MUNICH: The German kids TV landscape grows this October with the launch of Disney Channel Germany into the merged platform of Premiere World. A combo of KirchGroup’s Premiere and DF1, the new digital offering will feature 25 specialty channels lumped into categorical packages. Dis Germany will be available exclusively as part of the Family World package, reaching Premiere/DF1’s joint subscriber base of one million-a number that’s projected to increase to 2.6 million by the end of 2001.

Disney Channel Germany received its license late in July from the Bavarian media regulator, and recently moved its 40 employees into permanent offices close to Munich-in the same neighborhood as the other media players connected to Premiere World, including DSF and Plaza Media. No programming details were available at press time, but a media conference is scheduled for early September. DB