Tuesday, Walt Disney Co and Media-One Holdings Ltd revealed that they were planning to roll out a free Disney television channel all throughout Russia in the year to follow, which will feature along with Disney programs, some locally produced ones, as well.

The launch of the TV channel entails that Disney will come to hold 49 percent of the joint venture and it will also be the company providing money and programing, alongside expertise in content acquisition and marketing to children and families.

For the time being, Disney has not yet revealed the amount of cash they would be investing or for what time-frame the deal with Media-One Holdings has been clinched.

As for the majority stakeholder, its input translates in 30 owned and operated TV stations throughout Russia and information concerning the Russian market.

Currently, the partnership needs to receive regulatory approval from the nation, which entails that foreign investors have Russian partners.

The Walt Disney Company presently operates local retail, licensing, theatrical distribution, mobile and Internet businesses throughout Russia.

With regards to the deal, chairman of Walt Disney International Andy Bird stated that the new channel would be available to 75 percent of the Russian population, who had already been introduced to the company’s productions.

Furthermore, he revealed that one goal the joint venture would try to achieve was to purchase more TV stations that would feature the channel, in order to expand the viewer base.

Disney now operates 30 Disney Channels throughout the world, the majority of which being on cable, and has come to spread its coverage to thriving markets such as China, India and Eastern Europe ever since 2005, when international expansion was rendered a priority by Chief Executive Robert Iger.