"This is a great example of how Disney Online can create original content that uniquely appeals to families, and particularly moms," stated Paul Yanover, executive vice president and managing director, Disney Online. "'The Possibility Shop' places high-quality original video in an immersive online environment filled with art projects and activities as well as ideas for families to take the fun offline to find their own adventures."

"'The Possibility Shop' fulfills a lifelong goal I've had of empowering families to embrace daily opportunities to be creative and to boost their confidence that they can make something wonderful together," said Courtney Watkins.

Brimming with a zillion things to discover, ponder, decorate, create, play, imagine, investigate and giggle about, "The Possibility Shop" is an extraordinary new Web site. Families everywhere will get in on the fun by joining host and store proprietor Courtney Watkins as she teaches and demonstrates how to turn ordinary afternoons into extraordinary creative adventures for the whole family.

About Courtney Watkins

Artist, author, actress, teacher, mom, TV personality and creative guru, Courtney Watkins is at the center of "The Possibility Shop." Courtney faces creative challenges, introduces new ideas, demonstrates how-to-techniques, seeks answers to befuddling questions and all the while unearths the "Aha!" moments hidden in a child's every day. Revealing creative ideas for art, games, conversations, experiments, inventions, decorations and explorations, Courtney energizes viewers to pursue limitless fun, on-your-own, at-home activities.

About Disney Online

Disney Online (www.Disney.com or text MOBILE to DISNEY*) a unit of Disney Interactive Media Group, produces the No. 1 ranked community-family and parenting destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1996, Disney.com is the online and now mobile web gateway to all of the company's Disney-branded entertainment initiatives, providing comprehensive access to, and information about Disney movies, travel, television, games, music, shopping and live events.

The Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio is a leading group of sites that provide inspiration and ideas for parents on a variety of topics important to today's families, including easy recipes, crafts, traveling with children, pregnancy, and parenting. Other sites in the Portfolio include Kaboose.com, FamilyFun.com and BabyZone.com.

About The Jim Henson Company

The Jim Henson Company is an established leader in family entertainment, known for its innovation in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. The Company's credits include "Sid the Science Kid," "Dinosaur Train," "Pajanimals," "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," "Fraggle Rock" and "Farscape."

Headquartered in Los Angeles and independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop(TM), a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. www.henson.com

*Msg. & data rates may apply. If you're under 18, get your parents' permission first.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6106060&lang=en

SOURCE: Disney Interactive Media Group

Disney Online 
Media Contact: 
Brandy Phillips, 818-623-3764 
Brandy.Phillips@Disney.com

"Disney's ongoing commitment to local content development underpins our strategy to connect with new audiences around the world," said Mr. Jason Reed, general manager, Walt Disney Studios International Production. "Our local team has done an amazing job and we are fortunate to be building on the Disney Channel's success by working with a world class cast and crew led by our producer Janet Yang and visionary director Shi Zheng Chen.

"The choice of the right stories and best local partners is key to the success of our localization strategy. Shanghai Media Group and Huayi Brothers Media Corporation are leaders in their field and their involvement and contribution to this project is invaluable," added Mr. Reed.

In 2007, the Studio's first Disney branded local co-production, the award-winning, "The Magic Gourd" was released, followed by "Roadside Romeo" from India in 2008, "Trail of the Panda" (China 2009) and the feature film, "Book of Masters" (Russian 2009), based on a classic Russian fairy tale which opened in first place at the box office in October. Disney's sixth local production "Zokkomon" is currently in development in India and is expected to open in 2010.

"Chinese audiences enjoy great storytelling. "Disney High School Musical: China" promotes classic values of teamwork, optimism, friendship, pride and the spirit of self discovery which have made HSM a worldwide phenomenon and further cements Disney's position as a family entertainment brand in China," said Mr. Stanley Cheung, executive vice president and managing director, The Walt Disney Company Greater China.

"Disney High School Musical: China" is being filmed in Shanghai and features six new young stars drawn from across China.

Ms. Yang Wenhong, head of SMG's Film and TV Drama Centre said, "High School Musical is a brand recognized and is beloved by kids and families globally. For SMG, this is a whole new experience to develop a China version by working with Disney and Huayi Brothers. Through our collaboration, we hope we can also bring the musical genre to movie goers here as well."

