The German Disney Channel planned by Buena Vista Germany GmbH has finally received its cable and satellite licence from Bavarian media authority Bayerische Landeszentrale fur neue Medien (BLM). The approval, which covers the nationwide digital transmission of the 24 hour pay-TV service, is valid for eight years. Earlier, the directors of the 15 regional media authorities and the federal anti-concentration commission had given green light to the licence application. According to BLM, Disney Channel Germany is owned 100 per cent by Disney Store Germany GmbH, a 100 per cent sister of Disney Enterprises Inc. based in Burbank, California, which itself is owned 100 per cent by Delaware-based Walt Disney Company, the parent company of all Disney enterprises.

Disney Channel Germany will offer a 24-hour, advertising-free pay-TV service for the whole family in German language. The schedule is divided into three blocks targeting pre-school kids between 0900 and 1230 CET in the morning, school-children in the afternoon between 1230 and 1800 CET and the whole family from 1800 to 2400 CET in the evening. The launch is planned for October. "We welcomed the decision by BLM very much," said Disney Channel’s managing director Hans Seger, adding that his team is currently busy preparing the launch. The channel will be based in Ismaning near Munich, employing 40 people full-time. Since 1995, the US company has launched eight local Disney Channels outside the United States of America: Taiwan (March 1995); UK (October 1995); Australia (June 1996); Malaysia (October 1996); France (March 1997); Middle East (April 1997); Spain (April 1998) and Italy (October 1998). The company plans to launch a tailored Disney Channel for Latin America soon.