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ABC, Disney Channel, more coming to mobile devices for Comcast subscribers
Burbank-based Walt Disney Company and cable company Comcast Wednesday announced a 10-year agreement to distribute the entertainment giant’s content on many more screens than it occupies now.
The distribution deal covers devices from widescreen TVs to game consoles to smart phones.
In a statement, the companies say the agreement “advances the successful multichannel business model.” In other words, Disney and Comcast expect to make a lot of money from plans that allow Comcast Xfinity TV subscribers to watch entertainment, news and sports programming live or on demand — wherever they and their screens may be.
The movable feast of content includes ABC and its ABC Family Channel, the Disney Channel and a soon-to-launch preschool spinoff called Disney Junior, ESPN sports channels in English and Spanish and content from seven Disney owned-and-operated local TV stations from New York to San Francisco. That last detail suggests how much the media landscape has changed.
Aside from its cable interests, Comcast owns the NBC TV network. Disney and Comcast didn’t disclose terms of the deal; they’ll roll out revised subscriber fees in the months ahead.