More Disney toons will make their way to young German viewers as part of a new multi-genre, multi-year free-to-air agreement between Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) and the ProSiebenSat.1 Group. In addition to licensing U.S. features and TV series, the German broadcaster picks up the Disney branded programming blocks Disney Time and Disney Filmparade. A separate agreement has the ProSiebenSat.1 Group’s Kabel 1 channel licensing kids programming from Jetix Europe’s library for its new Jetix block.
Extending a long-standing relationship between BVITV and ProSieben, the new agreement saw Disney Time move from ProSieben to the Group’s Kabel 1 channel in late December, 2004. The block also expands from two to three hours each Sunday morning, showcasing the addition of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and new episodes of Disney’s Kim Possible. The lineup also boasts the hit animated series Disney’s Fillmore, Disney’s Recess and Disney’s Timon & Pumbaa.
Also included in the deal are upcoming titles from BVITV’s feature slate, such as the highly anticipated sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: Treasures of the Lost Abyss; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
The new half-hour Jetix block on Kabel 1 was launched at the end of October and airs weekly on Saturday mornings. Titles in the lineup include Sonic X and mystical coming-of-age series, Shaman King.
