High School Musical will air on BBC1

[Wonderlicious]

High School Musical Licensed to BBC
Following its record-breaking success in the US, Asia and Australia, and its recent six Emmy® nominations, the smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie “High School Musical” is now set to take UK terrestrial TV by storm. Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), the international TV distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, has licensed the hugely successful made-for-TV musical to the BBC in the UK, for terrestrial TV broadcast on BBC One later this year. This was announced today by Tom Toumazis, executive vice president and managing director, BVITV EMEA and George McGhee, Controller of Programme Acquisitions at the BBC.

Toumazis commented: “We’re pleased to be working with the BBC to launch the magic of High School Musical to terrestrial TV audiences in the UK – following its huge, multi-platform success stateside and elsewhere, we are sure that its appealing, well-drawn characters and storylines and joyful, catchy musical numbers, will capture the imagination of UK viewers.” Said George McGhee: “This is a fun family film and we think it has every potential to capture the imagination of a BBC One audience.”

In the US, the “High School Musical” premiere in January set ratings records for the Disney Channel, and, through 13 airings, has now been seen by over 37 million unduplicated total viewers. In June, the movie premiered on Disney Channels in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia and delivered the best-ever results for a Disney Channel Original Movie in all of these markets. “High School Musical” made its international terrestrial TV debut on July 1 in primetime on Seven Network Australia and was the timeslot winner against all major demos. It is the #1 movie in 2006 for tweens 10-15 delivering a 17.9/67% rating/share and also the #2 movie on Seven Network this year with a 9.5/40% rating/share for the Under 55s.

It will premiere on other international Disney Channels and free TV broadcasters throughout 2006, with its UK Disney Channel premiere set for September. I n the US, the soundtrack is #1 of the year to date, and is now certified triple-platinum, delivering six Gold certified singles since its debut on January 10. In addition to being the year's #1 album thus far, it is also the #1 soundtrack and #1 Kids' album of the year to-date. “High School Musical” is also currently Disney’s biggest TV-based DVD title in the US. “High School Musical” is a contemporary ‘break into song’ production, telling the story of two teens who must learn to believe in themselves despite their high school’s cliques. It follows the story of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, who meet when they are paired for a karaoke contest whilst on vacation. Once they return to East High, Troy, captain of the school's basketball team, and studious Gabriella, who has just transferred in, become friends. And when auditions are announced for the school's musical, the pair decide to try out. When the rest of the school finds out the two polar opposites try out for the musical, it wreaks havoc on East High’s rigid social order. In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the school cliques conspire to keep them from performing.

“High School Musical” is written by Peter Barsocchini and directed and choreographed by the Emmywinning Kenny Ortega (“Dirty Dancing”) with choreographers Charles Klapow and Bonnie Story. Don Schain is the producer and Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush are executive producers. “High School Musical” is from First Street Films and stars Zac Efron (recently cast in the film remake of Hairspray), Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale (“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”), Corbin Bleu (“Jump In!”), Lucas Grabeel (“Return to Halloweentown”), Monique Coleman, Bart Johnson, Oleysa Rulin and Alyson Reed (“A Chorus Line”).

As well as its Emmy nominations, "High School Musical" has won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Children's Programming, and received an Imagen Award nomination and a Humanitas Prize nomination. A sequel to “High School Musical” is planned for 2007.

This agreement was concluded by Catherine Powell, executive director, Sales, UK & Ireland, BVITV EMEA and George McGhee, Controller, Programme Acquisitions at the BBC

http://www.laughingplace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=1319

[drnilescrane]

Disney are being agressive with this film - the Seven Network in Australia aired it a coupple of months ago.

(Just one thing - It's been BBC One for 9 years now and people still use a numeral)

[Wonderlicious]

(Just one thing - It's been BBC One for 9 years now and people still use a numeral)

That's because it's easier to write BBC1 as opposed to BBC One!

[calvin101]

I am ecstatic about this; of course, I'm not expecting the soundtrack to follow the #1 success of America and Australia but media site Digitalspy already seems to be getting behind it; they say they'll be leaking news and interviews in the upcoming weeks.

It's been given a great slot on BBC One; it's a feelgood family movie so stick it on close to Christmas in an early evening slot when the nights have drawn in and TV viewing figures are traditionally larger.

I think rather than endless trails on terrestrial, they should focus on bigging it up as a cult hit in the printed media and online; publications like that seem to love that term. Disney channel on the other hand which has more freedom with its trailers is going great guns, they're running clips of the songs (I saw 'Breaking Free') and must have been doing so for well over a month now. Hey, it got my interest in the film so it must be working!

[Hogi Bear]

I've been wanting to see this film and thought I'd have to hire it, but I just checked the TV guide and it's on tomorrow night (Saturday), TV2 (in New Zealand) at 7:00 pm, so I can't wait to watch it. A few years a go they use to have a Disney film at 7 pm every Saturday, but discontinued it and made it lunch time Sunday (although I think this has also discontinued), so hopefully next week will be another Disney.