Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has signed agreements with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Italian state broadcaster Rai.
BVITVs agreement with SABC is for the exclusive free TV licensing of live-action and animated series, plus feature films rights. Animated series include LILO & STITCH, DISNEYS THE LEGEND OF TARZAN and BUZZ LIGHTYEAR. Live-action TV series included in the agreement are THREAT MATRIX, ALIAS, MY WIFE AND KIDS, 8 SIMPLE RULES FOR DATING MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER, ACCORDING TO JIM and THATS SO RAVEN. Features include PEARL HARBOR, FACE/OFF and EVITA.
Aletta Alberts, acting gm for SABC2, said, These products are immensely important to us as they correspond precisely with our values as South Africas family channel. This is especially true for the superb animated series, which will be shown during our holiday period.
Tom Toumazis, svp/managing director, BVITV, said, We are confident that this broad selection of programming will provide some great new and familiar entertainment for viewers of all ages in South Africa, and some new hits for SABCs channels. Its particularly exciting to be licensing THREAT MATRIX in South Africa, as one of our hottest properties.
BVITV and Rai reached a new licensing agreement for kids animated series. For over a decade, BVITV and Rai have brought viewers the weekly Disney branded shows DISNEY CLUB and DOMENICA DISNEY, both of which are number one in their timeslots. CLUB is a hosted show with a live audience and it airs on Saturdays at 4:30 pm, produced by Disney Channel Italia. Over the last 12 years it has won three times a prestigious Telegatto and an A.GE. Chiaria dAssisi award from the Italian Association of Parents. The DOMENICA DISNEY block runs each Sunday at 9:15 am, offering animated and live-action kids and family series.
The new series on DISNEY CLUB include DISNEYS KIM POSSIBLE and HOUSE OF MOUSE. On DOMENICA DISNEY the new shows will include THE PROUD FAMILY and DISNEYS THE WEEKENDERS.
We have worked closely with Rai for many years and are both very proud of DISNEY CLUB and DOMENICA DISNEYs success and critical acclaim, said Toumazis. This new agreement further cements our relationship and will bring some of the hottest new animated series to young viewers of Rai 2.
Antonio Marano, Rai 2 director, added, With the great success of the animated and live-action kids programming we have licensed so far, plus the long-standing popularity of our two Disney shows, we are delighted to be continuing to work together with BVITV.
Buena Vista International Television is the distribution arm of Walt Disney Television International (WDTV-I), which is responsible for The Walt Disney Co.s branded and non-branded program distribution, broadcasting and media investments. BVITV distributes around 18,000 hours of programming, plus 5.500 hours from the FKE (Fox Kids Europe) and BVS portfolios, to more than 960 broadcasters across 240 territories.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
