LONDON, August 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
A ratings smash paves the way for launch of the Marvel Universe programming block on Disney XD on 17 August
Spider-Man action figure topping retailers' Christmas recommendation lists
A new animated series, Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man has stormed to record ratings on Disney XD UK. The show is the top rated animated title on the boy-focused, girl-inclusive channel launched in August 2009, reaching a huge 1.2 million individuals 4+ including 683,000 kids 4-15 and 265,000 boys 8-12 in its first six weeks on air.
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The premiere episode of Ultimate Spider-Man was the best performing show in its timeslot with boys 8-12 on any kids TV channel in the UK, including those available in twice as many homes*. Over the first six weeks, the series also boosted year on year Disney XD ratings for its timeslot by 77%.
"The success of Ultimate Spider-Man demonstrates the demand for Marvel content from a new generation," comments Boel Ferguson, General Manager, Disney Channels UK & Ireland. "Following the incredible success of Marvel's Avengers Assemble in theatres across the UK we wanted to give our viewers a go-to TV destination for more excitement and energy of the latest Marvel series like Ultimate Spider-Man. Beginning 17 August, Marvel Universe will become the TV home for everyone's favorite Super Heroes."
Marvel Universe, a dedicated programming block airing every Friday at 3.30pm on Disney XD, will feature some of the most popular Super Heroes in the world - Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk & Spider-Man. The Disney XD block will be home to all of Marvel's action-packed animated series including hit programs Ultimate Spider-Man, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Iron Man: Armored Adventures.
The success of Spider-Man on TV screens has been mirrored by the success of the franchise across UK retailers, with both Argos and Tesco having included the Web Shooting Spider-Man action figure from Hasbro in their top Christmas recommendations**.
Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man is written and guided by the most star-studded creative team in Super Hero television history, including Marvel's Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada, and Marvel's EVP - Head of Television, Jeph Loeb, Supervising Producer Man of Action Studios (Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, Steven T. Seagle & Duncan Rouleau), Creative Consultant/Writer Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Lost), and Consulting Producer/Writer Brian Michael Bendis (Marvel's Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series), Ultimate Spider-Man is a series of many firsts, extraordinary given the enduring popularity of the character within the Marvel Universe. In the storyline, a teenage Peter Parker (voiced by actor Drake Bell) juggles the relatable challenges of high school with the extraordinary challenges of being a Super Hero. Nick Fury (voiced by actor Chi McBride) invites Parker to train with his S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, where Peter's alter-ego, Spider-Man, will join forces with four other teenage Super Heroes - Nova, White Tiger, Power Man and Iron Fist, on the greatest action and adventure ever as they work to become Ultimate Super Heroes!
Notes to editors:
- *Disney XD penetration is at 42% of homes. Performance for the premiere was strong enough for Ultimate Spider-man to win the slot against all Kids TV channels in the UK, including CBBC, which has 100% penetration.
- **The web shooting Spider-man toy has been included in Argos' top ten Christmas recommendations and Tesco's top 12 Christmas recommendations.
Ultimate Spider-Man - Executive Producers: Alan Fine (Marvel's Avengers Assemble, Iron Man, Thor), Dan Buckley (Marvel's Avengers Assemble, Iron Man), Joe Quesada (Marvel's Chief Creative Officer), and Jeph Loeb (Marvel's EVP - Head of Television) (Smallville, Lost, Heroes, Teen Wolf and Commando); Co-Executive Producers: Stan Lee (Spider-Man) and Eric Radomski (Batman Animated, Spawn); Supervising Producer: Man of Action Studios' (creators of Ben 10 and Generator Rex) Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle; other Supervising Producers: Dana Booton (The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes) and Cort Lane (The Super Hero Squad Show); Creative Consultant (and Pilot Writer): Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Lost): Consulting Producer: Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel's Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic series). Ultimate Spider-Man is produced by Marvel Animation.
Ultimate Spider-Man stars Drake Bell (Drake & Josh) as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chi McBride (Boston Public) as Nick Fury, Clark Gregg (Iron Man, Thor, The Avengers) as Agent Coulson, JK Simmons (Spider-Man) as J. Jonah Jameson, Steven Weber (Wings) as Norman Osborn, Greg Cipes (Teen Titans, Ben 10) as Danny Rand/Iron Fist, Ogie Banks as Luke Cage/Power Man, Caitlyn Taylor Love (I'm In The Band) as Ava Ayala/White Tiger, Logan Miller (I'm In The Band) as Sam Alexander/Nova, Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Doctor Octopus, Matt Lanter (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Harry Osborn/Flash Thompson, Tara Strong (The Fairly Odd Parents) as Mary-Jane Watson, Misty Lee (Batman: Arkham City) as Aunt May, and recurring guest star Stan Lee (Spider-Man) as Stan the Janitor.
About Marvel
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.
About Disney XD
Launched in the UK in August 2009, Disney XD is a boy-focused, girl-inclusive channel for kids aged 6-14 years. Disney XD includes a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure, music and humour. Disney XD branded content spans television, online and VOD platforms. The programming line-up includes series, movies and short-form content.
Press Contact:
Ben Sawyer/ Victoria Westwood
Disney Channel Press Office
+44(0)20-8636-2237
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