Kids
Verizon brings Disney content to FiOS TV line-up
MUMBAI: Verizon launched a full suite of archive and specially tailored Disney content video content on its broadband service and Fios TV on-demand platform.
The two companies had announced a broad content agreement in September to dveelop video-on-demand and other content for the Verizon’s new FiOS TV service.
Subscribers to Verizon Online DSL or Verizon FiOS Internet access will be able to watch programing provided by ABC News Now, Disney Connection, ESPN360 and Movies.com Max. An online extension of Disney-owned cable channel SoapNet, Soapnetic, will be added this year.
Verizon’s new FiOS TV service will make available more than 80 hours a month of on-demand programing from Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Radio Disney, Jetix, ABC News, ABC Family, SoapNet, ESPN Desportes and ESPNU.
A comprehensive video archive of Statler and Waldorf’s pearls of wisdom is just one element of the wide-ranging content being served up to Verizon’s online customers via its fibre optic-based FiOS TV service.
Disney is using FiOS to premiere original movies from Disney Channel, Jetix and Playhouse Disney as well as new episodes of TV series including The Emperor’s New School and Little Einsteins.
Also available are new-release movies from Buena Vista Pay Television, costing US$3.95 each on demand, with classics such as Dumbo and Alice In Wonderland being added soon for US$2.95 a punt.
Disney and ESPN Networks Affiliate sales and marketing president Ben Pyne said, “The Walt Disney Company is committed to making our content available to consumers however and wherever they want it. As broadband continues to grow, it’s critical for us to offer our top properties to those turning to the internet and video-on-demand for a quality entertainment experience.”
ABC News Now is a 24/7 news channel, delivering live breaking news and an array of current affairs programming. Disney Connection is child-friendly, ad-free, interactive environment for kids of all ages featuring videos, games and activities.
ESPN360, meanwhile, is the sports networks’ broadband service, featuring exclusive and live programming, behind-the-scenes coverage and in-depth commentator analysis.
Movies.com Max is a new service of movie-related information and entertainment channel specifically programmed for broadband audiences, which is available for the first time through Verizon. It is within this that Statler and Waldorf feature, alongside exclusive video reviews of DVDs and films from Ebert and Roeper.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
