BURBANK, Calif. & OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The Disney-ABC Television Group and Sprint (NYSE:S) announced today that Sprint customers can now access a comprehensive portfolio of news and entertainment video programming from ABC Entertainment, ABC News and Disney Channel. The content is available in two forms: on demand and via three “linear” mobile channels, which stream continuous scheduled programming throughout the day.
The following content is now available for the first time ever on mobile:
- On-demand, full-length episodes of ABC programs, including the hit shows “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost” and“Ugly Betty”
- A linear channel with content from Disney Channel, the top-rated kids network
Sprint is also the first carrier to provide ABC Mobile, a newly-created linear mobile channel. ABC Mobile features a variety of popular full-length and short-form news and entertainment content, including full-length episodes of “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost” and “Ugly Betty” as well as ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” “World News with Charles Gibson,” “Nightline,” “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” and other ABC News Specials. Short-form promotional content from ABC Primetime, ABC Daytime and ABC News is also featured.
Additionally, Sprint now offers:
- On-demand full-length ABC News programs including “World News with Charles Gibson” and “Nightline,” as well as a variety of ABC News Specials
- ABC News Now, a 24/7 linear channel that provides live breaking news coverage and a wide range of original news, lifestyle and entertainment shows
Finally, Sprint will soon provide:
- On-demand, full-length episodes of popular Disney Channel programs, including the hit live-action series “Hannah Montana,“ “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and “Cory in the House” as well as the animated series “Kim Possible”
“We are excited to team with Sprint to build out our first-ever, multi-brand wireless offering, utilizing content throughout our Group to bring an extensive, comprehensive array of world-class programming to the mobile marketplace,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney-ABC Television Group. “We continue to be focused on finding new ways to connect viewers to the content they want and brands they love on the platforms they choose. This deal not only provides new viewing opportunities for consumers, but also gives advertisers another platform to reach viewers and associate with our powerful network brands.”
“Through our partnership with Disney-ABC Television Group, Sprint is offering yet another first in the industry and continuing our leadership not only in mobile video services but in wireless data applications as a whole. Customers can now conveniently access their favorite ABC and Disney shows no matter where they are within Sprint’s nationwide wireless broadband network,” said Oliver Valente, senior vice president, product management and development for Sprint. “Customers can watch programs at the airport while waiting for their flight, at the office during lunch and in the thousands of other scenarios where people have some down time and want a news or entertainment break. Disney Channel programming is also great to keep the kids occupied in the car and in many other locations.”
Video-on-demand shows will be available the day after their television premiere. In general, customers will be able to access the four most recently televised episodes of each series. Beginning this fall, selected entertainment and news on-demand content and linear programming will include advertising in order to provide customers with the most variety of content at the least cost to them.
The content from Disney-ABC Television Group is available via Sprint TV on Sprint’s multiple Power Vision devices. All of the content will be included in the Sprint Power Vision TV Pack, which costs an additional $20 per month. The Sprint Power Vision TV Pack also provides 20 other channels of content as well as exclusive entertainment and sports video from Sprint Power View.
Alternatively, content from Disney Channel only, including the on-demand programs and linear channel, will be available in the Power Vision Access Pack, which costs an additional $15 per month. Both Packs also include unlimited use of several other non-video applications such as web browsing, Picture Mail and mobile email (casual usage charges would apply for access to these applications without a data plan).
For more information, visit www.sprint.com/digitallounge or a Sprint retail store. Media can access images of the new content on Sprint phones at www.abcmedianet.com.
About Sprint Video
Sprint has a strong history of providing wireless data services that are innovative and unique, and Sprint’s video offerings are a distinct example of this leadership. Sprint offers more than 50 video and audio channels of live and on-demand programming. Sprint has consistently led mobile video since becoming the first carrier in the United States to launch any type of multimedia experience on mobile phones in 2003, beginning with 1KTV’s video slides and audio. Additionally, Sprint was the first U.S. mobile carrier to:
- Receive an Emmy® Award (Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development from The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences)
- Offer live television programming on mobile phones (MobiTV)
- Produce its own network of exclusive music, entertainment and sports programs (Sprint Power View)
- Broadcast a live concert directly on mobile phones (Bon Jovi)
- Offer full-length movies on mobile phones (mSpot Movies, Sprint Movies)
- Deliver a continuous streaming audio and video product up to 15 frames per second
- Offer a Spanish-language live TV service (Sprint TV En Vivo)
About Disney-ABC Television Group
The Disney-ABC Television Group is home to all of The Walt Disney Company’s worldwide entertainment and news television properties. The Group includes the ABC Television Network, Disney Channel’s worldwide portfolio of kids channels, ABC Family and SOAPnet; as well as television production and syndication divisions ABC Studios, Walt Disney Television Animation, Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Disney-ABC International Television. Disney-ABC Television Group also manages the Radio Disney Network in addition to the Company’s equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Networks.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving 53.6 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2007; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visitwww.sprint.com.