"Disney HSM: China is destined to pioneer a new genre for young Chinese moviegoers by seamlessly combining the art forms of dance, music and film together with valuable themes like teamwork, youthful energy and friendship," said Huayi Brothers Media Corporation President James Wang.

CHEN SHI-ZHENG (director), one of China's leading stage and film directors, most recently helmed "The Coronation of Poppea" for English National Opera. His other Western operatic credits include "Vespers of 1610," "Orfeo" (a nominee for a Laurence Olivier Award), "Cosi fan Tutte," "Dido and Aeneas," and "The Flying Dutchman." Born in Changsha, Hunan, China, Chen made his directorial debut in 1996 with "The Bacchae" for the China National Beijing Opera Company. In 1999, his landmark 19-hour production of "The Peony Pavilion" was hailed as one of the most important theatrical events of the Twentieth Century. Additional directing credits include the operas "Monkey: Journey to the West," "Orphan of Zhao," "Snow in June," "Peach Blossom Fan," and "Night Banquet." His first feature film, "Dark Matter," was an official entry at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Alfred P. Sloan Award. In 2000, Chen was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

JANET YANG (producer) has worked in the film industry for more than two decades, played an important role in bringing Hollywood films to China, and been associated with some of the best known directors and actors in the world. From 1989 - 1996, she served as president of Ixtlan, the company she ran with Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone, and spearheaded all aspects of the company's development and production. Prior to that, she worked closely with Steven Spielberg and his Amblin Entertainment as a production executive at MCA/Universal. While at Universal, she initiated the project "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story." Representing several of the top Hollywood Studios, she brokered the sale of the first American movies sold in the Chinese Market. Named one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood" by the Hollywood Reporter, and featured in articles in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Variety, Harper's Bazaar, Yang's resume also includes Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun," Milos Forman's "The People vs. Larry Flynt," and Wayne Wang's "The Joy Luck Club." She continues to produce films under her long-time banner, "The Manifest Film Company."

About The Walt Disney Company in China

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a diversified international family entertainment enterprise with five business segments and is a Dow 30 company with revenues of nearly $38 billion in its most recent fiscal year. Our first animation screened in China in the 1930s and today our long association continues with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with over 600 employees.

About High School Musical

Disney's "High School Musical" premiered in January 2006 on Disney Channel U.S. and posted the highest ever ratings for a Disney Channel Original Movie at the time. It went on to become a smash hit internationally, airing on Disney Channels and free-to-air broadcasters worldwide. To-date, it has reached more than 290 million viewers, in over 30 languages, across 100 countries including India, China and Russia. The "High School Musical" soundtrack was the #1 album of 2006 and the DVD was the year's #1 TV movie on DVD. "High School Musical" also delivered licensed amateur and professional touring stage productions, a best-selling junior novel, a popular consumer products franchise at mass retailers, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris, and a sold-out 42 date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America. Its critically acclaimed sequel, "High School Musical 2," ranks as the #1 basic cable telecast of all time (18.6 million viewers for its August 17, 2007 premiere) and thus far has been seen by nearly 300 million total viewers, in over 30 languages, around the world. The "High School Musical 2" soundtrack is triple Platinum and its DVD release was the top-selling TV property on DVD for 2007. Walt Disney Pictures debuted "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" in October 2008. Its premiere weekend box office sales marked the highest debut ever for a musical and for a live-action G-rated film and it grossed $250 million at the worldwide box office. Disney Channel will bring the franchise back to television with the debut of "High School Musical East Meets West" in 2011.

About Shanghai Media Group

Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is the second largest media conglomerate in China and one of the most influential players in the Chinese-language media and entertainment group. SMG has the most complete portfolio of media and related businesses including television, radio, print media, new media, content distribution, performing arts, movie and film investment and production, home shopping, education and training.

SMG operates 13 TV channels, 11 radio frequencies, 9 newspapers and magazines, 30 digital TV channels (16 nationwide and 14 in Shanghai local areas) and broadband Internet TV, mobile TV and IPTV. SMG's prime-time TV and radio penetration rates top 70% and 90% respectively in Shanghai, and has become the largest content and service provider and distributor of Chinese language programs in China.

About Huayi Brothers Media Corporation

Founded in 1994, the Huayi Brothers Media Corporation is now the biggest privately-owned media and entertainment group in China. It gained approval in October 2009 for its listing on China's Growth Enterprise Market, and was the first entertainment company to receive IPO approval in China. Its diversified lines of business include: film production and distribution, TV series production and distribution, talent management, music production, theatrical exhibition etc.

