Disney Plans to Introduce TV Channel in Russia

U.S. entertainment giant Walt Disney on Tuesday announced its plans to introduce a Disney- branded television channel in Russia by teaming up with a Russian media company.

Russia is an extremely important market for Disney and this new Disney channel is a great way for us to expand our brand and business, said Disney President and CEO Robert Iger in a statement.

Under the plans, Disney and a subsidiary of Russia's Media-One Holdings are forming a joint venture that will offer family- oriented programming on 30 stations currently owned and operated by Media-One.

Anchored by Disney programming, the channels will also offer original Russian programming, Disney said.

We are delighted to sign this landmark deal with the world's leading multinational media company for the Russian television market, said Media-One CEO Ivan Tavrin.

The predominately free-to-air national network will hit the air in 2009, pending regulatory approval from Russian government authorities.

Source: CRIEnglish