Disney Junior Will Launch Saturday, July 14 to Millions of DIRECTV Customers Nationwide

BURBANK, Calif. & EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DIRECTV and Disney have reached a new agreement to add Disney Junior, a 24-hour channel expressly for kids age 2-7 and their parents/caregivers, to DIRECTV’s programming lineup beginning tomorrow on channel 289. Disney Junior launched in 2011 as a daytime programming block on Disney Channel and expanded to a 24/7 channel in 2012. It is one of the most sought after channels by DIRECTV customers and will be permanently added to their programming options as a basic channel.

“Our customers have been clamoring for us to add Disney Junior since they first heard about the concept, and DIRECTV is happy to place our trust in Disney as a partner in building this exciting new family service.”

Disney Junior's animated and live action programming blends Disney's unparalleled storytelling and beloved characters with learning components, including early math and language skills, as well as healthy eating and lifestyles, with an emphasis on social and emotional development. The original series include “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” “Doc McStuffins,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “A Poem Is…,” “Handy Manny,” “Little Einsteins” and “Special Agent Oso.” Disney Junior also airs Walt Disney Studios’ and Pixar’s classic and contemporary animated films, as well as Disney’s many non-theatrical sequels so popular with children and parents.

“When it comes to children and families, nobody has the tremendous programming to compare with Disney,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president of Content Strategy and Development for DIRECTV. “Our customers have been clamoring for us to add Disney Junior since they first heard about the concept, and DIRECTV is happy to place our trust in Disney as a partner in building this exciting new family service.”

“We are pleased to reach this agreement with DIRECTV to provide Disney Junior’s high quality, valuable and family-friendly programming to their customers,” said David Preschlack, executive vice president, Disney & ESPN Affiliate Sales and Marketing. “We know parents are passionate about having top quality television options for their families, and now millions will be able to watch outstanding preschool programming on a 24/7 channel unlike any other on television. With the addition of DIRECTV, the 24-hour Disney Junior channel has distribution agreements that cover approximately 55 million U.S. households.”

Disney Media Networks’ flagship Disney Channel is fast becoming the most popular programming service among DIRECTV homes. The number of children viewers aged 2 through 11 has surged more than 19 percent in the past year alone, and total viewership has increased 15 percent during those same 12 months. Disney Junior will now take a place in the DIRECTV channel guide directly adjacent to Disney Channel at channel 289.

About DIRECTV: DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is one of the world’s leading providers of digital television entertainment services delivering a premium video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to 33 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.9 million customers access to more than 170 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality sound, access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET™, Emmy-award winning technology and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for 11 years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to 12 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 60 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit www.directv.com.

About Disney Junior:

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior’s series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network's biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49, increasing by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels. On March 23, 2012 Disney Junior added a cable and satellite channel in the U.S. bringing the total number of channels to 30 worldwide.