Swiss company may make hostile bid for Euro Disney

 

Swiss company Center-Tainment AG may be making a hostile bid for Euro Disney SCA, offering its own shares for a 50.01 percent stake in the company, according to Thursday news reports.

The company called a news conference at a small hotel on Paris' Left Bank to discuss the all-share bid, though it did not reveal its financial backers, or a plan or timetable to turn the company around. Center-Tainment AG said in a statement that the takeover is aimed at unseating management and clearing a path to profitability, according to Associated Press reports.

Under terms of the proposal, Euro Disney shareholders would get 11 euro cents (14 US cents) for each share, or about 200 Center-Tainment shares for each Euro Disney share, AP reported.

Burbank's Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) owns a 39.8 percent share of Euro Disney, which has euro1.6 billion (about US$2.1 billion) in debt that it is struggling to reduce after a slump in European tourism. For the 2005-2006 fiscal year, Euro Disney reported a net loss of euro88.6 million (about US$117.4 million), an increase from a euro53.1 million (about US$70 million)loss in the previous year.

Disney told the AP that it had no comment but said in a statement that it was aware of the company's intention to launch the hostile bid, according to reports. Paris stock exchange watchdog Autorite des Marches Financiers said an inquiry would be carried out on the bid, according to news reports.

Center-Tainment was registered in Zug, Switzerland about a year ago and trades on the Frankfurt stock exchange. It was created to take over Euro Disney and other leisure centers, AP reported.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge commits $100,000 to conservation

Walt Disney World cast members at the Zawadi Marketplace at the Animal Kingdom Lodge raised more than $100,000 in donations for the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund this year. This marks a 1,200 percent increase from the $7,000 donated during the previous year.

Disney Channel Launches in Poland

Disney Channel launches on Cyfrowy Polsat and CYFRA+ in Poland on December 2.

The channel will be available to over 1.3 million subscribers in Poland for 16 hours a day and will start broadcasting at 5:00 p.m. on December 2 with the television premiere of The Incredibles.

Disney Channel will celebrate the launch with a special Disney Channel themed event at Prymasowski Palace located in the historic Old Town of Warsaw. Polish celebrities and members of the media are expected at this event, which will culminate in a spectacular count down to the live launch of the channel.

Highlights of programming available in Poland for the first time on Disney Channel include, the series That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana; Disney Channel Original Movies including High School Musical; animated series, including Kim Possible and American Dragon: Jake Long; series for preschoolers such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Disney's Little Einsteins and, coming next year, My Friends Tigger and Pooh; and a selection of the best of Disney family feature films such as Lady and the Tramp 2 and Tarzan.

Disney Channel Poland will be localized for the market with dubbed programming, promos and interstitials.

Disney sees overseas box office rising

Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook said on Thursday he expects international box office receipts to account for 70 percent of the company's film revenue over the next decade, up from the current 55 percent.

Cook told the Reuters Media Summit in New York that the current mix of 55 percent international to 45 percent domestic box office should move "fairly soon" to 60/40.

Citing "tremendous opportunity" in overseas audiences, Cook said the division of Walt Disney Co. is increasingly incorporating that factor into film development.

"It's just having a mind-set that looking at those projects that you feel are a story and character ... and places that are universal," he said.

Cook cited international hits like the animated movie "Finding Nemo," which he said had wide appeal because it occurred in the ocean.

Devil Rays Consider Disney

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays may soon be playing at Disney, and not just for Spring Training. Right now the Devil Rays are talking about playing one regular-season series in 2007 at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
    
According to the Devil Rays President, discussions are still in the early stages. Also, it is one thing being considering in order to get more support in Central Florida.
    
He says any move to hold regular season games at Disney would have to be approved by Major League Baseball and the team’s home of St. Petersburg.
 
It might also need the approval of the players union.

YouTube needs to do more on piracy, Disney exec says
 

A senior Walt Disney Co. executive said she sees limits to how long her company will tolerate copyright infringement of its programming by users of Google's online video sharing site YouTube.

Anne Sweeney, the head of Disney's entertainment and news television properties, said YouTube needed to do more than enforce its take-down policy in response to complaints about video piracy from media owners like Disney.

"We've had the phone calls, which are when we see clips of our content going up," Sweeney told the Reuters Media Summit in New York. "We have called and asked (YouTube) to take them (our video programming) down."

Disney and YouTube need to hold further discussions to resolve ongoing issues of copyright infringement, she said.

"It's not efficient and I think there is a larger conversation to be had. But this is the world we are living in. This is the reality," she said. "It is not the efficient way to deal with it. I think a larger conversation is in order."

Web sites that allow users to post their own content argue that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act protects the Web sites from liability for copyright infringement if they take down illegal material when notified.

But the millions of users on the more popular Web sites, such as YouTube and News Corp.'s online social networking site MySpace, have made removing pirated material quickly a difficult process to manage.

The Disney executive was asked whether her company had considered filing a lawsuit against YouTube as other media companies have threatened to do in recent months.

"I don't know. I am not a lawyer, so I am not going to speculate on that," Sweeney responded.

Two weeks ago, Vivendi's Universal Music Group (UMG) sued MySpace, accusing it of allowing users to pirate UMG music videos. UMG has a revenue-sharing deal with YouTube.

Sweeney said the two have not held talks on any licensing deal involving revenue-sharing agreements like those YouTube has signed with UMG, Warner Music Group, Sony BMG Entertainment and CBS Corp. for use of their video property.

A Disney Star Is Born

She embodies every pre-teen's fantasy: a cool 13-year-old with great hair and a secret life as a pop star. But to executives at the Disney Channel, Miley Cyrus is more of a dream come true.

Cyrus stars as Miley Stewart in Hannah Montana, the cable channel's live-action show about a girl who leads a normal life by day but at night dons a blonde wig to perform as a famous pop star (Hannah). It's a role that has turned Cyrus into a real-life TV star and Hannah Montana into a monster hit among a generation of tweens too young for Degrassi and too old for Dora the Explorer. "In Miley we found the perfect girl to carry off this part," says executive producer Michael Poryes. "She has a kind of strength and sweetness that make her character appealing, an unmistakable something that makes you believe she's a star."

That's what Disney is counting on. Having just celebrated her 14th birthday, Cyrus is at the center of a synergistic whirlwind of guest appearances, concert dates and recording sessions aimed at hyping Hannah Montana. She's performing in several cities as opening act for The Cheetah Girls — a made-by-Disney tween-targeted girl group — on their 40-city tour. She rode a celebrity float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade before returning to Los Angeles to start production on the series' second season.

Since its March debut — which drew 54 million viewers and was the biggest premiere in the cable channel's 23-year history — Hannah Montana has become the most popular show on television among pre-teen girls ages 9 to 14 and is consistently watched by more kids ages 6 to 11 than any other TV series. The Hannah Montana soundtrack, which features Cyrus performing eight songs, debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart several weeks ago and is still holding its own in the top five. There are Hannah Montana fan clubs, web sites, mobile phone clips, branded apparel, and a movie isn't far behind.

But if you think the success of Hannah Montana is due solely to Cyrus' charm and talent, you've been watching too many Disney movies. Like her predecessors, Hillary Duff (Lizzie McGuire) and Raven Symone (That's So Raven), the twangy-voiced Cyrus was plucked from the ranks of minor actors by Disney and anointed to be its newest star. While she certainly has musical talent and charisma, she's also the product of a winning formula for creating shows that tweens love and make stars out of its leads.

"Disney has become a hit machine and all cylinders are clicking," says Jason Maltby, president of New York-based MediaShare, a New York based ad buying firm. "Its successes breed more successes and provide a platform for new shows like Hannah Montana."

The formula starts with a simple concept: an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation. "It has to have an aspirational quality," explains Disney Channel Worldwide President Rich Ross. The idea for a show about a teen girl leading a double life as a pop star had the right fantasy quotient for the target audience. "Celebrity is huge for kids because of the sense of empowerment. Especially with all the reality shows now on TV," says executive producer Steven Peterman.

But the most important part, which Disney has perfected, is identifying and developing unknown talent to star in its shows. Like other Disney Channel series, Hannah Montana was cast-contingent when the network green-lighted the concept in 2005. The search for the right actress to play Miley Stewart — Hannah Montana by night — went on for a year. The young woman had to be appealing and cool for tweens but also parent-friendly. Producers say they want actors who can balance school with the demands of a TV show — and not end up in the tabloids. She also had to have musical talent. Eventually the script was shelved because they couldn't find the right actress to play the part. "It takes patience," says Ross of the search "We needed someone with talent but also the maturity to handle the pressure." Adds Disney Channel Entertainment President Gary Marsh: "We have brand promises to keep."

It so happened that Cyrus, who is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray ("Achy Breaky Heart") Cyrus — who plays her dad in the show — was raised on music, a prerequisite for Hannah, and had acted in several small roles. But she was sent home after an audition because she was too small. So Miley went back to Tennessee and spent the next year inundating the producers with tapes of herself performing, until they relented and gave the her role.

From the start there was no question that music would be a big part of the series. Around 2001, when the Disney Channel started to catch on with its kid-driven family friendly shows like Lizzie McGuire and Kim Possible, executives realized that music was an important part of the formula for serving a tween audience. By sponsoring concerts and turning series leads into pop stars, they could launch music acts and beef up the show's brand. Walt Disney Records' 2003 release of Hillary Duff's album and soundtrack proved them right, followed by The Cheetah Girls, a music-based TV movie about four friends aspiring to be pop stars featuring Symone of Raven. From that platform the Hannah Montana soundtrack was launched.

Cyrus takes her newfound success in stride. She says she understands why Hannah Montana is so popular. "Kids relate to it," Cyrus told TIME. "They see Miley Stewart as a normal girl with a huge dream. It shows them never to give up on their dreams, which is a cool thing." 

Disney's Mel Gibson problem

You would think Walt Disney would have a major problem on it hands in trying to market its new movie "Apocalypto."

The movie was directed by Mel Gibson, who, in case you've been living under a rock, has gone from being one of Hollywood's most popular stars to persona non grata for launching into an anti-Semitic tirade following an arrest on suspicion of drunk driving in Malibu back in July.

