The US media and leisure group Disney wants to boost its European presence by launching new television channels to beam Mickey Mouse and friends into millions of homes, a press report said on Thursday.
"We see very large growth potential" in Europe, Disney's head of European television operations John Hardie told the financial daily Handelsblatt.
"We are going to develop our brand's audience. Our target is to reach 100 million households within five years," Hardie added.
The group already has a station broadcasting in Spain that used to be a pay TV channel which could serve as a model elsewhere, the Disney executive explained.
"It is very possible that we will launch free channels in other countries," he said.
Disney channels offer programmes aimed at young audiences and rely on sales of associated products such as CDs, DVDs and stuffed toys rather than advertising.
