WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Walt Disney company said Thursday it had concluded a major entertainment licensing deal with Russian state broadcaster Channel One regarding popular US television shows, films and animated productions.
Disney did not disclose financial terms, but said the deal enables Channel One to start broadcasting well-known Disney productions across Russia. The US media giant said Russia had become one of its key markets in recent years.
"Our partnership will not be limited to movies acquisitions but will be broadened towards the joint production of movies and shows here in Russia," Konstantin Ernst, Channel One's general manager, said in a statement.
Disney officials described the tie up as an important milestone. It follows a good year for Disney in Russia, after its "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" film release won box office success in the country.
The venture will offer Russian television viewers a broad menu of Disney-produced shows and films including "Wild Hogs," and the popular animated film "Finding Nemo."
The agreement also paves the way for Disney animated classics, including "The Jungle Book" and "Peter Pan," to be broadcast on Russian state TV for the first time.
Disney's international TV licensing arm, Disney-ABC International Television, secured the deal with Channel One.
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