But rather than try to hide the fact that Gibson is the director of the film, Disney, whose Buena Vista Pictures unit is distributing the film in the U.S., is going out of its way to remind people that he is the creative force behind it.

The movie, which will be released Dec. 8, is being billed as "Mel Gibson's Apocalypto" in ads. The TV commercials, which prominently feature Gibson talking about the story, have aired on Disney-owned ABC and ESPN, but also during top-rated shows on other networks such as "Heroes" on GE-owned NBC and "House" on News Corp.'s Fox.

In addition, ABC ran a special edition of "Primetime" on Thanksgiving night about the movie.

And Gibson was set to appear on "Aqui y Ahora" a weekly news show on Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Thursday night to discuss the film. The movie, about the end of the Mayan civilization, was filmed in Mexico and features mostly Mexican actors.

So why is Disney embracing Gibson?

"Mel Gibson is one of the most accomplished actors and directors of our time, so from the very beginning we knew he was an important and valuable component to our plan," said Dennis Rice, senior vice president of publicity with Walt Disney Studios. "We believed that before and after what happened."

But given the public outcry over his comments, it would seem that the only thing riskier than putting Mel's name in the spotlight would be for someone in Hollywood to green light a new sitcom starring Michael Richards.

Yet in many respects, it seems like the right move for Disney, since Gibson, despite his troubles, is the most marketable part of the film. The cast is mostly unknown. The dialogue is spoken in an ancient Mayan dialect. And the film is about a topic unfamiliar to many moviegoers.

It's fair to say that it will be extremely difficult for "Apocalypto" to come anywhere close to duplicating the box-office prowess of the last film Gibson directed, 2004's wildly successful "The Passion of the Christ." That movie grossed $370.8 million in the U.S. and $611.9 million worldwide, according to figures from research firm Box Office Mojo.

Although that film presented similar marketing hurdles - i.e. relatively unknown actors in key roles as well as the fact that it was subtitled - that movie obviously appealed to a huge demographic.

"In some ways, 'Apocalypto' has the same challenges that were inherent with 'The Passion of the Christ.' But the difference is you had a worldwide built in audience for Christian-themed entertainment," said Charles Merzbacher, an associate professor and chairman of the Department of Film and Television with Boston University.

So playing up Gibson may be the only way to really garner any interest in the movie.

"Let's put this in the crassest Hollywood terms, if this was a movie starring Tom Hanks and directed by Mel Gibson, you go with Tom Hanks in the marketing. But to run away from the Gibson association, I'm not sure what Disney would be left with," Merzbacher said.

Tom Staggs, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Walt Disney Company, to Speak at The Credit Suisse Media and Telecom Week Conference

A general discussion with Tom Staggs, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) will take place on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at the Credit Suisse Media and Telecom Week Conference at 12:10 p.m. EST/9:10 a.m. PST and at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference at 3:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. PST. Both sessions will be webcast live. To listen to the Webcast of either session, please point your browser to www.disney.com/investors approximately five minutes prior to the start time. Re-plays will be provided through Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. PST.

Disney's Sweeney sees mobile TV as "critical"

Disney Media Networks Co-Chairman Anne Sweeney said on Wednesday the ability to watch television on mobile devices is a "critical" area of growth as wireless service providers begin offering live TV services next year.

The launch of live wireless TV services, such as Verizon Communications Inc.'s (NYSE:VZ) MediaFlo service next year, could provide a potentially lucrative new channel for Disney's top-rated television shows.

"I think wireless will be critical," Anne Sweeney, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, said at the Reuters Media Summit in New York.

Sweeney said Disney Media Networks, a unit of Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS), expects the ability to watch live TV on cellphones and other mobile devices to help media companies reach new audiences.

Disney's ABC Television network has licensed about 250 hours of its top shows "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" to South Korean wireless phone operator TU Media Corp., Sweeney said.

The TU deal showed viewers of its shows on the wireless TV service were "quite young," Sweeney said.

"We're learning from Korea about a transition that will be happening in the rest of the world," she added.

Asked when she expected live mobile TV would reach the U.S., she said, "I'd say ... certainly within the next 12, to on the outside, 24 months -- more like 12-18."

She declined to specify which service provider would carry Disney programming, but said they were having conversations with all the major providers.

Disney has been among the most aggressive of big media companies in exploring new technology to reach viewers. Its shows were the first to be available on Apple Computer Inc.'s (Nasdaq:AAPL) iTunes digital entertainment service. Earlier this year, Disney was also the first to make some of its full-length feature films available on iTunes.

Kerry Chandler named Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility 

Kerry Chandler has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president, Corporate Responsibility for The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), it was announced today by Thomas O. Staggs, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, The Walt Disney Company, to whom she will report. Chandler will be responsible for developing overall strategy and direction for the Company's corporate responsibility efforts, including the areas of community outreach, volunteerism, environmental policy and programs, charitable giving and The Walt Disney Company Foundation.

"As Disney continues to increase its focus on all aspects of corporate responsibility, Kerry is an excellent choice to spearhead our efforts through this important new role, having recently led our Hong Kong Disneyland human resources department, and prior to that, ESPN's global human resources organization," said Staggs. "Given her impressive professional accomplishments both in the United States and abroad, we will continue to benefit from Kerry's energy, enthusiasm and experience as she develops and implements a comprehensive, integrated plan for Disney's philanthropic and corporate responsibility activities."

In Chandler's new capacity, she will oversee the operations of Disney's Worldwide Outreach and Environmental Affairs organizations and The Walt Disney Company Foundation, through which she will be responsible for identifying, developing and implementing all aspects of Disney's overall global corporate responsibility, ensuring that the Company's core principles in this area are integrated into the daily operating practices of all Disney businesses, including studio entertainment, parks and resorts, consumer products and media networks. In addition, she will develop Disney's overall philanthropic and charitable-giving strategy and environmental policies, and expand the Company's social responsibility best practices.

Prior to assuming her new role at Disney, Chandler served one year as senior vice president of Human Resources at Hong Kong Disneyland, where she was responsible for the overall human resources strategy of Disney's first theme park in China, including human resources services, compensation and benefits, human resources systems, staffing, and learning and development.

Before moving to Hong Kong, she spent five years at Disney-owned ESPN as the division's senior vice president of Human Resources. In this capacity, Chandler implemented and enhanced several major initiatives designed to meet the needs of ESPN's global workforce, including programs related to recruitment, diversity, compensation, and employee retention and communication.

A veteran human resources professional with extensive experience over her 20-year career, Chandler also has worked for a number of high-profile global corporations, such as IBM Global Services, Motorola, Inc., Exxon Chemical Company and McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

Chandler graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri with a B.S. degree in public administration. She later earned her M.A. degree in human resources management from Washington University in St. Louis, as well as a Masters degree in management from McGill University in Montreal.

She also has served on the boards of University of Exeter, Center for Leadership Studies, United Kingdom; the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC); InMotion, an organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women who are victims of domestic violence; the Cable and Telecommunications Human Resources Association (CTHRA); the Human Resources Policy Institute (HRPI); the Senior Human Resources Forum of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; and the Asia Pacific Human Resources Council of The Conference Board.

Following Chandler's transition from Hong Kong back to the United States, she will reside in Los Angeles.

Jennifer Hudson's Disney Cruise Days

She's in the process of becoming America's next big thing.

Dreamgirls is going to do for Jennifer Hudson what being an also-ran on American Idol could not. She's gonna be a star.

But back in the day, oh, 2002, she was doing time in Orlando, when she wasn't on board the Disney Wonder, a cruise ship sailing out of Port Canaveral. We talked about that this AM, work that she called "the best training an entertainer could want." Singing, dancing. Belting out tunes from the girl-group flavored Hercules (cruise ship stage show based on the cartoon) prepped her for Dreamgirls.

`MNF' tops cable ratings for the week

Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Nov. 20-26. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses.

1. NFL Football: N.Y. Giants vs. Jacksonville (Monday, 8:30 p.m.), ESPN, 8.23 million homes, 10.96 million viewers.

2. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.62 million homes, 5.13 million viewers.

3. "Hannah Montana" (Sunday, 7:30 p.m.), Disney, 3.33 million homes, 4.63 million viewers.

4. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.31 million homes, 4.57 million viewers.

5. Movie: "High School Musical" (Friday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.27 million homes, 4.71 million viewers.

6. Movie: "Disney's Holes" (Monday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.13 million homes, 4.18 million viewers.

7. Movie: "March of the Penguins" (Saturday, 9 p.m.), Hallmark, 3.05 million homes, 4.54 million viewers.

8. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Wednesday, 7 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.87 million homes, 3.99 million viewers.

9. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.86 million homes, 3.97 million viewers.

10. "Hannah Montana" (Sunday, 7 p.m.), Disney, 2.81 million homes, 3.74 million viewers.

11. "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), Disney, 2.77 million homes, 3.84 million viewers.

12. "Hannah Montana" (Sunday, 6:30 p.m.), Disney, 2.75 million homes, 3.79 million viewers.

13. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.73 million homes, 3.71 million viewers.

14. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.69 million homes, 3.58 million viewers.

15. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.64 million homes, 3.63 million viewers.

ESPN and the Disney Channel are owned by The Walt Disney Co. USA Network is owned by General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal. Nickelodeon is owned by Viacom Inc. Crown Media Holdings, Inc. owns the Hallmark Channel.

Six candidates are in running to lead center

After more than a year adrift under interim leadership, the Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center in downtown Orlando is close to hiring a new director and is poised to become a more vibrant advocate for startup companies in Central Florida, area business leaders say.

Six candidates -- all but one from Central Florida -- have been culled from a pool of 102 applicants. The center's executive board will interview the finalists during the next few weeks and hopes to choose a director before the end of the year, said assistant director Julie Matthews, who has been holding down the fort at the NEC since March.

Officials involved in the search say they are looking for a leader with passion and vision to fulfill the potential of the center, which was launched in June 2003 by the U.S. Small Business Administration and local partners including Walt Disney World, Orange County and the University of Central Florida.