Huayi Brothers' film production arm is known for its market-oriented approach to filmmaking and distribution. In recent years, it produced titles such as "A World Without Thieves," "The Banquet," "Assembly," "The Forbidden Kingdom," "If You are the One" and "The Message," which all won critical acclaim and topped the Chinese box office charts.

SOURCE Walt Disney Studios

James A. Rasulo, Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts and a 23-year Disney veteran, will become Senior Executive Vice President and Disney's Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, Rasulo will oversee the company's worldwide finance organization, corporate strategy and development, brand management, corporate alliances, investor relations, treasury and risk management activities, controller functions, information systems, corporate responsibility, real estate and taxes.

Both will remain members of the senior management group reporting to Iger.

"Jay and Tom are both dynamic and versatile executives, who have done a great job over the last several years and have helped me to shape Disney's strategic direction," Iger said. "By giving them exciting new challenges that build on both their strengths at a time when each of their respective areas are on the right strategic track, the change is good for them and good for the company."

"For over a decade, I've had a unique opportunity to build our business by collaborating with a group of great executives running a wide range of media and travel businesses," said Staggs. "Taking the operational reins of one of our biggest and most complex businesses during the period of rapid global expansion launched by Jay is tremendously exciting and a challenge I'm really looking forward to."

"It's been a tremendous honor to lead the almost 100,000 Cast Members, Crew Members and Imagineers during a period of unprecedented investment at Disney Parks and Resorts," said Rasulo. "I look forward to building on Tom's success as CFO by working with Bob to advance Disney's growth strategy, while continuing to strengthen our balance sheet and create shareholder value."

((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))

Skyrunners follows teenage brothers Tyler and Nick Burns who commandeer a small UFO that crashes near their town. Soon Tyler develops superhuman abilities and the brothers are pursued by the enigmatic Agent Armstrong of the National Space Security Command. When Tyler and Nick uncover an ominous alien plot it's up to them to save Earth from destruction. Linda Kash (Cinderella Man, Full-Court Miracle), Conrad Coates (Kyle XY), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (The Bold and the Beautiful) and Canadian Nathan Stephenson (Degrassi: The Next Generation) also star.

Skyrunners is directed by Ralph Hemecker (Witchblade) and written by Richard C. Okie (Quantum Leap, Earth: Final Conflict) who also executive produced. The alien creatures featured in Skyrunners are designed by the Academy Award(R)-winning Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia).

Skyrunners is the kind of high-quality, exclusive title from Disney that Canadian families have come to expect from Family. Family Channel's broadcasts of the best of Disney consistently draw record numbers of viewers, contributing to Family's number-one status with 8-14 year olds for five years running(1). Recent ratings successes include the Canadian premiere of the Disney original movie Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie, which was the second-highest non-sports broadcast on Canadian specialty television(2) when it aired in August 2009, and the Fall 2009 premiere of Zeke and Luther, which became the highest-rated series premiere ever on Family Channel(3).

Family Channel is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in 6 million homes across Canada. Dedicated to celebrating family life and providing a fun experience for all, Family airs a unique mix of series, movies and specials, with a large portion of programming supplied by Disney. Family Channel also offers Family OnDemand in select areas, a Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service that features hit Disney movies and series, top-rated Canadian series and Playhouse Disney programming. Visit us at Family.ca.

Family Channel is an Astral Television Network. Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. For more information about Astral Media, please visit www.astralmedia.com.

    <<
    NOTE: Skyrunners star Kelly Blatz will be in Toronto on
          Tuesday, November 24 for media interviews, subject to availability.

    For access to Family Channel's media room, please visit
    http://tv.astral.com

    (1)  Source: BBM Mark II Sept 2004-August 2009, PPM Wks 1-10 0910
    (2)  Source: BBM/NMR (Infosys Mark II): P2+ AMA Total Canada 928,300 -
         August 28 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - Family Channel. Confirmed data.
    (3)  Source: BBM/NMR (Infosys Mark II): P2+ AMA Total Canada 587,400 -
         August 28 - 9:30 p.m. ET/PT - Family Channel. Confirmed data.
    >>

SOURCE: Family Channel

SOURCE: News - Media

SOURCE: ASTRAL MEDIA INC.

Geneviève Parent at (416) 956-8547 or gparent@tv.astral.com