Kids
Disney channel to become FTA in Spain
MUMBAI: Disney Channel Spain will go free-to-air (FTA) from 1 July. The channel will launch on free digital terrestrial TV.
Disney network of channels has 27 Disney Channels. It had made its debut in Spain in 1998 on pay cable. But the channel which presently carries no commercial, will become ad-supported and will be joining Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service as Spain will be switching from analogue terrestrial TV in 2010.
Disney Channel‘s head (Europe, Middle-east and Africa) John Hardie stated that the decision to enter DTT and make the channel free is to basically reach out to a larger number of audiences, which will also improve brand-awareness. And the inclusion of advertisements will generate as revenue churners and will boost the sales of merchandising such as High School Musical CDs and Hannah Montana accessories.
He added that Disney Channel Spain can increase its reach from 2 million households to more than 6 million on 1 July owing to its availability on DTT, satellite, cable and internet TV. But the Spanish free-to-air move will not be a roll-out programme for other Disney channels elsewhere in Europe, Hardie added.
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.