The 3-year-old center, envisioned as a one-stop shop housing many of the organizations that help entrepreneurs, has been without a permanent leader since October 2005, when former director Debbie Brown retired.

"We've been treading water, there's no question about that. The beauty of the NEC has not yet been discovered," said George Rodon, chairman of the center's executive board and Orange County's economic development director.

"This could be a monumental resource for small business, and that has never been realized," he said. "The dream is there, but without a leader at the top doing this day in, day out, the dream has not been realized."

Key to realizing that dream will be money, and the new director is expected to bring fundraising prowess to the position, which will pay between $80,000 and $100,000 a year, according to Tom O'Neal, UCF associate vice president for research, who is supervising the hiring process.

And key to boosting the center's fundraising capabilities was a decision earlier this year to locally fund the director's job, which was formerly filled by an SBA employee.

"It [the center] really needed a director that could fundraise, and that's a prohibition of a federal employee," said Wilfredo Gonzalez, chief of the SBA's North Florida district -- which includes Central Florida -- and an advisory member of the NEC board.

Along with new leadership, the entrepreneur center will probably also get a new name.

The details are still being worked out, but the board hopes to rename it the Disney Entrepreneur Center to reflect its evolution from an SBA-seeded program to a locally funded business-development center with a Central Florida focus.

When the NEC first opened three years ago, the SBA touted it as the second -- after one in San Jose, Calif. -- of a planned string of such centers nationwide.

However, federal budget constraints changed the picture, and there no longer are plans to replicate the centers, Gonzalez said.

Central Florida is lucky to have landed this "gem," he said.

"It's a great concept and a great resource," Gonzalez said, adding: "It's in good hands."

EARLY MORNING UPDATE

Disney ups its annual dividend
Contemporary Demolition Permit Filed
ESPN Announces Newest Version of SportsCenter

Let's Talk Turkey About Trivia

Disney movie is hit of the year.. but it's never been in a cinema
Jerry Lee Lewis doing a whole lotta shakin'

Roy Disney's True-Life Adventures

ESPN Announces Newest Version of SportsCenter

A new version of SportsCenter will debut on ESPN in Australia January 16, 2007, making it the 11th version of ESPN’s marquee sports news and information program to air outside the United States, it was announced today by Russell Wolff, executive vice president and managing director, ESPN International. The show will also be distributed in New Zealand.

This SportsCenter will be a daily show, with up to two live editions airing each day starting at 7 a.m. local time. The show will cover the major sporting events and stories relevant to Australian and New Zealand sports fans. The show will also cover a broad array international sports with particular appeal in the market.

Our newest SportsCenter is a perfect example of ESPN’s commitment to provide locally relevant news and information to sports fans around the world and now in Australia,” said Wolff.

Chris Calcinari, Vice President, Production and Operations said, “The production values and journalistic integrity synonymous with SportsCenter in the U.S. and around the world will also be present in this show. The telecast will utilize the depth and breadth of ESPN’s news and information arm as well as the sophistication of ESPN’s technical center, one of the most advanced in the world.”

SportsCenter is produced in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Japanese. The 10 other local SportsCenters air on the following networks: Latin America on ESPN’s pan-Latin network and ESPN+ in Spanish; ESPN Dos Mexico in Spanish; ESPN Brasil in Portuguese; TSN Canada in English; ESS pan-Asia in English; ESS India in Hindi; ESS Hong Kong in Cantonese; ESS Taiwan in Mandarin; MBC Korea in Korean; and JSB ESPN in Japanese.

SportsCenter is ESPN's flagship studio show, which launched on September 7, 1979. It offers in-depth reports on breaking news, creative highlights, features and in-depth analysis from award-winning journalists.

Disney Order In More Pirates Of The Caribbean DVDs

NBA sees larger TV deal with Disney, Time Warner

Disney launches kids' mobile phone

Disney campaign tries to shift attention from Gibson's travails

Disney Christmas 

Robin Hood: Most Wanted Special Edition

Power Rangers: Mystic Force Vol. 2 & 3

Disney's Toontown Online for Macs 

Walt Disney "buy" 

Don't Toon Out the Pioneers

Vote: 2006 College FB awards

Jetix Europe bags multiple broadcast rights of Urban Vermin from DHX media

Planet Hollywood And Disneyland Paris Host Grand Celebration
Receive a Christmas Call from Mickey
Battle of the brands
'Housewives' Carry ABC Sunday
Disney Channel Voted Best Children’s Channel in India

Disney launches kids' mobile phone
 

The consumer product branch of Disney is launching a children's mobile phone in the UAE today on the back of research revealing high mobile use among 8- to 13-year-olds.

Disney says the D100 mobile phone includes Disney ring tones, changeable handset covers, automatic vibration ring during school hours and various restrictions on handset use.

Developed for Disney by Dubai-based Broadlink Research, the D100 goes on sale today priced at Dh399. It will be available through distribution company Al Sayegh Brothers at stores including E4U.

"Increasing numbers of parents are buying mobile phones for their children, but they worry about them running up high bills, accessing inappropriate content on the internet and not being able to control who their child contact by phone," said Scott Hicks, vice president for business development at Disney Middle East and Southern Mediterranean region.

Hicks said parents currently have no option but to give their child a phone designed for adults, creating a gap in the market for a durable, easy-to-use handset with restrictions on use.

Disney campaign tries to shift attention from Gibson's travails

Even before Mel Gibson's drunken, anti-Semitic tirade this summer, his upcoming film "Apocalypto" was a tough sell.

Graphically violent, subtitled and cast with relatively unknown actors who speak their lines in an obscure dialect, Gibson's tale of a collapsing Mayan civilization was already outside Hollywood's mainstream fare. Then came Gibson's humiliating drunken driving arrest on a Malibu highway in July, which overnight threatened to turn the Oscar-winning director from the film's biggest asset into its biggest liability.

Starting Thanksgiving night, distributor Walt Disney Studios kicked off a campaign aimed at shifting attention from Gibson's foibles and onto his movie. Up against what the industry is calling "the Mel factor," the director appeared on a prime-time special on Disney's ABC network, hoping to blunt any damage that he may have caused "Apocalypto."

Hosted by Diane Sawyer, who snared Gibson's first postarrest interview last month, ABC devoted an hour to the Dec. 8 release. The program was arranged before Gibson's arrest, and includes footage the network shot on location while he was filming in Mexico.

Gibson co-wrote and produced the movie but does not appear in it.

Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook believes that moviegoers can separate Gibson's offscreen behavior from his work behind the camera.

"The public is smart enough to differentiate what happens in someone's personal life and their professional life," Cook said.

Forgive and forget?

Nonetheless, it's uncertain whether Gibson's fans are ready to forgive him, let alone embrace an R-rated movie that he has made on an unfamiliar topic.

"I don't envy Disney -- they have an uphill battle," "Spider-Man" producer Laura Ziskin said. "It looks like a hard sell to begin with. He's the tool with which to market it, and he has a black mark against him."

Disney plans to position "Apocalypto" as a riveting action adventure, opening the movie on more than 2,000 screens. Its publicity materials, trailer and TV spots play up the film as a visceral, "heart-stopping" story of a man who makes a daring escape from a world on the brink of destruction to save himself, his pregnant wife and their child.

Despite Gibson's DUI arrest, Disney still is treating him as an important selling point: Gibson narrated many of the TV and radio spots, which started airing this week as part of an aggressive ad buy.

Gibson, 50, was arrested July 28. He was reported to have made a number of profane and anti-Semitic remarks to officers. As part of a plea agreement, Gibson agreed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, appear in public service announcements and pay $1,300 in fines.

In the days after Gibson's arrest, Cook called Gibson and his publicist, Alan Nierob, to assure them that Disney still supported the film and would release it as planned.

Last month, Nierob launched Gibson's public comeback by arranging a two-part taped interview with Sawyer on ABC's "Good Morning America." Gibson apologized for his anti-Semitic remarks, said he was ashamed and acknowledged his long struggle with alcohol.

Heading off media frenzy

Nierob and Disney are hoping Gibson's public mea culpa will blunt any new media frenzy that could be reignited by the attention Gibson will undoubtedly get with the release of the movie.

"We're not running from anything," Nierob said. "We've already addressed his DUI arrest publicly."

Nierob has kept a tight hold on his client's promotional activities and has been working closely with Cook and his team to carefully craft a publicity and marketing strategy to focus media attention on the film.

"We're marketing it in a straight-ahead manner and focusing 100 percent on the movie itself," Cook said. "Obviously, it's an unbelievable cinematic achievement and we're dealing with the talent of Mel Gibson the filmmaker."

As part of its effort, Disney will begin aggressively showing the film to exhibitors, college students, critics and other opinion-makers as soon as Gibson delivers his final print.

Disney's financial risk is limited because Gibson financed the $50 million movie through his film company Icon Productions.

The studio is on the hook for at least $25 million in marketing expenses, which it is able to recoup before Gibson's company receives any box-office dollars. Icon will pay the studio a distribution fee based on a percentage of the film's ticket sales in the United States and Canada.

Disney made the deal to market and distribute "Apocalypto" in July 2005. Cook was among a group of top studio executives invited by Gibson and his producing partner, Bruce Davey, to read the translated script. Gibson, a superstar actor from films such as "Lethal Weapon" as well as Disney's "Signs" and "Ransom," by then had proved himself an accomplished director with "The Passion of the Christ" and the Oscar-winning "Braveheart."

"Apocalypto" will face steep competition on the Dec. 8 weekend, opening against two other adult-oriented movies, the Warner Bros. drama "Blood Diamond," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and Sony Pictures' romantic comedy "The Holiday," featuring Cameron Diaz and Jack Black.

"Adult audiences will be torn in different directions," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations Co. "And people are going to have to decide if they can separate the movie from the man. If the buzz is strong enough, they'll go. Disney is going to have to rely on great reviews and great word of mouth."

