Disney Channel With A Latin Touch

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgOn Friday, January 14, 2000, Walt Disney International-Latin America

announced the launch of the Disney Channel Latin America and an exclusive

satellite television distribution agreement with Galaxy Latin America, LLC

for DIRECTV service in Spanish-speaking Latin America. "Launching the

Disney Channel in Latin America in 2000 is an exciting initiative for the

Walt Disney Company," said Diego Lerner, president and managing director,

WDI-Latin America. "As we have in other parts of the world, we will now

create a unique and entertaining television destination for kids and

families throughout Latin America." The 10-year deal provides DIRECTV, the

leading digital television service and a global distributor of television

programming, with exclusive rights to the Disney Channel in all

Spanish-speaking Latin America, except Puerto Rico. In addition, the

channel will also be distributed via cable systems in the region. The

scheduled launch for Disney Channel Latin America is the second half of

2000. "This agreement is the result of a wonderful relationship with Disney

that began three years ago with the launch of the Disney Weekend

exclusively on DIRECTV," said Kevin N. McGrath, chairman of Galaxy Latin

America, LLC, the company that provides DIRECTV to all of Latin America and

the Caribbean. The high demand for Disney Weekend in the region spurred

both Disney and DIRECTV to expand the offering to a full Disney Channel.

The satellite provider was the first service in Latin America and the

Caribbean to offer a vast programming package with Disney animated and

live-action series, movies and specials. The Disney Weekend began airing in

early 1997 and will continue to air on DIRECTV until the Disney Channel

Latin America starts broadcasting. So far nine international Disney

Channels have been launched in Taiwan, UK, Australia, Malaysia, France,

Middle East, Spain, Italy and Germany.