Disney, TW Cable Reach Distribution Agreement

Programming from ABC Television, ESPN and the Disney Channel will be available to Time Warner Cable subscribers after a multi-year distribution agreement was reached between the cable giant and The Walt Disney Co. The agreement combines Disney brands with the Time Warner distribution platforms throughout the country, said George Bodenheimer, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of ESPN and ABC Sports. “Together, Disney and Time Warner will provide leading sports, family, news and entertainment content for a fantastic and diverse consumer experience,” Bodenheimer said. The agreement covers ABC Family, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN-HD, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Pay-Per-View, SOAPnet, and Toon Disney. Time Warner launches ESPN2 HD and ESPNU later this year. Three new high-definition services will be available in 2008. Certain shows will be available through the Start Over platform, a service that allows subscribers in certain areas to restart live programming without preplanning or in-home recording device.