Disney Christmas

Robin Hood: Most Wanted Special Edition

Disney's legendary tale of courage, friendship and adventure comes to life in the new Robin Hood Most Wanted Special Edition DVD on November 28. Get ready for swashbuckling adventure, unforgettable characters, nostalgic songs including the Academy-Award nominated song "Love" (nominated Best Music, Original Song 1973) and lots of laughs with one of the most cherished animated films ever!. This new edition of the Disney classic features a sparkling new digital transfer, allowing consumers to experience "Robin Hood" as never before. Ready to own in a dazzling, new collectible package, the Most Wanted Special Edition is the perfect holiday gift.

The Robin Hood DVD boasts bonus features for every "Robin Hood" fan. There is a never-before-seen deleted scene with an alternate ending; all-new, games, such as "Archery Trivia Challenge" and "Rescue Maid Marian;" Disney Song Selections (where viewers can sing along to their favorite tunes) – "Oo-de-lally" "Love" and "The Phony King of England;" a Robin Hood Art Gallery filled with original production art; and the animated short "Ye Olden Days" (starring Mickey Mouse), a wonderful gem from the 'golden age' of Disney animation.

Disney's Robin Hood: Most Wanted Special Edition features the lush, beautifully hand-drawn animation from the best of the Disney Studio, The famous characters from the "Robin Hood" legend tell the story of Robin Hood and his merry companions as only Disney can. Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Little John and Friar Tuck fight injustice to save Sherwood Forest – with loads of action, comedy and family fun. Available for U.S. $29.99 (SRP), Canada $36.99 (SRP) on Disney DVD from Walt Disney Home Entertainment.

Swashbuckling adventure and unforgettable characters make the legend of "Robin Hood" an animated all-time favorite. In Disney's Robin Hood, the animal kingdom serves up a feast of bowmanship, swordplay and daring deeds as Robin, his trusted companion Little John and his devoted band of merry men hatch one exciting adventure after another to outfox greedy Prince John and his slithering sidekick Sir Hiss. The Prince is taxing Nottingham's residents to the limit, but roguish Robin Hood, won't rest until he wins the hand of Maid Marian and restores good King Richard to the throne.

Power Rangers: Mystic Force Vol. 2 & 3

Power Rangers: Mystic Force Legendary Catastros Volume 2
Come along for the ride of your life as the next generation of Power Rangers fills the screen with their epic crusade for good vs. evil. Join their heroic adventure as a classic backstabbing move by evil forces throws Nick and the legendary steed Catastros into another dimension. Nick must face his nagging fears, while the rest of the Power Rangers try to get Nick out of the warp in time to fend off Morticon's lowdown scheme to get out of the Pit. One who possesses the power of the Gatekeeper is about to be revealed, and both the forces of good and evil will ultimately fight for control!

Power Rangers: Mystic Force Fire Heart Volume 3
Experience a new generation of Power Rangers at their most thrilling as they face the ultimate test of their teamwork. Natural and unnatural forces work overtime when the map to the powerful Fire Heart falls into enemy hands. The only way to beat Necrolai and the Hidiacs to Fire Heart is for our heroes to get past the quicksand, giant spiders, and other dangers of the Cimmerian Forest – and Xander insists on leading the way. To unlock these powerful secrets for good, the Power Rangers will need some puzzle-solving genius and a new ally against evil - Jenji the Genie!

Suggested retail price: U.S. $19.99 Canada $24.99

Disney's Toontown Online for Macs

Disney Online today announced the availability of Disney's Toontown Online for Macs as well as the addition of new "gags" to "keep players on their toon-toes." The first massively multiplayer online game designed for kids and their families, Toontown invites players to live life as a cartoon character, along with thousands of other players in a continually growing online world. Now both PowerPC and Intel-based Mac players can join the more than 15 million PC-based 'Toon' characters created in the game. "We are thrilled to offer Mac players the chance to get in on the fun and help expand the world of Toontown," said Steve Parkis, vice president of Premium Content for Disney Online. "One of the reasons Toontown is so popular is there's always something new for players – like the special new gags we've just added to the game."

Players can unlock a new arsenal of gags, including a Wedding Cake throw gag, an Ocean Liner drop gag, an Opera Voice sound gag, and more, by reaching the highest skill level on each of their gag tracks. Players have the option of using these new gags either in battle against the Cogs or planting them using the new Estate Gardening feature that was recently added to the game.

Toontown for both Mac and PC is available for $10 per month, with extended membership packages available at special rates. Each membership includes six separate "Toons," so multiple family members can play as their own character. A free 3-day trial is available online.

Walt Disney "buy"

Analysts at Deutsche Bank Securities reiterate their "buy" rating on The Walt Disney Company (DIS.NYS). The target price is set to $41.

In a research note published yesterday, the analysts mention that the company's 10-K for FY06 does not indicate any unusual items associated with accounting or internal controls. The performance of Walt Disney's A&E, Lifetime and E! segments was weak and revenue growth at these units and Europe disappointing, the analysts say. The company's revenue and EBIT growth was robust in Latin America and Asia, Deutsche Bank Securities adds.

Don't Toon Out the Pioneers

The leaders of computer animation may not be flying these days, but in the words of Buzz Lightyear, they're falling with style. DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA) isn't trading for much more than its $28 a share IPO two years ago, and a lot of people think that Disney (NYSE: DIS) may have overpaid for Pixar earlier this year. I don't see it that way.

I wouldn't drag you two paragraphs deep just to watch me nod my head. It's true that I had voiced my concerns two years ago, when a glut in computer-rendered product threatened Pixar and DreamWorks' ability to stand out in a crowd. But those fears have mostly subsided, and the two giants in theatrical CGI animation are still standing.

I realize that the timing of my optimism may seem ill-placed. Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX) Happy Feet has lapped the $100 million mark in total box-office ticket sales in just two weeks of screenings at a multiplex near you. I wouldn't dare come in and claim that the emperor penguins have no clothes. They're wearing tuxes, apparently. However, one success doesn't undermine the achievements of the two top dogs in this booming field.

Not bad, just drawn that way
In Travis Johnson's investing journal, he digs into the end of the animation duopoly in CGI. Johnson feels, perhaps the way that I felt two years ago, that there are just too many competing flicks coming out, and that the law of averages dictates that rival studios will get lucky every once in awhile.

Let's see how the computer-animated films put out by studios other than Pixar and DreamWorks Animation have fared this year.

Date of Release	Film Title	Domestic Gross
2/24/06	Doogal	$7.4 million
3/31/06	Ice Age: The Meltdown	$195.3 million
4/14/06	The Wild	$37.4 million
7/21/06	Monster House	$73.7 million
7/28/06	The Ant Bully	$28.1 million
8/4/06	Barnyard	$72.6 million
9/15/06	Everyone's Hero	$14.5 million
9/29/06	Open Season	$84.2 million
11/17/06	Happy Feet	$99.3 million

An average of $68 million doesn't seem catastrophic, especially since Happy Feet has a few more weeks in which to pad that total. However, if we remove Ice Age: The Meltdown from the equation, because it was a sequel to an established hit property, the average drops to just more than $50 million.

Let's compare that with the $244.1 million that Cars rang up domestically for Disney's Pixar and the $155 million that Over the Hedge delivered for DreamWorks Animation this year. Can we even compare an industry that is batting somewhere around the Mendoza line with two original animation studios with pedigreed pasts?

"Nine of the top 10 computer-animation hits of all time are from either Pixar or DreamWorks," Travis writes. "Five years from now, I don't imagine you'll be able to say that."

He may be right. Both companies combine for just 13 of the 20 highest-grossing CGI theatrical releases. But I think that the two companies may own 15 or 16 of those slots in five years as they come out with more products, even if it means commanding only seven or eight of the 10 largest releases.

It may actually get better in the near term. Both studios will be back in a major way come next year. DreamWorks Animation has Shrek the Third coming out in May. Disney has Pixar putting out Ratatouille come June. Both films will likely bump the only non-Pixar or non-DWA entry on the list -- Ice Age: The Meltdown -- from the eighth slot down to 10th. As strong as Happy Feet has started out, it's trending significantly lower than Cars did at the seventh slot on the all-time list.

Winning the war, one battle at a time
This doesn't mean that News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), Viacom (NYSE: VIA), and Sony's (NYSE: SNE) team-ups with smaller CGI specialists has been a bad thing. It's just that these kinds of deals, and the rare hits they produce, aren't going to dismantle the hit factories at DreamWorks Animation and Disney. Even with this year's deluge of slick animation, there are really only two companies putting out CGI flicks that kids covet and parents trust.

In the case of Disney, you can see increasing evidence of that enduring popularity right now in the company's theme parks. I just got back from spending Thanksgiving weekend in Disney World. The newest ride is a Finding Nemo-themed attraction in Epcot, and the next one to open will be a Monsters Inc.-fueled hoot in the Magic Kingdom. Disney's in-house fare was spotty and often unfit to build a themed attraction around. Now Disney is milking Pixar's fleet of characters to liven up its parks, and you can just sense that Ratatouille is going to be marketed extensively throughout Disney's various promotional outlets.

Yes, Ratatouille rat-themed premise may have some observers already nervous, given the lukewarm reception DreamWorks got with its outsourced Flushed Away. (As much as I love the U.K.'s Aardman Animation, this is now the second disappointment the studio has delivered under the DreamWorks label.) However, Disney is also a company that began with a mouse, and it's done pretty well by animated rodents.

Sorry, skeptics. This is no mousetrap.

Vote: 2006 College FB awards

The 2006 college football season is winding down, and it's time to start handing out the hardware. Whether it's the Bednarik (for defensive player), Outland (interior lineman), Biletnikoff (wide receiver) or Davey O'Brien (quarterback), we have it covered.

Check out the nominees below, and cast your vote. But give it some thought because your vote will count towards the official tally! That's right. The results of the SportsNation voting will count as one official vote!

To find out the winners, tune in to The Home Depot College Football Awards, (live on ESPN, Thursday, Dec. 7, from 7-9 p.m. ET). Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit will host the show which will originate from the Atlantic Dance Hall on Disney's Boardwalk at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Jetix Europe bags multiple broadcast rights of Urban Vermin from DHX media

DHX Media Ltd, the independent producer and distributor of television content, said it has signed an agreement with Jetix Europe, the children's entertainment broadcaster, to sell multiple rights for the 26 half-hour episodes of its animated series Urban Vermin.

