| [December 31, 2012] |
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The Walt Disney Company and Charter Communications Announce New Distribution Agreement
ST. LOUIS & NEW YORK --(Business Wire)--
Charter Communications and The Walt Disney (News - Alert) Company (NYSE: DIS) today
announced a comprehensive long-term distribution agreement to deliver
Disney's robust lineup of top quality sports, news and entertainment
content to Charter TV customers across televisions, computers,
smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and internet-enabled televisions.
The renewal agreement supports the companies' mutual goal to deliver the
best video content to customers across multiple platforms. Launch of
content across these new distribution platforms is planned to begin in
the first half of 2013.
As part of the new multi-year deal, The Longhorn Network will launch in
Texas, Louisiana and Virginia systems by football season next year.
Charter and The Walt Disney Company will also introduce several new
services, including the full suite of authenticated WATCH products, ESPN (News - Alert)
Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater, as well as the upcoming ABC
News/Univision Joint Venture, a 24/7 news, information and lifestyle
multi-platform network for English-dominant and bilingual Hispanics, the
youngest and fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. In total,
approximately 70 services are covered by the broad scope of this
agreement including: ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney Junior,
Disney XD, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic,
ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN 3D, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN Full
Court, ESPN3, The Longhorn Network, and retransmission consent for
WABC-TV, KABC-TV, WLS-TV, KGO-TV, KTRK-TV, WTVD-TV and KFSN-TV, as well
as more than 10 high-definition networks.
Charter customers will receive broad access to existing authenticated
products like WATCH Disney Channel, WATCH Disney XD and WATCH Disney
Junior, the to-be-launched WATCH ABC and WATCH ABC Family services and
WatchESPN (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, ESPN Goal Line and ESPN Buzzer
Beater). These products will give Charter customers more opportunities
to access live and video on demand content, both in-home and
out-of-home, on their computers, smartphones, tablets and gaming
consoles.
"This agreement enables us to offer our customers additional value,
choice and convenience," said Allan Singer, Charter's Senior Vice
President, Programming. "More and more content is being enjoyed on
tablets and other Internet-connected devices, and today's viewers are
sharing their TV experiences in new ways. Our agreement with Disney
enables more robust ways to enjoy and socialize TV."
Added David Preschlack, executive vice president, Affiliate Sales and
Marketing, Disney & ESPN Networks Group, "Our agreement with Charter
represents the sixth top ten distributor renewal encompassing Disney's
full suite of products and services. With this deal, Charter's video
customers will derive even greater benefit from the value of their
multichannel subscription model, including 24/7 live access to our
content via the WATCH Disney services and WatchESPN across more
platforms than ever before, as well as other new and advanced services."
The extensive and expanded rights package for Video On Demand content to
Charter TV customers includes:
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ABC On Demand, ABC's fast-forward-disabled On Demand service, which
currently features a selection of top-rated primetime entertainment
programming, including episodes of such popular current ABC shows as
"Castle," "Grey's Anatomy," "Once Upon A Time," "Private Practice" and
"Revenge." Full current seasons will be made available on a number of
shows.
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ABC Family On Demand, which features a variety of top-rated full
episodes, refreshed monthly, from such popular millennial favorites as
"Switched at Birth," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," "Baby
Daddy," "Bunheads" and "Melissa & Joey." Full current seasons will be
made available on a number of shows. ABC Family original movies like
"Mistle-Tones" will also be available.
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Disney-branded On Demand offerings, including Disney Channel On
Demand, Disney Junior On Demand, and Disney XD On Demand. Refreshed
each month, the Disney Channel On Demand offering will include
episodes from such series as "Handy Manny," "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,"
and "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" for preschoolers, as well as
variety of episodes from "A.N.T. Farm," "Good Luck Charlie,"
"Jessie," and other popular series for older kids. Select episodes
featured on Disney Channel On Demand will be available in innovative
new offerings, such as playlists and monthly programming blocks, in
addition to a number of episodes available in multiple languages. A
variety of Disney Channel Original Movies will also be available.
Disney XD On Demand features a selection of episodes from such series
as the Emmy Award-winning animated hit "Phineas and Ferb," "Pair of
Kings" and "Kickin' It."
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Expanded On Demand content from ESPN, including award-winning original
content from ESPN Films.
About Charter Communications (News - Alert)
Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading broadband communications company and
the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States. Charter provides
a full range of advanced broadband services, including advanced Charter
TV® video entertainment programming, Charter Internet® access, and
Charter Phone (News - Alert)®. Charter Business® similarly provides scalable, tailored,
and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business
organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data
networking, business telephone, video and music entertainment services,
and wireless backhaul. Charter's advertising sales and production
services are sold under the Charter Media® brand. More information about
Charter can be found at charter.com.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), together with its subsidiaries and
affiliates, is the world's largest diversified international family
entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media
networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and
interactive media. Disney Media Networks comprise a vast array of The
Walt Disney Company's broadcast, cable, radio and publishing businesses,
including Disney/ABC Television Group and ESPN, Inc. Disney is a Dow 30
company and had annual revenues of $40.9 billion in its most recent
fiscal year.

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