Walt Disney's regional office will go for more TV business

UNITED STATES entertainment group Walt Disney is to set up a regional office in Hong Kong to expand its television business in the Asia Pacific markets.

The new office will manage all Disney's television interests in the region which includes Japan, China, Taiwan, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The new office will also seek opportunities for establishing Disney Channels, broadcast investments and handle television sales, marketing and production in these markets.

Announcing the news, chairman of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications Richard Frank said, 'The Asian and Pacific regions represent enormous opportunity for growth in our TV businesses. Our programmes are successful in those markets and viewer demand is extremely high.' The group's TV programmes, which are popular in the region, will be delivered to the audience through cable and satellite technology.

'We'll continue to explore broadcast investment opportunities as well, providing us with complementary avenues of distribution,' Mr Frank said.

Heading the new office is Ed Borgerding, who was named senior vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific, for the group with immediate effect.