Under the agreement, Jetix Europe, majority owned by the Walt Disney company acquires the TV rights to Urban Vermin for all of Europe, with the exception of France free TV rights, in consideration for a license fee.

Further, Jetix Europe is appointed as the home video and merchandising & licensing agent for the series in Europe.

DHX Media will also produce a host of ancillary digital assets which will be

used on Jetix websites across Europe to support the TV launch. This will

include the opportunity for kids to watch previews of future episodes on-line.

The deal is a major presale for Urban Vermin, which is currently in production and is commissioned by YTV Canada. It is significant due to its scale and as it demonstrates the ability of DHX Media's properties to deliver value beyond production, into distribution, merchandising and licensing, and new content platforms.

DHX Media will begin to recognize the benefit of this deal from June

2007.

Paul Taylor, CEO at Jetix Europe, said, 'Urban Vermin is a strong action-comedy that embodies the Jetix brand values but executes them in a completely new way. Kids will love the combination of wise-cracking animals, dynamic action and 'high-tech' gadgets.'

Planet Hollywood And Disneyland Paris Host Grand Celebration

When Carlton Moody – golden-voiced lead singer of BURRITO DELUXE – was honored recently with dual awards for his role in bringing live country music to Europe, dignitaries traveled from all over the Continent and beyond to congratulate him and to document what turned into an unforgettable evening.

“It is a wonderful day for us, as it is for all of country music,” said Gilbert Rouit, Talent Casting / Disneyland Resort Paris, as he presented Moody with a large bronze “Mickey” during a VIP reception at Planet Hollywood Disneyland Resort Paris, where Carlton has enjoyed a special relationship since the park’s opening in 1992.

The President of CMA France, Gerard Vanderborck, followed that presentation with the International Country Artist Achievement Award. “Today is a great day for country music in Europe, the U.S. and especially in France – for all of country music,” Vanderborck said. “For the past 15 years, Carlton has truly served as an ambassador by bringing high- caliber country musicians to France and the rest of Europe.”

The nearly 100 guests at the invitation-only reception included Pascal Fliche, Vice President Euro Disney in charge of Disney Village; Paige Cofrin, President / Luna Chica Records (U.S.); Bobbi Boyce, International Director / Country Music Association (U.K.); recording artist Rachael Warwick (U.K.); European promoters Albi Matter (Switzerland), Peter Phillips (UK) and Jean- Claude Paulin du Besset (France); journalists / radio programmers Lee Williams / CMR Nashville (London), Kenneth Lundstrom / Falu Kuriren (Sweden) and dozens of the French media; Christian Yuill of Impressive Records (UK); and Martha Moore of so much MOORE media (U.S.).

After the reception, BURRITO DELUXE hit the stage at Billy Bob’s in Disney Village, delivering a sizzling one- hour concert that served as the European launch for its stunning new CD, DISCIPLES OF THE TRUTH (Luna Chica). The capacity crowd rocked to the new album in its entirety, plus a few extra songs, as performed by Moody (vocals, guitars, mandolin) and Walter Egan (electric guitar, vocals), Supe Granda (bass), Marty Grebb (keyboards) and Bryan Owings (drums).

Receive a Christmas Call From Mickey

Planning a trip for 2007? Book a Walt Disney World vacation package by December 23, and Mickey Mouse will call the family on Christmas day to deliver the big news. Your Magical Journeys Agent will send you the details on how to schedule after your deposit is applied. Anyone who books a vacation is eligible to schedule the call. The call must be scheduled by 9:00 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, December 23, 2006.

Battle of the brands

Marianne Harner's three young children ran in and out of the pool at the Nickelodeon Family Suites hotel near Lake Buena Vista, framed against a colorful backdrop of waterslides and grimacing portraits of some of their favorite cartoon characters.

The hotel, less than two miles from the gates of the Magic Kingdom, is nothing short of a shrine to the characters of the Nickelodeon network, the driving force in preteen television.

Harner, whose family spent a week in Central Florida last month, said her youngsters enjoy Walt Disney World but have a special attachment to Nickelodeon.

"When you go to the Magic Kingdom, you don't see things that are on our television," said Harner, who lives in the Bahamas. "My kids really aren't watching the Disney characters. They watch SpongeBob, and they wanted to come to Nickelodeon."

Nickelodeon launched the hotel last year in partnership with Holiday Inn. The Viacom subsidiary says Central Florida's abundance of family travelers made it a natural choice for the first Nick hotel. Yet its proximity to Walt Disney World highlights a fierce rivalry between Disney and Nickelodeon aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the nation's youngest viewers.

Robert Passikoff, president of New York marketing consultant Brand Keys, said the hotel drives home the challenge that Nickelodeon's characters pose for venerable Disney.

"Disney did its brand expansion 30 years ago, and they did quite well," Passikoff said. "But they don't have the same brand strength that Nickelodeon has right now."

Disney is dead set against remaining No. 2, and it is applying its mighty corporate power to gain the lead. Under the leadership of Disney Channel Worldwide President Rich Ross, it has made big strides among older children and has begun closing the gap with Nick in the 11 and under market.

"Our company is so agile that we can make things work in every category in every country in the world," Ross said. "I think our company is uniquely capable of pulling things together."

Disney Channel has unleashed a series of hits that include High School Musical, The Cheetah Girls and Hannah Montana. And it has just launched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, a show designed to connect the iconic cartoon character to a new generation of preschoolers.

Turf battle

Nickelodeon's cable channels still command larger market shares than Disney's. Its characters -- Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Diego from Go, Diego, Go!, Avatar and others -- are contributing to Nickelodeon's brand identity, which it is leveraging in an assortment of ways, including the hotel.

Nickelodeon entered the cable market 27 years ago but didn't begin developing original cartoon series until the early 1990s. Compared with Disney, which introduced Mickey Mouse in the 1920s and played a major role in the early days of children's television programming, Nickelodeon is in its infancy.

Marc E. Babej, a partner with Reason Inc., a New York marketing company, said Nickelodeon's youth helps define its style. The hotel, he said, is the kind of dramatic move that befits a challenger.

"Could you imagine a Nickelodeon theme park and Disney opening a hotel at its gates?" Babej asked. "Disney is Coca-Cola. It's the Harvard Business School. It operates with a sense of entitlement.

"Though Nickelodeon has been around for a generation-and-a-half, it's still the upstart, and it is fighting like one," Babej said.

But Disney is an adept competitor. After watching Nickelodeon rise to dominate children's cable, Disney has gone on the offensive.

During the summer, it introduced new shows aimed at drawing new viewers, and its ratings jumped 17 percent among viewers ages 2 to 11.

Nickelodeon is taking its own steps, expanding its online presence and luring more visitors to its Web sites.

Though the Disney empire dwarfs Nickelodeon's, Orlando marketing analyst Britt Beemer said even a giant like Disney needs to be on guard.

"If Dora the Explorer is the hot item for your children and Minnie Mouse isn't, Disney has something to worry about," Beemer said. "In this area, you are either right or dead. You are either the hunter or the hunted. The hotel in Disney's backyard speaks to this. Nickelodeon knows its audience, and that audience is at Disney."

Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon and MTV Networks, said creating characters that resonate with children was what made Disney and has the power to pump up Nickelodeon.

"We put shows on television and wait for the audience to respond," Zarghami said. "The love for Dora was already really off the charts before we made our first Dora backpack."

Lifetime attachments

Like Disney, Nickelodeon has elevated its most popular characters into brands. Dora emblazons children's backpacks, toothpaste and clothing. So does SpongeBob and Blue the dog.

Zarghami said the benefits extend beyond the products. The repetition of images forms attachments that last a lifetime -- the sort of attachments that tie parents to Disney and fuel trips to the company's theme parks.

"Disney is a very nostalgic brand," Zarghami said. "I think it is the nostalgic relationship that really drives the theme parks."

By contrast, she said, Nickelodeon doesn't have one character that was on the air when it launched in 1979. But the ones it has developed since are now grist for a growing assortment of outlets.

"We have a magazine business, a new movie business and a big digital business that is emerging," Zarghami said. "The connection between all the pieces is growing our brand."

'Housewives' Carry ABC Sunday

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006

As is usually the case, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" led the network to a ratings win Sunday. Unlike most other weeks, though, it got some help from "Boston Legal."

ABC averaged a 9.3 rating/14 share for the night, topping CBS' 8.1/12. NBC, 7.5/11, edged FOX, 7.2/11, for third (numbers for both networks may change some due to live sports coverage). The CW trailed with a 2.2/3.

Among adults 18-49, ABC's 5.4 rating was tops, with FOX taking second in the demographic at 4.9. NBC came in third with a 4.4, followed by CBS, 2.8, and The CW, 1.3.

FOX led at 7 p.m. as late-ending NFL games and the post-game show "The OT" averaged 10.2/16. CBS' "60 Minutes" finished second at 8.6/13. "America's Funniest Home Videos," 6.4/10, put ABC in third, ahead of "Football Night in America" on NBC. The CW aired a "Reba" repeat, 1.8/3, followed by a new episode, 2.4/4.

"Sunday Night Football" on NBC won the 8 p.m. hour with an 8.7/13, beating out ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 8.5/13, for the top spot (ABC had more viewers). "The Amazing Race" was third for CBS. "The Simpsons," 6.7/10, and "American Dad," 5.6/8, came in fourth for FOX, while "7th Heaven" posted a 2.8/4 for The CW.

ABC grabbed the lead at 9 o'clock thanks to "Desperate Housewives," the night's top-rated show at 13.5/20. NBC's football coverage delivered a 9.1/13 for the hour. The CBS movie "Candles on Bay Street" took third with an 8.3/12, ahead of "Family Guy," 5.8/8, and "The War at Home," 4.4/6, on FOX. The CW went with an "America's Next Top Model" rerun.

At 10 p.m., a special showing of "Boston Legal" tied CBS' movie for the lead at 8.8/14. "Sunday Night Football" dipped to 7.8/13 on NBC.

