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BBC to Broadcast Disney and Disney/Pixar Animated Feature Films
The “Classic Treasures” Collection, including Toy Story and Mulan, will broadcast on UK terrestrial television for the first time
EMERYVILLE, Calif.—(BUSINESS
WIRE)—Oct. 1, 2001— Buena Vista International Television has
licensed its “Classic Treasures” collection of animated box
office hits to the BBC. For the first time ever on UK terrestrial television,
viewers will now be able to enjoy some of the most popular animated movies
of all time - Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Mulan, A Bug’s Life and The
Hunchback of Notre Dame. These titles combined have grossed over $2 billion
in worldwide box office and have been watched by over 121 million people
at cinemas in Europe alone.
David Hulbert, president of
Walt Disney Television International said “These films have a unique
resonance with kids and families - they combine our storytelling heritage
with innovative animation to produce the very best in family entertainment.
The BBC has a long history of broadcasting outstanding and ground breaking
programming that entertains the whole family together - so it is appropriate
that these ”Classic Treasures“ are showcased for the first time
with them.”
Sophie Turner Laing, Controller,
Programme Acquisition, BBC added: “The BBC has a long and successful
history of family film viewing and this package of animated movies ensures
that the BBC remains popular for family viewing at key times in the year.
This ground breaking deal with Disney ensures that the BBC will continue
to bring its audiences the latest, most popular and most successful movie
premieres for the whole family.”
Pixar Animation Studios (Nasdaq:
PIXR) combines creative and technical artistry to create original characters
and stories in the medium of computer animation. Under its partnership
with Disney, Pixar has created and produced the first computer-animated
feature film, the Academy Award®-winning TOY STORY, released in 1995;
A BUG’S LIFE, the highest grossing animated film released in 1998;
and Golden Globe-winner TOY STORY 2, the highest grossing animated film
released in 1999. The Northern California studio is currently in production
on MONSTERS, INC., scheduled for release on November 2, 2001 and FINDING
NEMO, scheduled for a summer 2003 release.
Notes to editors: Walt Disney
Television International is responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s
free and pay television activities outside the U.S.A and Latin America.
These activities include branded and non-branded programme distribution
through Buena Vista International Television (BVI-TV), production and
broadcasting, including the development and management of Disney Channels
and other media investments.
WDTV-I is well-known for its
locally produced entertainment through both Disney Channels and terrestrial
branded programmes. Since 1995, fourteen Channels have been successfully
launched worldwide outside the US. Each Disney Channel provides unique
quality programming specifically designed for local audiences.
With 95 branded shows per
week in 43 countries Disney was the first US Studio to adopt a local approach
to production tailoring content to specific audiences.
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