'Jump In' Hits A Note For Disney Channel

'Jump In!' Disney Channel’s recent addition to the DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) stable has proved another hit, following the recent successful premieres of 'Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior' and the global phenomenon 'High School Musical'.
Across the premiere weekend (April 27-29) Jump In!, starring Corbin Bleu of High School Musical fame, reached 1.2 million individuals (4+) and achieved the highest average audience for a DCOM in 2007. Over half a million (543,000) individuals (4+) and almost 350,000 (4-15), kids tuned in to watch the Jump In! premiere on the Disney Channel multiplex (Disney Channel and Disney Channel +1), outperforming CBBC. The Disney Channel premiere on April 27 at 6pm, ranked number one in the competitive set among all kids in pay TV homes, achieving four times the share among kids (4-15) compared to the nearest competitor.
Rob Gilby, Managing Director of Disney Channel UK, Scandinavia and Emerging Markets commented: "Disney Channel Original Movies are seen as the industry gold standard when it comes to ‘tween movies. The performance of Jump In! has lived up to this reputation, demonstrating that our original movies continue to connect with today’s kids, ‘tweens and their families, and it doesn’t stop there! Viewers can look forward to the highly anticipated second instalment of High School Musical later this year. The continued success of DCOMs is testament to the strength and universal appeal of this genre."
Jump In! currently ranks No. 1 among kids (4-15) in the top 30 films aired in multi channel homes in 2007 (January – April) and holds the number two position in the top ten UK DCOMS of all time.
Since 1997 Disney Channel has presented over 70 movie titles in the DCOM genre. In line with Disney Channel brand values the original movies reflect universal issues to which tweens and their families can relate, common strands including music, dance and self expression.
The success of Jump In! follows in the footsteps of Wendy Wu which aired in January 2007 and dominated the kids evening schedule, rating No. 1 in its time slot for kids (4-15) and all individuals (4+) across competitor kids’ channels.
However, the number one DCOM of all time is the double Emmy award winning High School Musical which took the global tween market by storm reaching over 100 million viewers in over 100 countries. In the UK alone the movie reached a total of 9.4 million people. The hit DCOM’s success permeated all lines of business with a certified double platinum soundtrack and the DVD became one of the top selling titles across EMEA. Parents have also embraced the High School Musical phenomenon, taking it into the top 30 movies of the year on UK television for all individuals.
The continued success of Disney Channel Original Movies coincides with the recent news that Disney Channel has enjoyed a 60% increase in audience share since its strategic move into the Sky and Virgin Media basic packages one year ago.
(DS/SP)