On Saturday, ABC's college football (USC vs. Notre Dame) dominated the night with an 8.0/14. CBS came in second with a 5.3/9, followed by NBC, 4.3/8, and FOX, 4.0/7.

Disney Channel Voted Best Children’s Channel in India

Indian children chose Disney Channel as the Best Children’s Channel; their vote was announced at the Hero Honda Indian Television Academy Awards (HHITA).

At a gala event in Mumbai, Disney Channel was named the winner of the category "Popular Award for Best Children's Channel". Children cross the country participated through an online voting mechanism. Four channels were nominated for this category: Disney Channel, Hungama, Pogo and Cartoon Network. The results were collated and calibrated by an independent Agency, Eikona.

“Disney Channel speaks the language of today’s kids and this Award is particularly exciting since our young friends have embraced us in a very special way,” says Nachiket Pantvaidya, the executive director of Walt Disney Television International, India. “This is the 21st award our channels have received this year from across the world and we are extremely happy that our characters and stories have resonated well with Indian kids and their families.”

Swimming with big fish

Warner/Chappell Music, Disney Music extend sub-publishing agreement

Pirates film 'breaks DVD record'

For toddlers, it can be happiest place on earth

Disney's Stake in Citadel Upped to 57% 

Mickey Mouse Christmas tree lit up at Narita Airport 

Wonders of Life Pavilion Reopens at Epcot

Disney’s Chicken Little: Ace in Action 

Disney rolls out 'Disney's Little Princess' promotional activity across categories 

Disney intern

Swimming with big fish

 

The award-winning composer of 'Avenue Q' and his wife dive into a musical-stage version of 'Finding Nemo' at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

 

Imagine you're a struggling young musical-theater writer, and you manage to get your show produced in a real off-Broadway theater. Then, before you know it, you're on Broadway, you've won a Tony Award, and someone is offering you just about everything you can imagine to write a new show.

It sounds like a dream, or maybe a Disney fairy tale.

In fact, Bobby Lopez and his wife and co-writer, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, are living in a Disney universe right now, where they have written a musical-theater version of Finding Nemo for Animal Kingdom.

"Finding Nemo -- The Musical," which has been in public previews since Nov. 5, will be given a grand opening Jan. 24.

"This has been a dream for us," Anderson-Lopez says. "The sky's the limit."

She and her husband, the Tony-winning composer for Broadway's long-running puppet musical, Avenue Q, are just two of the theater luminaries Disney has hired for "Nemo." Also included are the artistic director of a Tony Award-winning regional theater, the Tony-nominated choreographer of Urinetown and the co-creator of the puppets and masks for The Lion King.

All of them, and others like them, are working together to make a 30-minute musical out of a cartoon.

"I can give artists resources to create on a scale they have never dreamed of," says Anne Hamburger, who is executive vice president of creative entertainment for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. "Not only is that great for Disney, it's great for them."

A test swim for audience

At Theater in the Wild, the 1,500-seat hall that has been newly enclosed and updated for "Nemo," director Peter Brosius mounts the stage. Animal Kingdom visitors have filled in just about all of the long benches in the expansive theater on a Monday this month, the second day of open dress rehearsals.

A row of makeshift tables lines the back of the theater, and members of the "Nemo" creative team are hunkering down there to work out the bugs.

"In the theater business, this is called a preview," says Brosius, who is artistic director of the Tony-winning Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis. "You're among the first people on the planet to see the show."

He turns the stage over to the fantastical puppets and the 18 actors who make up the cast -- performers dressed like giant heads of coral, the 22-foot-tall head and neck of Nigel the pelican, an actor on a bicycle contraption supporting the hefty puppet Mr. Ray like a giant umbrella above his head.

The show's three main characters -- Marlin, the father fish; Nemo, his kidnapped son; and Dory, their addlebrained friend -- are all played by actors holding large fish puppets whose eyes and mouths are controlled by levers in the actors' hands. When Marlin and Dory soar up through the ocean waters, during a song called "Just Keep Swimming," the actors and their puppets actually fly across the stage like Peter Pan and Wendy.

Throughout the 30-minute show, the new songs move the story along.

"We know that fish are friends, not food," sings a little band of conflicted sharks. An orchestration that sounds remarkably like the Beach Boys powers the song "Go With the Flow."

At the end, a profusion of bubbles falls from on high, and a little girl in the audience tries to catch them in her hand.

Immersed in their work

Hamburger, the Disney exec who is supervising the project, also oversaw a stage show based on the movie Aladdin at Disney's California Adventure theme park in Anaheim.

Her roots, however, are in New York theater. For 13 years she ran a highly praised experimental company called En Garde Arts, which became known for presenting theater in such nontraditional sites as a pier on the Hudson River and four blocks in the meatpacking district. One of the company's goals was to bring theater to those who had never seen it.

 

Finding those audiences, Hamburger says, is what led her to Disney in the first place -- and what made her persuade other big theater names to join her there.

"I really think the parks are an extraordinary vehicle for introducing theater to tens of millions of kids around the world. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be fantastic if I could bring the top theatrical artists around the world to the theme-park world?' "

Hamburger also is interested in finding new young artists. So when the idea arose to make Finding Nemo into a musical, she and her cohorts thought of Avenue Q, "because it has a sense of humor and heart and revolves around puppets." Lopez and Anderson-Lopez put together a demo of the song "Big Blue World," and, Hamburger says, "it completely blew us away."

The two young writers were still pretty green. Avenue Q, Lopez says, was his first professional experience. He was studying musical-theater writing in a highly regarded program called the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop when he met his future wife.

"She got this crush on me," says Lopez, 31.

"He was doing the first song from Avenue Q," says Anderson-Lopez, 34. "I was like, 'That's what I want, that's what I want.' "

The lyrics, by the way, went "If you were gay, that'd be OK."

Lopez proposed in a yellow cab after Avenue Q got a rave from The New York Times.

"So we both do this for a living," Lopez says. "We talk about writing songs all the time."

Lopez also met his Avenue Q partner Jeff Marx in the BMI workshop, and together they wrote a show, loosely based on Hamlet, called Kermit, Prince of Denmark. Since Avenue Q took off, the two have been working on a movie musical for Universal and a stage musical with the creators of South Park. Anderson-Lopez had her first hit, an a cappella musical called Along the Way, at the 2003 New York Fringe. She and Lopez also write for the Nick Jr. series The Wonder Pets!, and she's writing the music and lyrics for a full-length musical, Storyville.

They've also produced a daughter, Katie, who will be 2 in March.

Hooking new theatergoers

For Lopez and Anderson-Lopez, Finding Nemo was a natural -- one of their favorite movies of all time. Still, writing the show would mean two years of their lives.

"But Annie [Hamburger] told us that more people see 'Aladdin' than have ever seen Phantom, or something like that," she says. "We both fell in love with theater really early. The idea of people coming in at 4, 5 or 6 and saying, 'I want to do that' . . ."

". . . Or becoming lifelong theatergoers," Lopez adds.

"So we want to take it as seriously," his wife goes on, "as we would a Broadway show."

Loving the movie version, the two say, made the job of adapting it "a little daunting." But they have found the story of the father fish and his missing son means more to them since Katie came into their world.

Katie comes along on their Disney trips; she knows all the "Nemo" songs, and she has been known to entertain onlookers in restaurants by singing "It's a Small World."

"We ended up being able to pour the journey of new parenthood into writing these songs," Lopez says.

Deep pockets

It was Anderson-Lopez who knew how to boil down the whole Nemo story to 30 minutes and six songs. She had written a 10-minute a cappella Oedipus, and plot structure is her thing.

"I know to find the central core," she says. "The world's dangerous and beautiful, so you find the six events that weigh in on that theme. Those six are the songs."

But they're finding that working with Disney is not like turning out a show for the New York Fringe.

Disney's financial resources are a little bit larger.

"I write a cappella shows because we can't afford a pianist," Anderson-Lopez says with a laugh.

At Disney, they've found the resources to do just about anything they can imagine. Director Brosius calls the show "a big old wonderful smorgasbord.

"I've worked with lots of puppets, but this is an extraordinary amount of puppeteering," he says.

Disney has two full-time puppet specialists on hand, along with physical trainers, tai chi experts and a whole coterie of support artists.

"The extraordinary depth of investment has just been terrific," he says. "It's kind of amazing -- the depth of the rehearsal process. They work 24/7. I leave at midnight, and another crew comes in."

And a deep pool of talent

For the two writers, the contrast between real life and Disney is mind-boggling.

"In Avenue Q, we have four puppeteers," Lopez says. "Everyone here is a puppeteer."

"Here they're a quadruple threat," says his wife. "They sing, they dance, they act and they do puppets."

"And they fly," Lopez adds. "Call it a quintuple threat."

Some older shows at the Disney parks use only a few singing actors and have other performers lip-sync to a recording. (It's cheaper to hire nonspeaking actors, who are classified as characters and paid much less.)

In "Nemo," though, all 18 of the actors speak or sing -- and there are two full-time casts and a third cast of subs.

"It made more sense to have 18 actors who can do everything," says Anderson-Lopez. "Every person onstage is vital. The level of talent up there is incredible."

Now the creative team is in polishing mode, making sure all the technical wizardry works the way it should before the show has its grand opening.

And the writers are barely daring to think about what the next step might be -- whether "Finding Nemo -- The Musical" might take a flying leap onto Broadway.

Hamburger says she would love for that to happen, but Disney's senior execs have yet to see the show.

Still, the two young writers are hoping. At Animal Kingdom, there's a Disney-style fairy tale everywhere they look.

"Every show you write, no matter what it is, you hope to go all the way," Lopez says. "It's always a dream."

Warner/Chappell Music, Disney Music extend sub-publishing agreement

Warner/Chappell Music Inc. has extended its sub-publishing agreement with Disney Music Publishing across most major markets in Europe and South America, the company said Monday.

Warner/Chappell will continue to administer the rights to more than 10,000 titles in the Disney music catalog, along with the company's future film and television releases.

