Thu, Sep 2nd 2010 05:00 pm
Disney/ABC
Television Group, ESPN and Time Warner Cable today entered into a long-term,
wide-ranging agreement that will provide Time Warner Cable and Bright House
Networks cable customers the programming of ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney
XD, ESPN, ESPN2,
ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes and SOAPnet, as well as WABC in New
York, KABC in Los Angeles, WTVD in Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, WTVG in Toledo,
and associated HD cable networks. Subscribers will also have unprecedented
digital access to online content and expanded Video On Demand services.
This extensive and expanded rights
package, Disney Media Network's most expansive content agreement to date, provides for:
- The recently
announced Disney Junior, a new 24-hour basic channel for preschool-age
children, parents and caregivers. Available to Time Warner Cable and Bright
House Networks cable customers upon its debut in 2012, the new channel will
feature animated and live action programming which blends Disney's famous
storytelling and beloved characters with learning, including early math,
language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles and social skills.
- The addition
of ESPN3.com, ESPN's
live sports broadband network, which will be available to all Time Warner Cable
and Bright House Networks subscribers who get ESPN. ESPN3.com gives Time Warner
Cable and Bright House Networks fans a 24/7online destination that
delivers more than 3,500 live, globalsports eventsannually as part
of TV Everywhere. This addition also gives Time Warner Cable and Bright House
Networks the right to feature cleared content from ESPN3.com on its sports
tier.
- Access to a
new authenticated service, which will give Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks
subscribers the opportunity to watch the linear networks ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU
through their broadband services, as well as mobile Internet devices like an
iPad. Details on the launch will be forthcoming.
- A new service,
developed with Time Warner Cable, called ESPN Goal Line, a super-highlight channel that will
be available only to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks sports tier
subscribers as early as Sept. 4. ESPN Goal Line will take fans around the best
matchups each Saturday during the NCAA football season. The once-a-week network
will include live look-ins to game action, focusing on scoring drives and
up-to-the minute commentary from analysts and experts. A similar service called
ESPN Buzzer Beater will be available for the college basketball season.
- Expanded VOD
services in many markets will include:
- ABC On Demand,
ABC's fast forward-disabled VOD service, which currently features a selection
of primetime
programming, including episodes of such popular ABC shows as "Castle," "Grey's
Anatomy," "Private Practice" and "Desperate Housewives." Anticipated newcomers
include "No Ordinary Family" and "My Generation." Additionally, episodes of ABC
News' "Good Morning America" are available each week.
- Disney-branded
On Demand offerings for kids, including Disney Channel On Demand and Disney XD
On Demand. Refreshed each month, the Disney Channel VOD offering will include
episodes from such series as "Handy Manny," "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and
"Special Agent Oso" for preschoolers, as well as variety of episodes from
"Wizards of Waverly Place," "Hannah Montana," "The Suite Life on Deck," "Good
Luck Charlie" and other popular series for older kids. Select episodes featured
on Disney Channel On Demand will be available in multiple languages. Disney XD
On Demand features a variety of episodes from such series as the Emmy
Award-winning animated hit "Phineas and Ferb" and "Kick Buttowski -- Suburban
Daredevil," as well as the upcoming sitcom "Pair of Kings."
- Locally
relevant sports content from ESPN in several Time Warner Cable and Bright House
Networks markets, including Los Angeles, New York, North and South Carolina, Tampa, Orlando, Texas
and Ohio.
- The subscription VOD service "Disney
Family Movies," which features a selection of classic and contemporary films
and animated shorts from The Walt Disney Studios.
- A new transactional VOD service for
select content from the Disney/ABC Television Group.
- Inclusion of a
variety of content from across the Disney Media Networks' portfolio on Time
Warner Cable's and Bright House Networks Start Over and Look Back features.
- The addition
of ESPN Deportes HD to Time Warner Cable's larger footprint.
- The launch of
ESPN 3D to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks' systems.
- A Time Warner
Cable/ESPN Deportes co-branded, Spanish language sports website in Los Angeles.
- Availability
of ESPN Radio feeds in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas to Time Warner Cable's
video platform.
- A plethora of
ESPN-branded content made available on Time Warner Cable's and Bright House
Networks' sports tier.
Co-chairs
of Disney Media Networks George Bodenheimer and Anne Sweeney also commented on
the announcement, stating: "The successful conclusion of this wide-ranging deal
demonstrates our commitment to our distribution partners and our ability to
work with them to provide consumers with an unmatched portfolio of national and
local entertainment, news and sports content while continuing to strengthen
both of our businesses."
"We are pleased to have reached an
agreement without any interruption in service," said Glenn Britt, Time Warner
Cable's chairman, president and CEO. "We thank our customers for their support,
and we look forward to launching these new and innovative products and
services."
"We're pleased that an agreement has
been reached with no disruption in programming for our customers," said Steve
Miron, CEO, Bright House Networks.