Nickandmore!

[via press release]

DISNEY ABC KIDS NETWORKS UNVEILS POWERFUL MIX OF PROGRAMMING FOR 2006-07
ACROSS MULTIPLEX OF ABC KIDS, TOON DISNEY, JETIX AND DISNEY CHANNEL

— Platforms Reach Every Segment of Youth
Boys 6-11, Girls 6-11, Tweens 9-14 and Preschoolers —

NEW YORK and BURBANK, CA – February 9, 2006 … Disney ABC Kids Networks today unveiled its programming slate for the 2006-07 television season, a powerful mix of live action and animated programming, reaching every segment of youth from kids and tweens to preschoolers, across its multiplex of television platforms – ABC Kids, Toon Disney, Jetix and Disney Channel. A total of 849 new episodes, 11 new series and 25 new movies including seven from the blockbuster Disney Channel Original Movie franchise, will debut during the season. Disney ABC Kids Networks also outlined its capability to marshal the strength of The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled connection with kids and families, by helping to deliver the perfect mix of audiences, extending across online, radio, print and more.

The announcement was made by Gary Marsh, President, Entertainment, Disney Channel Worldwide, and Tricia Wilber, Senior Vice President, Advertising Sales and Promotions, Disney ABC Cable Networks Group, during a presentation to advertisers.

(Editors please note: images are available for download at www.abccngpressinfo.com. Registration required.)

Marsh said, “As the momentum of our ratings success builds, we are committed to offering high-quality stories and characters that connect with kids and families. Our winning mix of programming across our cable channels and broadcast network allows us to reach diverse targeted audiences and deliver some of the biggest hits – and stars — for kids.”

Wilber said, “We’ve had a remarkable year of growth and through a unique multiplex approach, continue to provide our clients a broad reach, a diverse mix of kid viewers, the greatest variety of traditional and non-traditional environments in the marketplace, and quality and creativity for customized opportunities.”

ABC KIDS

ABC Kids, the Saturday morning programming block on the ABC Television Network, is up 7% with Kids 6-11 and 21% with Boys 6-11, season-to-date. ABC Kids will add the original animated comedy “The Replacements” (also premiering in September on Disney Channel) and “Hannah Montana,” a live-action comedy starring Miley Cyrus and her father Billy Ray Cyrus (debuting Friday, March 24 on Disney Channel). An hour block of the Jetix action/adventure hit “Power Rangers: Mystic Force,” the 14th edition of the popular franchise, will be showcased on ABC Kids.

TOON DISNEY / JETIX

Toon Disney, the #1 co-viewing destination for Kids 6-11 and Adults 18-49, reaches over 51 million homes and continues to post impressive ratings growth. Season-to-date, its total day programming is up 8% and its weekday block (2:00-7:00 p.m.) is up 23% with Kids 6-11.

As of Fall 2006, Toon Disney will be the exclusive destination for Jetix programming. The popular block will feature more than 100 hours of comedic action/adventure each week.

Coming to the Jetix block is the new animated comedy/action/adventure “Yin Yang Yo,” from Walt Disney Television Animation, and the 15th iteration of “Power Rangers,” the international hit franchise. Several animated series also join the line-up including “Jackie Chan Adventures,” “Oban Star-Racers,” “Mon Colle Knights” and “NASCAR Racers.”

This season, Toon Disney will also premiere three animated series also seen on Disney Channel: the comedy/adventure “American Dragon: Jake Long,” the comedy/adventure “Lilo & Stitch: The Series” and the comedy “The Buzz on Maggie,” each produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.

DISNEY CHANNEL

For 2005, the kid-driven, family inclusive Disney Channel raised the bar and reached new ratings milestones. Disney Channel primetime ranked as the #1 basic cable network among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 for the third consecutive year. It also averaged its highest ever yearly delivery of Households, Total Viewers/Persons 2+, Kids 6-11, Girls 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. 2005 also marked Disney Channel primetime’s second highest rated year ever with Tweens 9-14. Season-to-date, Disney Channel’s total day has delivered significant double-digit ratings gains, up 17% with Kids 2-11, up 28% with Kids 6-11 and up 20% with Tweens 9-14.

During the 2006-07 season, Disney Channel will introduce two new series and seven new Disney Channel Original Movies.

The new animated comedy “The Replacements” will debut in September 2006 on Disney Channel and ABC Kids. As previously announced, the live-action comedy “Hannah Montana” will debut on Friday, March 24.

On the heels of its record-breaking Disney Channel Original Movies “Twitches” and “High School Musical,” the movie franchise will deliver the comedy/adventure “Cow Belles” starring sisters Alyson Michalka (Disney Channel’s “Phil of the Future”) and Amanda Michalka, also known as recording artists Aly & AJ. It premieres Friday, March 24 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT), along with “Hannah Montana.” Other Disney Channel Original Movies premiering this season are the action/adventure “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior” (working title), starring Brenda Song of “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” “How My Personal Journal Became A Bestseller” (working title) starring Danielle and Kay Panabaker and “The Cheetah Girls 2,” the sequel to the original smash hit, starring kid and tween favorite Raven-Symoné (“That’s So Raven”), Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan and Kiely Williams.