The agreement includes all classic and contemporary Disney compositions originating within the Walt Disney Co.'s business units including animated feature films, live action feature films, animated and live action television, Walt Disney Records, The Disney Channel, theme parks, and various Disney-related ventures.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Warner/Chappell is the publishing arm of New York-based Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG).

Disney Music Publishing is part of the Buena Vista Music Group, the recorded music and music publishing arm of the Burbank-based Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS).

Pirates film 'breaks DVD record'

The Pirates of the Caribbean sequel has become the UK's fastest-selling DVD of all time, says distributor Walt Disney.

Nearly 1.5m copies of the Johnny Depp film have been sold in just one week - one in every four DVDs sold in the UK.

Demand has been so great that Disney says it has had to order another one million copies from its production facilities - in the Caribbean.

Last year's biggest-selling DVD was another Disney film, The Incredibles, which sold 1.9m copies in nine months.

The film company says that if demand for the Pirates DVD is sustained, it expects to sell more than three million copies before Christmas.

Dead Man's Chest set box office records during its cinema run earlier this year, when it became the fastest film to reach the $300m (£162m) total at the North American box office.

It is now the third-highest grossing film of all time, having taken more than $1.003bn (£536m) at the global box office.

However, it still lags behind Lord of the Rings: Return Of The Kings, which took $1.1bn (£590m) and Titanic, which sold $1.8bn (£965m) of tickets.

A third Pirates film, At World's End, is due to hit cinemas in May 2007.

The DVD release in the United States is set for December 5th.

For toddlers, it can be happiest place on earth

 

Friends and family were skeptical about our plans for a week at Walt Disney World in Florida with three toddlers.

Why, they wondered, would you drag two 2-year-olds and a 4-year-old to an adventure park known for its overstimulating rides and larger-than-life characters, a place deemed more suitable for kids far removed from diapers who can stay awake past 7 o'clock.

When they heard that my sister's 2-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son would be joining us, they thought we were insane.

Our young children surprised us time and again during our Disney week, with their unbridled joy soaring in a pirate ship on Peter Pan's Flight, dancing along to the music of "It's a Small World" (multiple times) and hugging Mickey Mouse.

TESTING -- ONE, TWO, THREE: Before you head to Florida, make sure your children are exposed to amusement rides, even if it is at a local fair.

By the time we arrived in Disney, they'd already flown in "helicopters" and driven "race cars" and even experienced a small but fast-paced roller coaster. So they didn't hesitate to jump onto Dumbo The Flying Elephant or ride through the dark on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. We saw far more of the Magic Kingdom than we ever imagined.

GO OFF-SEASON: There are peak visiting times for Walt Disney World, primarily in the summer, any holiday and school vacation weeks. Avoid these. My schoolteacher mom will cringe at this suggestion, but visit during the off-season even if that means pulling an older sibling out of school.

I can't imagine waiting in line for an hour, or even 30 minutes, with restless small children squirming and constantly asking "When is it our turn?"

We visited the park in mid-September, and crowds were light. Lines stretched more than 30 minutes only at the height of midday. Most other times we waited 10 minutes or less.

ARRIVE EARLY: Don't waste the early park hours, when crowds are at their lightest, lingering in your room or trying to make your kids sit through a restaurant breakfast. Our kids ate granola bars and yogurt in our room, and we were waiting in line before each park opened. For the first two hours, we walked on to almost every ride we wanted, including some of the popular thrill rides. And the kids could ride over and over (their limit was four consecutive times on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh).

STAY AT A DISNEY HOTEL: Sure, it's likely to be more expensive, but nothing beats the convenience of staying right on the Disney property, especially with little ones. It's a big place, so even while staying on-site we occasionally had bus rides of about 10 minutes from our hotel to some of the parks.

If you can afford it, stay at one of the three hotels along the monorail line. That way you begin and end each trip to your hotel with a "ride." And leaving the park midday for a break isn't as arduous.

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge hotel which, while not on the monorail, offered a boat ride with direct access to the Magic Kingdom. Sometimes the boat was slow, like when we tempted fate and attended the 9 p.m. fireworks. It took more than an hour to arrive back at the hotel, and the three children were in full melt-down mode. But that was the only time the boats failed us.

Staying at a Disney resort also gives you extra perks -- such as early opening or late closing hours at the parks.

EAT EARLY: Yes, you can enjoy some delicious meals, but it's best to make an early reservation -- with little ones I suggest between 5 and 5:30 p.m. for dinner. At that time there's no waiting for tables.

We had our best meal on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort at the California Grill. The tablecloth was white butcher paper the kids could color on. And the first thing the waiter brought over was a plate of goldfish crackers.

Our most surprising discovery about Disney: they don't charge for children younger than 3. So our twins entered the parks free, and better still, at buffet meals they were allowed to eat for free off an adult plate. This proved to be a huge money saver, especially at the character meals (book at least one) where our children got to meet Pooh, Tiger, Piglet and Eeyore.

The child-sized meals were large. We usually ordered one and split it among all three kids.

EAT OFTEN: You can save money by bringing favorite snacks. Disney lets you bring food and drinks into the park.

BRING HELPING HANDS: With five young children in our group, we needed all the help we could get -- so the grandparents were invited along.

We enjoyed their help wrangling the kids together, taking them to the bathroom and holding them on rides. Our group of 12 was unwieldy at times, but it was worth it.

USE STROLLERS: Bring (or rent) a stroller. Even if your kids, like ours, have refused to get in one for more than a year.

A stroller helps you keep track of your kids in a busy crowd, and it provides a perfect place to sit and enjoy an ice cream. It also provides an elevated view from which to watch a parade.

RESEARCH: Spend some time on the Web educating yourself about Walt Disney World, especially exploring the height requirements for each ride (go to disneyworld.disney.go.com). The Disney site also recommends attractions by age group, including a category for preschoolers. Had we done a little more research, we likely would have skipped Disney-MGM Studios, where there are only a handful of attractions for toddlers.

LET KIDS BE YOUR GUIDE: Part of the joy of the Disney resort is that there is so much to do. But it is also overwhelming. As much as we tried to remain flexible, we still found ourselves making plans in two- or three-hour increments: So when my daughter suddenly spotted Donald Duck and wanted to stop, we urged her forward: "Not now, honey, we'll do that later." But later never came.

So take it slow, and listen to the young sightseers in your group. This is their trip, we must remind ourselves.

Disney's Stake in Citadel Upped to 57%

Ever since Citadel Broadcasting and Disney announced their deal for the ABC Radio stations, Citadel's stock suffered and the radio market struggled. Now Citadel has a better deal, announced right before the Thanksgiving holiday that reduces the amount of cash to Disney by $300 million and raises Disney’s stake in Citadel following the merger from 52 to 57 percent.

The modified deal values the sale of ABC Radio at $2.5 billion, down from $2.7 billion.

Announced in February, the merger of 22 ABC Radio stations, The ABC Radio Networks with Citadel’s portfolio of more than 200 radio stations, will create the third largest radio group in the U.S.

Originally slated to close by the end of this year, the deal is not expected to close prior to May 31, 2007.

Mickey Mouse Christmas tree lit up at Narita Airport

Narita Airport has got into the swing of Christmas by erecting a large Christmas tree featuring popular Disney character Mickey Mouse.

The 6-meter-tall tree was lit up in a ceremony on Friday as Mickey and Minnie joined a group of children singing "Silent Night."

Proudly adorning the top of the tree is an ornamental Mickey Mouse head.

The display was arranged in cooperation with Oriental Land Co., which operates the Tokyo Disney Resort, to mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of Tokyo DisneySea.

"It's a little early, but my dream after Disneyland and DisneySea is DisneySky," said Kurono Masahiko, president of the Narita International Airport Corporation, during the ceremony.

Christmas trees will be on display in the departure lobbies of the airport's two terminals until Christmas Day.

Wonders of Life Pavilion Reopens at Epcot

After being stuck in "Seasonal" limbo, since January 2004, the Wonders of Life Pavilion in Epcot's Future World has reopened. The pavilion will remain open through January 1, 2007. Body Wars, Cranium Command and the Making of Me will be operational during this period. The future of the building after the New Year is currently unknown.

Disney’s Chicken Little: Ace in Action

You can't keep a good chicken down. You can have it grilled, marinated, or deep-fried, but you can't keep it from returning (especially if it's undercooked, but that's a whole other issue). Chicken Little, the most popular of the species next to Tyson and Kentucky Fried, is back in action. He's brought a few friends along to for this adventure – Ace, Runt, and Abby. Each comes toting a different gift: a blaster weapon, a fully operational tank, and a ship constructed to go deep into space.

Ace, Runt and Abby are the characters you'll control in Chicken Little's newest adventure, Ace In Action. Their gifts aid them in combat while dispersing gameplay styles that switch off at the end of each level.

The game starts with the man of action, Ace. A brief tutorial with on-screen commands shows you exactly how to play. Whereas most shooters have a typical third-person style, Ace is not controlled with the stylus. His firing range is not solely determined by the D-pad. The D-pad is important – you use it to maneuver Ace through each environment.

Enemies travel in groups and can spawn into the game at any time. They'll send anywhere from a few to several dozen blasts in your direction. Weaving in and out of them would prove to be difficult in a third-person shooter, hence the inclusion of a control system that mirrors that of a top-down shooter. The camera angle is not top-down, but it is high enough for you to see the action and play the game from a similar perspective.

Press the D-pad and Ace will move around swiftly and efficiently, as he should. Now tap the A button and watch what happens. Ace just fired a shot to the right of the screen! Press the Y button and he'll fire left. Do you see where this is going? Holding X and Y will make him to shoot toward the top left corner of the screen. This can be done with the other buttons as well, giving you a total of eight shooting directions – the max number for most games of this type and the max number you'll need to abolish the enemy assault.

Although the gameplay sounds as violent as any T-rated shooter, Ace In Action is fine for children. I'm not going by the ESRB's "E for Everyone" rating, but by the actual content. You won't see any blood, or any characters get hurt. Most of the enemies are robots, so while you're blasting to no end, you're really only destroying a hunk of walking metal. Alien life forms do come into the picture, and you can lose if you take too many hits. This elimination is not a death scene, but rather a zap from what appears to be a teleporter. It takes you out of the level; continuing to play will bring you back.

