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The Walt Disney Company & Shanghai Media Group Alliance in China

Posted By : Mukesh Dube    At 22-11-2014 01:35:04

Tags : The Walt Disney Company    Shanghai Media Group    

At a meeting in Shanghai this week, The Walt Disney Company in Shanghai and Shanghai Media Group (SMG) announced they would expand their strategic relationship to include television content development, movie co-production, content distribution, and co-operation on marketing. The series of projects represents another significant step by both organizations to develop a vibrant creative content industry and connect with audiences in China and globally.

"The strength of this deepening relationship with Disney, and the volume and diversity of the initiatives that we are pursuing, helps set the foundation of a multi-faceted strategic alliance with Disney," said Mr. Li Ruigang, Chairman, Shanghai Media Group.

"The series of projects we are announcing today represents an exciting new phase in our long-term alliance. We believe that they will serve as the cornerstone of actualizing SMG's vision in applying world-class creative process; contribute towards the success of local content creation for international markets and create new business models across both digital media and traditional spaces. The endeavors will help us to transform the organization and accelerate its path towards digital success," Mr. Li added.

"Disney is committed to providing high quality entertainment experiences to audiences worldwide," said Mr. Robert Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "SMG's spirit of innovaton, diverse platforms, digital destinations and assets provide unparalleled access to that entertainment in China."

Disney and SMG enjoy a long-standing relationship that would be expanded to include television content development, movie co-production, content distribution and marketing cooperation.

Born in China, a new Disneynature film currently in production in China, will showcase to the world the spectacular wildlife and natural beauty of China when it opens at the global box office in 2016.  Disneynature today revealed that the movie includes rare footage of endangered snow leopards. This film is in addition to the previously announced multi-year studio movie script and talent development fund between The Walt Disney Studios and Shanghai Media Group Pictures (SMG Pictures) with the ultimate goal of co-developing Disney-branded movies for US-China co-productions.

Disney is in active discussion with Toonmax to produce a kids' animation series that centers on one of China's most popular cultural icons. By combining the best talent, creative processes, and cultural insights from both sides, Disney and Toonmax will set out to create a top quality show for kids and families with an ambition for global distribution.

In 2013, Disney and BesTV New Media Company Limited (China's number one IPTV operator and the digital media subsidiary of the Shanghai Media Group) agreed to form, and today are in the final steps of registering, a joint venture company in Shanghai that will expand families' and kids' digital choices.

SMG and Disney intend to work closely on a number of marketing initiatives, expanding on their prior collaborations in television and film.

"This unique and far reaching cooperation between Disney and SMG is testimony to the strength of our 15-year relationship and commitment to serving audiences with world class family entertainment," said Mr. Stanley Cheung, Chairman, The Walt Disney Company Greater China.