Disney Channel Announce Senior Promotions

In recognition of Disney Channel’s successful performance over the past year, the Channel has announced a raft of senior promotions across the business:

• Casper Bjorner is promoted to VP Marketing, UK, Scandinavia and Emerging Markets. He will also assume the role of Deputy MD Scandinavia and Emerging Markets.
  


• Jonathan Boseley is promoted to VP, Programming, UK Scandinavia and Emerging Markets.
  


• Nick Fuggle is promoted to Executive Director, Business Operations and Finance, UK Scandinavia and Emerging Markets.
  

All continue to report to Rob Gilby, Managing Director of Disney Channel UK, Scandinavia and Emerging Markets, who commented: "I would like to thank the team for all their work in making the last year Disney Channel’s most successful yet. The promotions recognise their individual achievements and the critical part they will play in building the Disney Channel brand going forward."
Over the past year Disney Channel’s management team has been responsible for implementing a number of strategic Channel and programme launches which have contributed to the Channel’s growth not only domestically but across Europe and the Emerging Markets.
This March, Disney Channel UK celebrated the one year anniversary of its strategic move into the Sky and Virgin Media basic packages and the launch of Disney Cinemagic, which is now the leading premium film channel for kids. Since the move, Disney Channel has enjoyed a 60% increase in audience share.
Disney Channel’s growth can also be seen across the Emerging Market territories. In September 2006, Disney Channel launched in South Africa, quickly establishing itself as the number one channel among the kids set in Multi Channel homes. Hot on the heels of this successful launch, Disney Channel launched in Poland where it ranks #1 among kids 4-15.
In addition to these two Channel launches, October 2006 saw Disney Channel extend its pre-school offering with the launch of Playhouse Disney in Scandinavia - the first dedicated pre-school channel in this territory.
Domestically, Disney Channel UK has successfully launched two franchise properties - the worldwide phenomenon High School Musical, which has been seen by over 73 million viewers across EMEA, and hit live action show Hannah Montana – the most successful live action launch of 2006. The popularity of Hannah Montana was recently demonstrated when Miley Cyrus, star of the hit show, made her first ever UK appearance resulting in the biggest ever DVD signing at HMV Oxford Street and 70,000 calls to obtain for tickets to her first UK gig at Koko in London.
(DS)