Runt, the warthog with a love of destructive vehicles, commands a tiny tank through each world he visits. The tank controls are not that different from Ace – the A, B, X and Y buttons change your firing range while the D-pad controls its movement. Press up twice and the tank will lunge forward, crushing everything in its path. And that's no understatement – enemies and roadblocks (and crates that appear in levels for no given reason) are destructible and can be taken out with the wrath of Runt's tank.

There is a limit to how much of his wrath his enemies will face, and that has to do with his power meter. Replenish that power with Fizzle, Mega and Giga Watts – small two-legged, three-eyed creatures with heads that are shaped like cones. Their detail isn't that great on screen, but their color makes 'em stand out, so you shouldn't have any problem spotting them in the game. You can get a better look at this alien species in the instruction manual. Though if you're like me you probably only read manuals when searching for the name of a particular item or character.

Abby, AKA the spaceship gal, flies above the action to take out enemies far away from the atmosphere. Her controls are like a 2D space shooter, with her ship placed at the bottom of the screen. Enemies come in from the top. The ship moves forward on its own, removing the need for Ace and Runt's control scheme. Rather than pressing the face buttons to aim in different directions, you'll tap two buttons to release two different weapons: missiles and laser blasts.

Missiles are good for taking out structures, which you'll see a lot of in the game – more than you'll see enemies in some cases. Some of the structures don't seem to do anything. I could fly right past them, reach the end of the level, and win the mission regardless. Enemy ships, on the other hand, should be dealt with quickly. They fly in patterns like the bugs of Galaga, firing blasts from pre-determined locations. You'll pick up on their patterns pretty quickly, and when you do it's bye-bye enemy.

Disney rolls out 'Disney's Little Princess' promotional activity across categories

The Walt Disney Company in India has launched a country-wide promotion titled - "Disney's Little Princess", an across-the-line event around Disney Princess franchise.

Little girls across India can participate in this festive event by purchasing any Disney Princess product worth Rs 100 or more and win an entry to audition for the 'Disney's Little Princess' contest. Disney Princess spans across categories with merchandise to include toys, clothing, footwear, games, home videos, home products, paints, stationery, television, theatrical content and mobile downloads.

The Disney Princess franchise has added a noticeable sparkle to the company's entertainment offerings in the previously underserved segment of girls aged 4-14. The strong presence of the franchise is set to delight little girls throughout the festive season with a host of initiatives and launches planned across all product categories. Disney Princesses are popular across the globe. The franchise is on track to become the largest girls franchise in 2006 with 40 per cent growth in 2005 and 300 per cent growth over the last three years, states an official release.

Hokulea in Disney Movie 

One Year Long Celebration 

Local teens enroll in 'High School Musical'

Lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, visits Disney-MGM Studios to celebrate the holidays

The Magical Holidays Brought To You By The Postal Service And ABC Family

Hokulea in Disney Movie
 

Today off Diamond Head the Hokulea was a floating movie set.

Helicopter's with movie camera's flew overhead as the boat sailed passed Diamond Head. On board with nainoa thompson's crew are 14 highschool sailing students who are training for a yacht race from California to Hawaii.

The voyage today was filmed by Disney productions for a film to be released next year about the crews adventure.

While on board the teenagers learned the ancient art of hawaiian navigation and sailing. Thompson says the skills they learn will help them prepare for the grueling transpacific race next year but more importantly bring them together as a team.

One Year Long Celebration

Disneyland Paris - On the April 1st 2007 Disneyland Resort Paris will start its 15th anniversary celebration. The celebration will continue all the way into 2008, ending on March 31st making this a 1 year celebration. Some of the highlights during this celebration will be the opening of “Crush’s Coaster” and “Cars Quatre Roues Rallye”. Both attractions expected to open in June 2007. The Tower of Terror is also expected to open during the celebrations. No date has been announced but the last presentation has “opening 2008” written on it. While a rumored early opening in late 2007 (October, and within fiscal 2008 year) is still something many Disney fans hope for, nothing has been announced so far that this might be the case.

Disney will also celebrate their 15th anniversary with more characters on the streets inside the park. “Le Petit Train des Personnages Disney” decorated with the colors of the 15th anniversary, will take Mickey and his friends from the beginning of Main Street all the way up to the Central Plaza. At the end of the ride Mickey will start the anniversary ceremony “la bougillumination” in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle, again using the 15th anniversary colors as the main decorations.

The “Once Upon a Dream” parade will debut on the first day of the celebrations and will bring a smile to many of the Disney fans who have waited a long time for a new parade.
 
In the presentation of the 15th anniversary celebration nothing was mentioned on the rumored Stitch’s Escape attraction that floats around the World Wide Web and that would open as soon as next year.

Happy (early) 15th anniversary “Disneyland Resort Paris”, and wishing you many more magical years to come.

Local teens enroll in 'High School Musical'

If "all the world's a stage," the stage at Atlantic High School is "holding the mirror" up to itself in its upcoming production of Disney's "High School MusiCal."

"It is their world that is on stage," said Performing Arts Chairwoman and Volusia County Theater Liaison Jonnette De Marsico. Drama teacher De Marsico also invited students from Mainland and Spruce Creek High and Creekside and Silver Sands Middle schools to audition, and the result is a cast of more than 48.

For the uninitiated, the play -- unlike the usual stage-to-screen progress -- was originally a Disney Channel movie. (View highlights and listen to songs online at disney.com. Just search "High School Musical".)

It came to be at Atlantic through De Marsico's long-standing professional relationship with John Prignano, vice president of MTI (Music Theatre International), the company that grants producing rights to such shows as "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Little Shop of Horrors," both popular with high schools, as well as the Disney productions.

It was Prignano who approached DeMarsico to have her school be one of eight in the country to pilot the stage version of "H.S.M." The idea is to have top schools develop it further, both musically and theatrically.

The plot? It's about a boy and a girl who audition for a musical at their school and incur the wrath of not just their respective cliques, but also the Drama King and Queen of the school. Troy is a jock and Gabriella is a brainiac and such "Breakfast Club" dangerous liaisons aren't supposed to happen in High School Land.

The stage version, DeMarsico adds, "is a work in progress."

"We received updates and revisions through our rehearsal process, which proved rather challenging, and our feedback after the show closes will help MTI and Disney Theatrical to revise it even further before it's offered to the general public, sometime in early 2007," she said.

Most challenging, said the director, was "translating the show to the stage, with a visually static location. At one point there are three events happening at the same time."

Also somewhat daunting is the music itself.

"Our music director, Dee King, a former student from New Smyrna Beach HS who recently returned to the area from Syracuse, has been amazed at the complexity of some of the arrangements and has labored very intently in making the music work for our cast," DeMarsico said.

She's enthusiastic about the premiere. "To quote the two guys who developed the show, David Simpatico and Bryan Louiselle, they also hope the show will 'bring the audience back to high school and have a blast.' Atlantic hopes to do that also. The major themes of being true to yourself, reaching for your dreams, and respecting each other's differences ring true at any age. I find myself smiling at the end every time in spite of myself."

If You Go

WHAT: "High School Musical," with a cast of local students.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Dec. 6 through 9, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 3.

WHERE: Atlantic High School, 1250 Reed Canal Road, Port Orange.

TICKETS: General seating is $5 for all through Monday. At the door, $5 for students, children and those older than 62; $8 all other adults.

PHONE: (386) 689-8122 or, beginning Monday, (386) 322-6100, Ext. 38229.

Lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, visits Disney-MGM Studios to celebrate the holidays

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Rob Thomas poses with Santa Goofy Nov. 25, 2006 at the Disney-MGM Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Thomas, a solo artist and lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, was on vacation at Walt Disney World Resort during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Thomas's current single, "Streetcorner Symphony," is entering its eighth week on "Billboard" magazine's Hot 100.

The Magical Holidays Brought To You By The Postal Service And ABC Family

It’s that magical time of year. The United States Postal Service, ABC Family, 7-Eleven, Mann Made Productions and City Explorer TV have partnered this holiday season as Santa’s helpers to grant the special holiday wishes of children in need.

ABC Family will premiere a one-hour holiday special titled, "Dear Santa" on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. ET/PT and Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7 a.m. ET/PT. This network TV special was created to help make children’s dreams come true — dreams that were written in letters to Santa Claus from children all across the country.

"Santa has counted on the power of the mail for more than two centuries to deliver the special holiday wishes of children," said Postmaster General John E. Potter. "Connecting families, friends and loved ones through the mail during the holiday season is what we do. Postal employees everywhere join charitable organizations, corporations and individuals as Santa’s helpers to make children’s holiday wishes come true by answering the letters to Santa that we receive," Potter said. "We are pleased to be a part of this production and hope it encourages others to visit their local Post Offices to do the same."

In 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to let individuals and institutions use letters addressed to Santa Claus for philanthropic purposes. In that tradition, the Postal Service provided Mann Made Productions and City Explorer TV with letters to Santa from around the country and they chose the letters featured on the show.

Seen in over 90 million homes, the special features Santa granting the wishes of children with a little help from celebrity "elves" Matt Dallas ("Kyle XY"), Sarah Chalke (’Scrubs"), pro skateboarder Tony Hawk, hit recording artist Brian McKnight, actress Raven-Symoné ("That’s So Raven"), Wilmer Valderama ("That 70’s Show") and host Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars").

The Postal Service will be promoting the special with in-store posters in most of its 37,000 Post Offices and online at USPS.com/holiday/dearsanta.htm.

This year’s "Dear Santa" special will also take a look at two of last year’s children who were granted extraordinary holiday wishes and see how they are doing. These special families will help pass along the giving spirit to others in need.

Since 1775, the United States Postal Service and its predecessor, the Post Office Department, have connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. An independent federal agency that visits more than 144 million homes and businesses every day, the Postal Service is the only service provider delivering to every address in the nation. It receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of $70 billion, it is the world’s leading provider of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world’s mail volume — some 212 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year - and serves ten million customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide.