The Disney Channel held is presentation at the Television Critics Association Press Tour. This annual event allows the television networks to showcase their products to the top television critics and newswriters. It is also a great time to make announcments and this time was no exception. Here is a rundown
Following the premiere of High School Musical 2 on August 17th will be a preview episode of "Phineas and Ferb" "In this inventive series from Walt Disney Television Animation, there is no such thing as an ordinary summer day, as step-brothers Phineas and Ferb take their dreams to extremes by building a gigantic roller coaster in their backyard, among other escapades. They always end up cramping the style of their teenage sister, Candice, who attempts to rat them out to their mom, only she's somehow left with no evidence to bust her brothers. Meanwhile, the family's simple-minded pet platypus, Perry, leads a double life as a secret agent and faces off with the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz in each episode. The voice cast is: Vincent Martella ("Everybody Hates Chris") as Phineas, Thomas Sangster ("Nanny McPhee") as Ferb, Ashley Tisdale ("High School Musical 2," "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody") as Candice, Caroline Rhea ("Sabrina, the Teenage Witch") as Mom, Richard O’Brian (creator of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show") as Dad, Mitchel Musso ("Hannah Montana") as Jeremy and Dee Baker ("American Dad!") as Perry."
Following "Phineas and Ferb" will be a new episode of "Hannah Montana" that guest stars the Jonas Brothers. When High School Musical 2 reairs on Saturday, August 18th, it will have a interactive element called "Wildcat Chat" and on Sunday, August 19th it will be a sing-a-long.
Speaking of High School Musical, "In Fall 2007, Disney Channel will present a special telecast entitled "High School Musical: The Music in You," a documusical from two-time Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County, USA," "American Dream"). Kopple followed the month-long process of Fort Worth, Texas students producing a stage adaptation of Disney's "High School Musical," capturing with her camera the auditions, rehearsals and performances and how students balanced it with the rest of their lives." This special coincides with a new Disney Chanell/NAMM(the folks that hold that big convention in Anaheim each year) that will provide grants to schools that willpay for the rights and technical support required to perform musical performances.
Disney also highlighted online and mobile features supporting High School Musical 2:
"This week, Disney.com kicks off several exclusive entertainment features, including the world premiere of the music video "You Are the Music In Me" from the movie's soundtrack. Another musical number that blends elements of swing, jitterbug, hip hop and rap with baseball and dance will be previewed Friday, July 27 on Disney Channel, with exclusive replay on Disney.com through July 29.
An audio streaming simulcast of Radio Disney's upcoming Planet Premiere of the entire "High School Musical 2" soundtrack will be available on Disney XD (www.disney.com/DXD), a highly interactive broadband experience within the new Disney.com. Disney XD will also feature a "High School Musical 2" channel offering fans the chance to participate in a "High School Musical 2 Adventure" to earn badges and a digital prize for their personal DXD channel. The site also provides access to all online video content, including the "Road to High School Musical 2" behind-the-scenes features seen on Disney Channel.www.disney.com/DXD), a highly interactive broadband experience within the new Disney.com. Disney XD will also feature a "High School Musical 2" channel offering fans the chance to participate in a "High School Musical 2 Adventure" to earn badges and a digital prize for their personal DXD channel. The site also provides access to all online video content, including the "Road to High School Musical 2" behind-the-scenes features seen on Disney Channel.Disney Channel's hugely popular "High School Musical 2" supersite (www.disneychannel.com/highschoolmusical2) offers an array of content including games, activities, photos, cast blogs and information on the movie. There, kids can create their own page for the East High virtual yearbook and email "shout-outs" to the cast. In August, a complete "High School Musical 2 Party Planning Kit" will be available on the site.
Other mobile offerings available through a variety of carriers will include the first ever "High School Musical" mobile game, as well as mobile graphics and ringtones so fans can customize their phones with images of favorite characters, scenes from "High School Musical 2" and music from the upcoming soundtrack. Additionally, Sprint mobile video customers will have exclusive access to a selection of short form video programming prior to the movie's premiere. And during the month of August, both "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2" will be available in their entirety via Disney Channel's mobile channel available exclusively on Sprint TV on multiple Sprint Power Vision devices with any Power Vision data plan."
In other anouncments, Disney announcd that "Wizards of Waverly Place," a show about a family of Wizards, will premiere in October. "As the Bell Rings" sitcom shorts, which is based on Disney Channel Italy's short form series "Quelli dell'Intervallo" will premiere Sunday, August 26th. Disney Channel also announced two Disney Channel Original Movies for 2008. The first is "Minutemen" a comedy/sci-fi/adventure about three high school students that invent a time machine and stars Jason Dolley from "Cory in the House". The second is "Camp Rock"is about a teen girl that wants to go to a "Rock Camp" but has to work as a cook in order to attend. She is overhead by a teen pop star who, in the spirit of The Little Mermaid, goes on a quest to find the girl behind the voice.
As you can see Disney Channel has been busy. Look forward to news from ABC's presentation later in the week