after they have ended their run in cinemas and
will be exclusive to Sky Movies for at least a year.
Alongside
new releases, Sky Movies Disney will also offer a library
of classic Disney films, including ‘Bambi’ and ‘Pinocchio’,
as well as Disney/Pixar films such as ‘Finding Nemo’,
‘Cars’ and ‘A Bug’s Life’. Live action
titles such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s
Chest’ and ‘National Treasure’ will also be
available.
In
addition to broadcasting in standard and high definition on
the Sky Movies Disney channel, all of the new and classic
movies will be available to view on demand and on the go.
Sky
TV customers will be able to watch movies on the move with
Sky Go, on their smartphone, tablet, laptop or MacBook. NOW
TV, Sky’s new internet TV service, will also offer easy
and flexible access to the Disney titles to customers who
buy the Sky Movies monthly. Disney films available in 3D will
be shown on the Sky 3D channel.
In
addition to the launch of the new channel, the agreement gives
Sky Movies the first subscription pay TV movie rights in the
UK and Ireland to other titles distributed by Disney, including
new movies from Lucasfilm, and also Marvel Studios features
such as ‘Iron Man 3’ and ‘Avengers Assemble’,
which will be broadcast across the Sky Movies portfolio of
channels.
In
addition to movies, the agreement covers Disney’s TV
channels - Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior - which
will continue to be made available to Sky customers, alongside
a new HD version of Disney Junior, launching in April. All
Disney-branded channels will also continue to be available
on Sky Go across a range of internet-connected devices.
Additionally,
Sky will launch a dedicated Disney section on its popular
On Demand service, offering hundreds more hours of catch-up
and library shows.
Sky
CEO Jeremy Darroch said, "The launch of Sky Movies Disney
is great news for our customers and builds on the strong relationship
that Sky and Disney have enjoyed for more than 20 years. We’re
delighted that an entertainment company of Disney’s international
stature has chosen to work with Sky on its first co-branded
linear movie channel. This is a world-first collaboration
that will excite millions of families and further strengthen
our market-leading movies service."
Sky
Movies director Ian Lewis said, “Disney’s movies
are loved by all ages and generations, so we’re delighted
to be bringing this new channel to millions of families at
no extra cost. Sky Movies Disney will be the home of new and
classic Disney and Disney/Pixar movies and will offer all
new titles at least a year before other TV channels or subscription
services. The combination of Disney’s fantastic movies
and Sky’s award-winning innovation means that customers
will have the chance to enjoy the very best of Disney on their
own terms, whether that’s watching on demand, on the
move or in 3D."
Disney
president Europe, Middle East and Africa Diego Lerner said,
"In launching these new initiatives, we are underlining
Disney and Sky's shared goal: bringing high quality, creative
entertainment to audiences in the UK and Ireland. The ways
in which people watch TV and movies have changed immeasurably
in the past 20 years, but consumers always seek out Disney's
great stories and memorable characters."
Disney
Europe, Middle East and Africa senior VP, GM, media distribution
Catherine Powell said, "Through the launch of Sky Movies
Disney, we will offer viewers our broadest range yet of popular
current and classic Disney and Disney/Pixar films, featuring
many of our much-loved stories and characters.
“Building
on the strong performance of our movies and Disney channels
in the UK and Ireland, this agreement will not only increase
the range of Disney entertainment being made available, but
also the devices and platforms that viewers will be able to
enjoy them on."
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