 |
       |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
Disney prepares for UK Club Penguin Disney is opening up an office in the UK dedicated to bringing a British version of its Club Penguin kids virtual world to market by the middle of next year.  The Mouse is recruiting for an outcrop in the southern English coastal town, Brighton, out of which it will service its first localised version of the business it acquired earlier this year for up to US$700m.The company plans to take the newly-hired employees to Club Penguin central in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada in January for what it describes as immersive training ahead of the UK launch. The original Club Penguin was launched in October 2005 by a trio of Canadian dads, Lane Merrifield, Dave Krysko and Lance Priebe. Disney snapped up the site in August this year by which time it had some 12 million registered users, 700,000 of where were described as active, with parents paying either US$5.95 per month or US$57.95 a year, depending on their subscription. The Mouse paid US$350m upfront, with the same again to follow over the next few years if it hits targets, beating other interested parties including Time Warner's AOL to a deal. Club Penguin is one among Disney's expanding universe of virtual worlds, which includes Toontown, DisneyFairies and Pirates of the Caribbean. Pixar properties Cars and Toy Story have also be identified for potential virtual extension. "Club Penguin has already attracted a significant audience in the UK with its North American service, but we believe there is a real demand in this market for a safe online community destination for children that has local relevance," said Walt Disney Internet Group, EMEA, senior VP and MD Cindy Rose. Jonathan Webdale 30 Nov 2007 © C21 Media 2007 
C21 Home | C21 Kids Home | Printer Friendly | Email a Friend |
|
|
|
|
|
|
