The Walt Disney Co. and Comcast Corp. have entered into long-term distribution agreements for the ten ABC-owned broadcast television stations and an array of Disney networks including Disney Channel, Toon Disney, ABC Family, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS and ESPN HD. Comcast also shelled out $1.23 billion to acquire Disney’s 39.5% ownership stake in E! Networks, making it a wholly owned Comcast subsidiary.
Disney has also agreed to offer its feature films, primetime TV shows and cable network series on Comcast’s ON DEMAND service, marking the first time ABC broadcast programs such as Lost and Desperate Housewives will be available on via VOD. Several ABC primetime series will be offered free by Comcast in ABC-owned television station markets and promotional content from the Disney-ABC Television Group awill vailable on Comcast’s broadband portal, www.comcast.net.
“This agreement reflects our ability to distribute content on multiple platforms and signals another first for Comcast and Disney as we continue to explore the evolving possibilities of digital technology,’ says Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts. ‘Putting Disney, ESPN and ABC’s extremely popular content on Comcast VOD is a watershed event for both of our companies.”
Disney president and CEO Robert Iger adds, “This is one of the broadest distribution agreements in the history of our company. Disney’s great brands and great content combined with Comcast’s leading distribution platforms provide an incredibly compelling consumer experience in sports, family, news and entertainment.’
Under the movie VOD agreement, Comcast Digital Cable customers will be able to order recent release feature films from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone and Miramax for $3.99 each, while library titles will be available for $2.99 apiece. Among the initial titles to be available in 2007 are Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Invincible and The Guardian.
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