'High School Musical' to Have UK TV Debut, Sept. 22

Disney's wildly popular "High School Musical" will have its UK TV debut this month.

"High School Musical," in which two teens find love as their school puts on a show, will premiere on the UK's Disney Channel on September 22nd at 6 PM, before airing on BBC One later in the year.

Tom Toumazis, the executive vice president of Buena Vista International Television stated, "We're pleased to be working with the BBC to launch the magic of High School Musical to terrestrial TV audiences in the UK - following its huge, multi-platform success stateside and elsewhere, we are sure that its appealing, well-drawn characters and storylines and joyful, catchy musical numbers, will capture the imagination of UK viewers." 

"High School Musical" will also be seen on India's Disney Channel on September 24th at 7 PM.  The songs have been re-recorded in Hindi.

Since its premiere January 20, 2006 on Disney Channel, "High School Musical" has been televised 13 times and was seen by over 37 million unduplicated total viewers.  Its premiere telecast alone set household ratings records for Disney Channel and the movie has since set ratings records in Australia and Southeast Asia.  By the end of the year, it will be televised in 100 countries worldwide.  The soundtrack is the #1 top-selling album of the year-to date, has certified triple Platinum (over 2.7 million sold) and delivered six Gold certified singles since its January 10 debut.   The "High School Musical" release on DVD sold over 2.3 million copies since its release on May 23– and is the best-selling TV movie on DVD of all time.  A junior novel based on the movie soared to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list (children's paperbacks) and a folio of sheet music for guitar, piano and vocals is a top-seller.

Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel, Monique Coleman, Alyson Reed (Marilyn: An American Fable, A Chorus Line film), Bart Johnson and Joey Miyashima are featured in "High School Musical"'s cast.  It is directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega (Newsies).

Several amateur and high school productions of "High School Musical" are being or will be presented, while the professional premiere of the show will take place at Atlanta's Theater of the Stars in January of 2007.

Visit www.disney.go.com/disneychannel for more information.