(19 June 2006 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Disney's distribution arm Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) along with Walt Disney Internet Group, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN Star Sports, and its US television network ABC hosted its first New Media Showcase in the Asia Pacific region in Singapore.

Broadcasters, mobile operators, content aggregators, ISPs, and triple-play providers from around the region attended the event at which executives from across the Company showcased how Disney is combining cutting-edge technology with great content to create unique entertainment experiences for audiences allowing them to enjoy content whenever and wherever they want it.

Buena Vista International Television (Asia Pacific) senior VP and MD Steve Macallister said, "This is an extremely exciting time to be in the media industry and it's a particularly exciting time for The Walt Disney Company. We're buoyed by the rapid developments and change facing the industry and are pleased to be the first US studio to undertake an event of this scale in the region.

"Disney's 'road map to the future' lay in combining the riches of our entertainment properties with new forms of distribution. Asian consumers have a voracious appetite for both technology and content, and across our businesses we are embracing this sea of change. There really is no other entertainment company better equipped to navigate the changes in our industry than The Walt Disney Company.

"The New Media Showcase has been a marvellous opportunity for our current and potential clients to view for the first time in one place, the new media content offerings from our many businesses."

BVITV-AP showcased Desperate Housewives and Lost available for new media platforms such as for mobile, internet and video-on-demand. BVITV-AP says that it was the first studio to launch wireless content in South Korea in October 2005. In this mobile content deal with TU Media, the first-ever with a US studio, over 250 hours of programming including Desperate Housewives and Alias went to air via its linear channel "Blue".

In the US Disney-ABC signed a deal with Apple to offer Disney and ABC content on iTunes and ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series on abc.com. Disney is looking after sports fans too. The World Cup soccer tournament currently gripping sports fans everywhere has underscored the international opportunity available in the wireless space.

ESPN Star Sports' latest mobile service offering in Asia, includes video, data and WAP services in addition to java games, wallpapers and ringtones. Keeping fans up to date with the action on the pitch is ESPN Here We Go.

This has the latest match insights, previews, predictions and analysis from the World Cup, and SportsCenter Mobile News, providing the latest in coverage of the top sports stories. Using SMS and Wap services, ESPN Football Live is keeping audiences abreast of the latest breaking news, injury reports, fixtures listings, and half-time and full-time scores.

ESPN Insider sends fans first hand match development and predictions with expert commentary. ESS recently launched Mobile ESPN. This mobile service brings the best of video, SMS, WAP, games and downloads for sports fans.

Younger audiences also have new platforms on which to enjoy and interact with content. Disney Channel's programming, digital media and marketing teams are working seamlessly to create an engaging experience empowering viewers to connect with the brand across multiple platforms, ultimately reinforcing and supporting the linear Disney Channel.

Disney Channel's strategy for creating compelling content for new media channels focuses on providing constant and personalised entertainment at the viewers' convenience. In June, Disney's shows That's So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody will be available in six different languages, on the re-launched broadband site, DisneyChannel.com. The local language tracks include English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi.

The musical movie High School Musical is doing well among kids, tweens and families in the US. It recently premiered on Disney Channel Australia and New Zealand, followed by international roll-out across over 100 countries this year, and had 1.2 million unique visitors to DisneyChannel.com - the most ever for the site. Distributed by Walt Disney Records, the music album was number one on iTunes Music Store for three weeks and 1.3 million single tracks have been purchased digitally.