Disney to launch entertainment channel on Optus broadband

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 09 May 2006 07:52

Your IT - Home IT

Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and Optus have signed an agreement to launch the Disney Connection interactive broadband service on the Optus broadband portal.

The service promises children and families a broad range of Disney entertainment and learning activities and will be available to Optus broadband customers in July 2006.

The agreement marks the Australian launch of the Disney-branded Internet channel, which is available in eight other countries, including the US, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Argentina.

“We’re very pleased to work with Optus to make this high-quality broadband content available to Australian consumers,” said Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, International, Walt Disney Internet Group.

“Disney Connection provides unique, high-quality and differentiated online entertainment that kids and families can enjoy. We look forward to bringing more of our rich library of online interactive entertainment to this market.”

Disney Connection will offer Optus broadband customers a regularly-updated slate of interactive games and activities, as well as video, based on both classic and new Disney characters. Its Studio Showcase will provide video shorts from Disney, including Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney clips, cartoon shorts, music videos, and movie trailers.

“As Australians increasingly embrace broadband, we are pleased to launch an interactive and educational entertainment destination designed especially to meet the needs of children and families,” said Chris Lane, group director, Products and Delivery, Optus Consumer.

“This is a cornerstone deal in Optus’ strategy of featuring the internet’s leading online brands and entertainment providers. It is another step in Optus’ vision of a digital future where PC and mobile phones become sources of everyday entertainment.”

Disney Connection content on the Optus broadband portal will be refreshed every second week. Users will be able to personalise their site experience through the “My Disney” link by selecting their favourite theme – from Buzz Lightyear to Disney Princess – and choosing their preferred games and other content to appear on the Disney Connection home page.

A separate mobile section will highlight Disney-branded mobile content available on the Optus Zoo WAP portal.

Content at the time of launch will include:

• Games, including Crush’s Summer Holiday game, with characters from Finding Nemo, Goofy’s Sea Serpent Slalom, and Stitch’s Pod Problem, with
Lilo & Stitch characters.

• Printables, including Pooh’s Bookmark Maker, with Winnie the Pooh colouring craft, and a Monster’s, Inc. Calendar Maker to print and save.

• PC desktop downloads, such as Mickey Mouse and Marie wallpapers, as well as Aladdin, Buzz Lightyear and Cinderella screensavers.

• Interactive comics, with the story of Hercules.

• Learning activities, with number counting games, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree Countdown, and Mickey’s Letter Time alphabet videos.

• Short-form videos, ranging from clips from Disney Channel (High School Musical, Kim Possible, My Place and Mad About local productions) and
Playhouse Disney (Little Einsteins, Higglytown Heroes local production), to Disney Toon video shorts featuring Mickey, Pooh and The Little Mermaid.

• Music, including music videos from popular artists such as Hilary Duff and Jesse McCartney, and streaming CDs from Disney classics such as The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, and the early childhood development CD series Baby Einstein: Baby Mozart.