Disney TV Int’l Sets Slate for German Super RTL
By sbaisley
Created 09/23/2003 - 00:00
Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has concluded multi-year, multi-genre licensing agreements for the daytime and primetime programming on terrestrial channel Super RTL in Germany. The sale of children’s and family programming includes live-action and animated features, TV movies, as well as Disney-branded animated and live-action kids series.
An agreement has also been concluded with Super RTL for Fox Kids Europe (FKE) animated series and two co-productions from the FKE portfolio of children’s programming, of which BVITV services the distribution. Co-production titles are to be announced at a later date.
Super RTL is jointly owned by The Walt Disney Co. (of which BVITV is the TV distribution arm) and RTL Group. In Germany, Super RTL is the highest rated channel amongst children, holding a market share of more than 34% amongst kids 6-9 and more than 29% for kids 12-17.
Under the terms of the agreements, Super RTL’s two highly successful daily Disney blocks will continue - Toon Disney, featuring contemporary and classic Disney animated series and Playhouse Disney, which offers a wide variety of preschool programming such as STANLEY and THE BOOK OF POOH. These blocks have consistently ranked #1 in their timeslots amongst kids 3-13.
“We are delighted with the success of Super RTL and are confident that this wide selection of programming from our portfolios will provide some successful new entertainment for its viewers, across all age groups,” said Tom Toumazis, svp/md of BVITV. “We are particularly pleased that Toon Disney and Playhouse Disney have been such a success and are sure this new programming will ensure that they continue to be so.”
Super RTL md Claude Schmit said, “In addition to being able to continue relying on high quality formats from Disney for our Daytime, we will be able to include top family- oriented programmes in our Primetime schedule. This opens up completely new prospects and will increase our primetime relevancy substantially and continuously over the next few years.”
Buena Vista International Television is the distribution arm of Walt Disney Television International (WDTV-I), which is responsible for The Walt Disney Co.’s branded and non-branded program distribution, broadcasting and media investments. BVITV distributes around 18,000 hours of programming, plus 5,500 hours from the FKE (Fox Kids Europe) and BVS portfolios, to more than 1,300 broadcasters across 240 territories.
