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MUMBAI:
At next week's television trade event Mipcom in Cannes, France,
Disney ABC International Television, the distribution arm
of US media conglomerate Disney, will be showcasing 11 new
shows.
Speaking
to Indiantelevision.com, Disney-ABC International Television
(Asia Pacific) VP sales Greg Johnson says, "We are showcasing
our biggest ever lineup at Mipcom this year with 11 new series
and 12 returning ones, including recent Emmy winners Ugly
Betty, Lost, Grey’s Anatomy and Brothers
& Sisters.
"We
are very excited by our new slate of shows with a great roster
of talent and unique storylines such as Dirty Sexy Money,
Eli Stone, Army Wives, Reaper, Carpoolers
and Private Practice, which is a Grey’s Anatomy
spin-off. These shows have already been picked up by broadcasters
in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and the Philippines. We’re
very confident that many of these new series will also resonate
with audiences in India."
He
adds that the company's kids programming slate has had a record
breaking year both in the US and internationally, starting
with High School Musical 2. "We are also presenting
at Mipcom the brand new animated series for kids and parents
Phineas & Ferb, pre-school series My Friends
Tigger & Pooh and the live action comedy series Wizards
of Waverly Place by the creator and executive producer
of Hannah Montana.”
When
asked about the genres where he expects to see an uptake,
Johnson notes that every market is different. "We work
closely with local broadcasters to find the right content
fit for their programming schedules. Shows with a strong track
record in the US typically do well for us in the Asia Pacific
also.
"But
at the end of the day, it’s all about the quality of
the content and the storylines. A good story told in an entertaining
way travels well – and we’ve proven that we tell
some of the best stories on TV. A perfect illustration is
Ugly Betty, which originated in Latin America, has
been a big success in the U.S. and earned America Ferrera
the Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series at last month’s
Emmy Awards.
"In
the Asia Pacific, we’ve now licensed the US version to
11 markets, from Australia to Vietnam, and local audiences
are now also falling in love with the charm of Betty. From
our new slate, we are seeing interest for dramas such as Dirty
Sexy Money, Private Practice and Reaper as
well as our new comedy Carpoolers."
Asked
about the relationships the Mouse House's distribution arm
enjoys with Indian broadcasters, Johnson says that it has
strong relationships with a number of them, particularly Star,
which telecasts many properties, notable ones being Desperate
Housewives and Lost.
"In
addition to that there is the Sab channel, which is now providing
these series in Hindi for the first time. We also work closely
with broadcasters Zee Studio, Filmy, Max, Star Gold and Star
Movies who feature our movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone
Pictures and Miramax Films. We've also just licensed the new
hit cable drama Army Wives to Zee Cafe.
"In
terms of kids programming, our Disney branded and Jetix animation
blocks are available in Hindi and English on Star Plus, DD1
and Star One.
"On
the formats front, soon Indian audiences will see the Indian
version of reality makeover show Extreme Makeover,
produced by Sony Entertainment Television and hosted by Mona
Singh.
"India
has huge TV potential and is an important part of our global
business strategy. We were the first US studio with on-ground
presence in India and we’ve recently strengthened our
team with a new sales director (Swati Shetty), which is another
step in our commitment to our clients. Our aim is to continue
to grow and strengthen our relationships with clients in India
as well as find new ways for people to enjoy and connect with
our content."
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