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Disney ABC Kids Networks Unveils 2006-7 Programming Slate

Disney ABC Kids Networks unveiled its programming slate for the 2006-07 television season during its upfront meeting with advertisers, a powerful mix of live-action and animated programming, reaching every segment of youth from kids and tweens to preschoolers, across its multiplex of television platforms ABC Kids, Toon Disney, Jetix and Disney Channel. The slate totals 849 new episodes, 11 new series and 25 new movies, including seven from the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise.

New shows include the original animated comedy, THE REPLACEMENTS for ABC Kids and the Disney Channel (September) and HANNAH MONTANA, a live-action comedy starring Miley Cyrus and her father Billy Ray Cyrus (debuting March 24 on Disney Channel, it will also air on ABC Kids). An hour block of the Jetix action/adventure hit, POWER RANGERS: MYSTIC FORCE, the 14th edition of the popular franchise, will be showcased on ABC Kids.

As of fall 2006, Toon Disney will be the exclusive destination for Jetix programming. The popular block will feature more than 100 hours of comedic action/adventure each week. Jetix programming had been seen on ABC Family.

The Jetix block will feature the new animated comedy/action/adventure, YIN YANG YO, FROM Walt Disney Television Animation, and the 15th iteration of POWER RANGERS. Several animated series also join the line-up, including JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES, OBAN STAR-RACERS, MON COLLE KNIGHTS and NASCAR RACERS.

This season, Toon Disney will also premiere three animated series also seen on Disney Channel: the comedy/adventure AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG, the comedy/adventure LILO & STITCH: THE SERIES and the comedy THE BUZZ ON MAGGIE, all produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.

During the 2006-07 season, Disney Channel will introduce new series HANNAH MONTANA and THE REPLACEMENTS plus seven new Disney Channel Original Movies. Besides, the movie franchise will deliver the comedy/adventure Cow Belles starring sisters Alyson Michalka (Disney Channel's Phil of the Future) and Amanda Michalka, also known as recording artists Aly & AJ. It premieres Friday, March 24 (8:00 pm), along with HANNAH MONTANA. Other Disney Channel Original Movies premiering this season are the action/adventure WENDY WU: HOMECOMING WARRIOR (working title), starring Brenda Song of THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY; HOW MY PERSONAL JOURNAL BECAME A BESTSELLER (working title) starring Danielle and Kay Panabaker and THE CHEETAH GIRLS 2, the sequel to the original hit, starring kid and tween favorite Raven-Symoné (THAT'S SO RAVEN), Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan and Kiely Williams.

THE REPLACEMENTS (coming to ABC Kids and Disney Channel in September 2006), is an animated comedy that chronicles Riley and her younger brother Todd, orphans until they answer an ad for Fleemco Replacement Parents and ordered two cool parents. Their new mom is Agent K, a British super-spy, and dad is renowned stuntman Dick Daring, plus CAR, Agent K's super-intelligent talking spy car. The voice cast includes Nancy Cartwright (THE SIMPSONS, KIM POSSIBLE) as Todd, Grey Delisle (FAIRLY ODDPARENTS) as older sister Riley, Kath Soucie (POOH'S HEFFALUMP MOVIE) as Agent K, Bryan Cranston (MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE) as Dick Daring and David McCallum) as CAR. The series was created by acclaimed children's author/illustrator Dan Santat (THE GUILD OF GENIUSES). Exec producer is Jack Thomas (FAIRLY ODDPARENTS) and Heather Martinez (SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, FAIRLY ODDPARENTS) directs. THE REPLACEMENTS is produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.

Disney Channel's upcoming HANNAH MONTANA, a live-action comedy premieres in fall 2006 on ABC Kids. It follows a teen with a secret life as a world-famous pop star. At first glance, Miley Stewart is a typical tween who lives with her widowed dad (a songwriter) and older brother. Miley is also Hannah Montana, a famous singer. Michael Poryes and Steve Petermen are the series' exec producers. HANNAH MONTANA is from It's A Laugh Productions in association with Disney Channel.

The animated comedy/adventure YIN YANG YO introduces a Panda named Master Yo, the world's last teacher of the mystical art of Woo Foo, who guides two bunnies, Yin and Yang, to overcome their sibling rivalry and work together to defeat the always evil and often hilarious forces of their strange and supernatural world. This unlikely team of one Panda and two bunnies is the world's only hope for survival. It is a production of Walt Disney Television Animation.

The live-action POWER RANGERS franchise delivers its 15th installment with an all-new theme, new culturally diverse characters and compelling stories of good triumphing over evil. POWER RANGERS: DRIVE FORCE (working title), is a production of Ranger Productions Ltd.

JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES, an animated series featuring the international superstar and underdog hero Jackie Chan, delivers his acrobatic style of action to the Jetix block in September 2006. The series celebrates Chinese culture as Jackie, an ancient artifact expert and special government agent, along with his feisty 11-year-old niece Jade and imperfect wizard Uncle, embarks on a global quest to recover powerful artifacts representing the Chinese zodiac, each capable of unleashing a dangerous massive power. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

OBAN STAR-RACERS, an animated galactic adventure set in the year 2082, premieres in June 2006 during Jetix on Toon Disney. The stories follow an alien spaceship come to collect Earth's fastest star-racing heroes for The Greatest Race of Oban, one that only takes place every 10,000 years. Rebellious teenager Molly joins Earth's racing team, along with Rick Thunderbolt, Jordan, Stan and Koji, for the thrilling adventures. The series is produced by Sav! the World Productions.

Gary Marsh, president, entertainment, Disney Channel Worldwide, said, "As the momentum of our ratings success builds, we are committed to offering high-quality stories and characters that connect with kids and families. Our winning mix of programming across our cable channels and broadcast network allows us to reach diverse targeted audiences and deliver some of the biggest hits and stars for kids."

"We've had a remarkable year of growth and through a unique multiplex approach, continue to provide our clients a broad reach, a diverse mix of kid viewers, the greatest variety of traditional and non-traditional environments in the marketplace, and quality and creativity for customized opportunities," Tricia Wilber, svp, advertising sales and promotions, Disney ABC Cable Networks Group.

ABC Kids' 2006-07 program schedule follows. Season premiere dates and complete season schedules for Toon Disney, Jetix and Disney Channel will be announced at a later date.

SATURDAYS9:00 am, ET/8:00 am, PT, THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL9:30 am, ET/8:30 am, PT, THE REPLACEMENTS (new series)10:00 am, ET/9:00 am, PT, THAT'S SO RAVEN10:30 am, ET/9:30 am, PT, THAT'S SO RAVEN11:00 am, ET/10:00 am, PT, HANNAH MONTANA (new series)11:30 am, ET/10:30 am, PT, THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY12:00 noon, ET/11:00 am, PT, POWER RANGERS: MYSTIC FORCE12:30 p.m., ET/11:30 am, PT, POWER RANGERS: MYSTIC FORCE