Disney channels to debut on Star India

Two Disney channels are heading to India after the company’s Asia Pacific arm struck a distribution deal with News Corp-owned digital satellite provider Star.

The Disney Channel and Toon Disney Channel will launch in the country on 17 December after following a multi-year agreement between Walt Disney Television International Asia Pacific and Star.

WDTVI-AP and Walt Disney International executive vp Doug Miller said Disney’s strong brand affinity in India made it a natural market for the company to launch the Disney Channel, as well as introducing the region’s first glimpse of the Toon Disney Channel.

The company said India’s urban areas alone had some 30m cable and satellite viewers aged under 14, offering one of the largest kids TV audiences in the world.