13th October, 2008, London – Microsoft and Disney-ABC-ESPN Television, the international distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, today announced their first European agreement, to offer content from Stage 9 Digital Media, the new media content studio from The Disney-ABC Television Group, to MSN Video viewers across Europe. The partnership covers two short form scripted comedy series – “Squeegees” and “Voicemail.”
The agreement, which is Disney-ABC-ESPN Television’s first Europe-wide distribution deal for Stage 9 programming, reflects the growing popularity of the internet as an entertainment and video platform. Major Hollywood studios such as The Walt Disney Company are producing breakthrough content specifically for the internet and partnering with established web brands such as MSN to connect with their large, engaged audiences and advertiser base, across multiple platforms.
Geoff Sutton, General Manager, MSN Europe, said, “We want to give European consumers the best web based entertainment available and working with innovators such as Disney’s Stage 9 helps us to do this. People are changing the way they consume media – they love the way they can snack on content online and spend time with quick fix entertainment just like Squeegees and Voicemail that we’re offering as part of today’s announcement. This type of content helps us create even more engagement between our audience and advertisers.”
Ben Pyne, President, Global Distribution, Disney Media Networks said, “We are committed to working with international partners who are equally strong in the new media space to make our content easily available globally to the digital generation. With one of the largest online audiences in Europe, MSN provides a great home for Stage 9 Digital Media’s made-for-web programming.”
The series “Squeegees” will be available on MSN in the UK from 13th October with availability in France, Germany, Spain and Sweden following shortly, along with “Voicemail.” The snack-sized comedy series are all original ideas from the brilliant minds at Stage 9, offering everything from a voyeur’s look into the world that hangs just outside your window from the Squeegees crew to insight into the life of ‘Mike’ through his voicemail messages – there’s something for everyone to watch and share:
Squeegees
Squeegees comes from the comedy team Handsome Donkey, dubbed ‘Online Auteurs’ by the NY Times. Intrigue, betrayal and redemption reign supreme high above the city’s skyline, where four window washers will swing open the curtain on the voyeuristic world that hangs just outside your window.
Voicemail
This series of short-form episodes, running over two seasons, was inspired by one man’s decade-long collection of phone messages. Voicemail captures an insight into the life of a 20-something make slacker in pursuit of happiness and the avoidance
of responsibility.
Microsoft:
For more information, please contact:
EMEA PR Team, The Red Consultancy
redmsnintl@redconsultancy.com/ +44 (0)207 025 6419
Ngaire Moyes, PR Director, Consumer and Online, Microsoft EMEA
ngairem@microsoft.com/ +44 (0) 7967 235 561
Disney:
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Hird, Director, Corporate Communications, Disney-ABC-ESPN Television
Sarah.hird@disney.com +44 (0)208 222 1724
About Disney-ABC-ESPN Television
Disney-ABC-ESPN Television is the EMEA and Canada television content distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company. In EMEA, it licenses 24 Disney-branded Channels and 8 ESPN channels, Jetix Europe’s 15 channels, and over 30,000 hours of programming to over 1300 broadcasters across 240 territories worldwide. Disney-ABC-ESPN Television distributes a portfolio of motion pictures from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, network TV series, TV movies and miniseries, Disney-branded kids programming, ABC Daytime and ABC News programming as well as the Annual Academy Awards®. The company also services the distribution of the Jetix Europe portfolio internationally.
About MSN and Windows Live
MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localised versions available globally in 42 markets including 18 in EMEA. MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live™, a comprehensive set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. Windows Live services can be found at http://ideas.live.com/. Live Search is available at http://www.live.com/.
About Microsoft Corporation
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Stage 9 Digital Media
Stage 9 is part of Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. This venture is part of the Disney-ABC Television Group's overall digital media, multiplatform business initiative and demonstrates the Group's ongoing commitment to launching new digital products and working with strategic partners in the digital media space to make its high-quality, informative and entertaining content available to consumers whenever and wherever they choose.