ABC Kids’ 2006-07 program schedule and new series descriptions follow. Season premiere dates and complete season schedules for Toon Disney, Jetix and Disney Channel will be announced at a later date.

SATURDAYS
9:00 a.m., ET / 8:00 a.m., PT “The Emperor’s New School”
9:30 a.m., ET / 8:30 a.m., PT “The Replacements” (new series)
10:00 a.m., ET / 9:00 a.m., PT “That’s So Raven”
10:30 a.m., ET / 9:30 a.m., PT “That’s So Raven”
11:00 a.m., ET / 10:00 a.m., PT “Hannah Montana” (new series)
11:30 a.m., ET / 10:30 a.m., PT “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”
12:00 noon, ET / 11:00 a.m., PT “Power Rangers: Mystic Force”
12:30 p.m., ET / 11:30 a.m., PT “Power Rangers: Mystic Force”

“The Replacements” (coming to ABC Kids and Disney Channel in September 2006), is an animated comedy that chronicles Riley and her younger brother Todd, who were orphans until they answered an ad for Fleemco Replacement Parents and ordered two “cool” parents. Their new mom is Agent K, a British super-spy, and dad is renowned stuntman Dick Daring. Joined by CAR, Agent K’s super-intelligent talking spy car, together they become a zany, unconventional family. The voice cast includes Nancy Cartwright (“The Simpsons,” “Kim Possible”) as Todd, Grey Delisle (“Fairly Odd Parents”) as older sister Riley, Kath Soucie (“Pooh’s Heffalump Movie”) as Agent K, Bryan Cranston (“Malcolm in the Middle”) as Dick Daring and David McCallum”) as CAR. The series was created by acclaimed children’s author and illustrator Dan Santat (The Guild of Geniuses). The executive producer is Jack Thomas (“Fairly Odd Parents”) and Heather Martinez (“SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Fairly Odd Parents”) is the director. “The Replacements” is produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.

Disney Channel’s upcoming “Hannah Montana,” a live-action comedy premieres in Fall 2006 on ABC Kids. It follows a teen with a secret life as a world-famous pop star. At first glance, Miley Stewart is a typical tween who lives with her widowed dad (a songwriter) and older brother. But unbeknownst to her friends and classmates, Miley is also Hannah Montana. With a little creative costuming, Miley has discovered she can have the best of both worlds – the fame and fortune of a famous singer and the fun of middle school with her best friends Lilly and Oliver. That is until Lilly stumbles across Miley’s secret. 13-year-old newcomer Miley Cyrus stars as Hannah Montana, 13-year-old Emily Osment and 14-year-old Mitchell Musso are her best friends, and teen actor Jason Earles plays her older brother.

Recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus (Miley’s real-life father) stars as Miley Stewart’s father, Robby. Michael Poryes (“That’s So Raven,” “Veronica’s Closet”) and Steve Petermen (“Murphy Brown,” “Suddenly Susan”) are the series’ executive producers. “Hannah Montana” is from It’s A Laugh Productions in association with Disney Channel.

New series joining the Toon Disney / Jetix schedule:

The animated comedy/adventure “Yin Yang Yo” introduces a Panda named Master Yo, the world’s last teacher of the mystical art of Woo Foo, whose guidance will help two bunnies, Yin and Yang, overcome their sibling rivalry and work together to defeat the always evil and often hilarious forces of their strange and supernatural world. This unlikely team of one Panda and two bunnies is the world’s only hope for survival. It is a production of Walt Disney Television Animation.

The live-action “Power Rangers” franchise delivers its 15th installment with an all-new theme, new culturally diverse characters and compelling stories of good triumphing over evil. “Power Rangers: Drive Force” (working title). It is a production of Ranger Productions Ltd.

“Jackie Chan Adventures,” an animated series featuring the international superstar and underdog hero Jackie Chan, delivers his acrobatic style of action to the Jetix block in September 2006. The series celebrates Chinese culture as Jackie, an ancient artifact expert and special government agent, along with his feisty 11-year-old niece Jade and imperfect wizard Uncle, embarks on a global quest to recover powerful artifacts representing the Chinese zodiac, each capable of unleashing a dangerous massive power. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

“Oban Star-Racers,” an animated galactic adventure set in the year 2082, will premiere in June 2006 during Jetix on Toon Disney. The stories follow an alien spaceship that’s arrived to collect Earth’s fastest star-racing heroes for The Greatest Race of Oban, one that only takes place every 10,000 years. Rebellious teenager Molly joins Earth’s racing team, along with Rick Thunderbolt, Jordan, Stan and Koji, for the thrilling adventures. The series is produced by Sav! the World Productions.