Korean debut for Disney Playhouse

Walt Disney Television International (WDTVI) is continuing the roll-out of its channels in Asia with the launch of preschool service Playhouse Disney Channel in Korea next weekend.

Playhouse will be joining Qrix Communications’ Big Box cable TV service in Seoul on June 12, bringing the total number of Asian launches to four in the space of three months. Playhouse has already debuted in Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia this year.

Aimed at two to five-year olds, the commercial-free line-up has a strong educational slant and contains both live-action and animation programming. Shows due for broadcast in Korea include The Book of Pooh, PB&J Otter, Rolie Polie Olie, Stanley, Bear in the Big Blue House and Bananas in Pyjamas.

In March, president of WDTVI, David Hulbert, revealed plans to take “two or three” kids channels into India this year, and also confirmed talks to launch a branded block in China on public network CCTV-6.