MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company will re-brand its Jetix channels in five Central and Eastern European countries to become Disney Channel.

Disney Channel is set to launch later this year in Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria, increasing the channel’s distribution to 12 million households in the CEE region. Disney Channel will be localised for the market with programming dubbed in local languages.

Disney Channel series joined the Jetix CEE schedule last year and have helped strengthen the channel’s position. The first Disney Channel launch in CEE also proved successful, the channel began broadcasting in Poland in December 2007.

Disney Channels EMEA executive vice president and general manager Giorgio Stock said, "CEE is a key market for The Walt Disney Company and launching Disney Channel is central to the company’s strategic growth plan in the region. The performance of Disney Channel in Poland and the huge impact of the channel’s content on Jetix have proven the demand for its kid-driven, family inclusive programming. We look forward to leveraging this demand, the power of the Disney brand and synergies with other Disney businesses to become the undisputed leader in the kids’ TV market."