THE DISNEY-ABC TELEVISION GROUP ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF STAGE 9 DIGITAL MEDIA, AN EXPERIMENTAL NEW MEDIA CONTENT STUDIO

The Disney-ABC Television Group
announced today the highly anticipated launch of Stage 9 Digital Media. Focused
on creating original short-form programming by merging innovative creativity
with superior production quality, the studio’s experimental new media
content premieres with the comedy series “Squeegees” in a
co-exclusive premiere on ABC.com and YouTube on February 28, 2008. The
series’ initial run will be sponsored by Toyota.

“An
integral part of our overall digital strategy, Stage 9 was created to bridge
the gap between user-generated content and traditional production, and is a
perfect example of how we are continually looking at innovative methods to
develop, produce, market and distribute the high-quality programming that
consumers demand,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks,
and president, Disney-ABC Television Group. “By partnering with extremely
talented creative individuals and producing in a variety of genres, Stage 9 has
the ability and positioning to put experimental new media content on the
map.”

Barry
Jossen, an Academy Award-winning short-form producer and studio executive, has
been tapped as general manager of Stage 9. The studio has an active slate of
more than 20 programs in comedy, drama, animation and reality ranging from
traditional linear episodic storytelling to fully immersive interactive content
geared toward the trend-setting A18-34 demographic. Working with emerging
talent from the online community, Stage 9 is squarely focused on content
creation, smartly distributing its programming through top broadband video
sites, online social networks, mobile, and download services in order to
maximize user accessibility and exposure. Additionally, the studio will
collaborate with the company’s Disney-ABC International Television on
global digital distribution of its content.

“While the new media
space is loaded with UGC, we feel the audience is missing the quality
experience found in other forms of exhibition, and we are answering their need,”
said Jossen. “This creative frontier gives us the opportunity to develop
new franchises, discover and develop talent and, most importantly, expand the
standard of excellence set by our parent company in creating superior episodic
programming with great stories and production values.” Jossen, who
continues his role as executive vice president of ABC Studios, overseeing
production, has produced both award-winning films and television series, and
received his Academy Award for the Live Action Short Film, “Dear
Diary.”

“Digital media has
leveled the playing field, opening doors for anyone to have immediate and
unlimited access to an audience,” said Mark Pedowitz,
president, ABC Studios, who has oversight of the new Stage 9 Digital Media
Studio. “But content must evolve with the platform. Stage 9 gives us
the freedom to experiment with creativity and innovation, while pioneering
state-of-the-art business models in this exciting new market.”

Beginning today, the
studio’s first release, “Squeegees,” is available exclusively
on ABC.com and YouTube, with its initial run sponsored by Toyota. “We are so grateful about how
this partnership has evolved. From the very beginning the folks at ABC.com,
YouTube and Toyota
have collaborated to make ‘Squeegees’ and its launch a special
event in this dynamic industry,” said Jossen. “For
YouTube, their expansion into original professional
content further establishes their reputation as the leading online video
community. We cannot thank Toyota
enough for its confidence in the potential of original content. Finally,
ABC.com continues its visionary efforts in expanding its brand on-line.”

“By partnering with
popular YouTube content creators, Stage 9 is developing a new model that will
change online video production as we know it,” said Jordan Hoffner, head
of premium content partnerships for YouTube. “To have a storied company
like Disney-ABC make new content for the YouTube community is quite
groundbreaking and reflective of their unwavering imagination and
YouTube’s position as the home for quality professional video.”

“For the launch of the
all-new Corolla, comedy is a major strategic pillar to engage young, ambitious
buyers.  The high quality, fresh online content of ‘Squeegees’
is a terrific fit,” said Kim McCullough, corporate manager of marketing
communications for Toyota.

“Squeegees” comes
from the brilliant minds of the comedy team Handsome Donkey, dubbed
“Online Auteurs” by the NY Times. "Squeegees” is a
character-driven ensemble comedy about entrepreneurial slackers and their
fledging window washing business. New “Squeegees” episodes will
debut every Monday and Friday on both sites. “Squeegees” was
created, executive produced and stars Handsome Donkey principals Adam Countee,
Brendan Countee, Marc Gilbar and Aaron Greenberg.

“Working with Stage 9 on
‘Squeegees’ was an awesome experience,” said Handsome Donkey.
“They gave us creative control, abundant resources and a lovely gift
basket filled with exotic jams and biscuits.”

The studio’s roll out of
new short-form programming will continue with “Voicemail 2,” the
second season of ABC.com’s first original series inspired by one
man’s decade-long collection of phone messages. The never-before-seen
humorous snippets capture an uncanny insight into the life of a 20-something
male slacker in pursuit of happiness… with no responsibility. 
“Voicemail 2” is executive produced by Angela Mancuso.

Also slated to debut this
spring is the original science fiction action thriller “Trenches,”
from Shane Felux, the critically-acclaimed filmmaker and creator of
“Pitching George Lucas” and “Star Wars Revelations,”
which became online sensations. Set in another time, on another planet,
“Trenches” begins in the waning days of a grueling war. A botched
rescue attempt forces a young soldier and his unit to team up with their enemy
to survive a brutal threat and escape the planet.

Stage 9 is part of Disney-ABC
Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company. This
venture is part of the Disney-ABC Television Group’s overall digital
media, multiplatform business initiative and demonstrates the Group’s
ongoing commitment to launching new digital products and working with strategic
partners in the digital media space to make its high-quality, informative and
entertaining content available to consumers whenever and wherever they choose.