On Friday, January 14, 2000, Walt Disney International-Latin America
announced the launch of the Disney Channel Latin America and an exclusive
satellite television distribution agreement with Galaxy Latin America, LLC
for DIRECTV service in Spanish-speaking Latin America. "Launching the
Disney Channel in Latin America in 2000 is an exciting initiative for the
Walt Disney Company," said Diego Lerner, president and managing director,
WDI-Latin America. "As we have in other parts of the world, we will now
create a unique and entertaining television destination for kids and
families throughout Latin America." The 10-year deal provides DIRECTV, the
leading digital television service and a global distributor of television
programming, with exclusive rights to the Disney Channel in all
Spanish-speaking Latin America, except Puerto Rico. In addition, the
channel will also be distributed via cable systems in the region. The
scheduled launch for Disney Channel Latin America is the second half of
2000. "This agreement is the result of a wonderful relationship with Disney
that began three years ago with the launch of the Disney Weekend
exclusively on DIRECTV," said Kevin N. McGrath, chairman of Galaxy Latin
America, LLC, the company that provides DIRECTV to all of Latin America and
the Caribbean. The high demand for Disney Weekend in the region spurred
both Disney and DIRECTV to expand the offering to a full Disney Channel.
The satellite provider was the first service in Latin America and the
Caribbean to offer a vast programming package with Disney animated and
live-action series, movies and specials. The Disney Weekend began airing in
early 1997 and will continue to air on DIRECTV until the Disney Channel
Latin America starts broadcasting. So far nine international Disney
Channels have been launched in Taiwan, UK, Australia, Malaysia, France,
Middle East, Spain, Italy and Germany.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
