Playhouse Disney launches on Korean cable diginet

Walt Disney Television International is to launch its preschool channel Playhouse Disney in Korea, on CJ CableNet.

Playhouse Disney, the only 24-hour pre-school channel in Asia, will be available on Hello D, the digital platform of CJ CableNet, the Korean nationwide cable TV operator.

The channel launched in Korea last June on the Big Box Cable TV service. It will be available on CJ Cablenet.

Raymond Miranda, managing director of Walt Disney Television International, said:

“There’s an estimated 3.5 million preschool-aged children in Korea. And according to the 2003 Korean Background Report, 1.2 million children five years old and below were enrolled in kindergarten and child care centres in Korea. This is the huge audience we are seeking to serve through Playhouse Disney Channel.”

The launch of Playhouse Disney Channel on CJ Cablenet comes at a time of growth for the digital cable industry in Korea. According to the Korea Cable TV Association (KCTA), there is a projected subscriber base of 352,000 for digital cable this year.

That figure is estimated to increase to over 834,000 in 2006 and to more than double to 1.8 million by 2007. KCTA estimates digital cable subscription in Korea to reach 6.5 million by 2010.