Family Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD Partner to promote active lifestyles during Healthy Me Week

TORONTO, June 3, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Family Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD are partnering with Concerned Children's Advertisers, NBA Canada, the YMCA and print and broadcast media across the country to promote Healthy Me Week, an initiative dedicated to encouraging kids to get fit through physical activity and proper nutrition. The nationwide campaign, beginning today and running until June 8, is being supported on the three kids networks with a wide range of programming dedicated to being active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

On Family Channel, viewers can catch Disney's exclusive Magic of Healthy Living Try It short-form content featuring network stars participating in active lifestyle challenges. Actors from Wizards of Waverly Place and Shake It Up demonstrate how they keep moving year-round with activities including sports, dancing and performance drills. They also inform viewers about how easy it is to be fit and talk to real kids about their healthy habits.

Disney XD is hosting Try It shorts that see stars from Kickin' It, Lab Rats and Pair of Kings face-off in different sports and agility competitions. The network will also broadcast the Canadian original short series Disney XD Drops In, which features Disney XD correspondent Coulton Conway learning new skills from the country's top athletes. Episodes feature sports and athletes such as lacrosse with Garrett Billings of the Toronto Rock; archery with Team Pan American 2011 Medalist Crispin Duenas; and basketball with NBA star and Healthy Me Week ambassador Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"As a professional athlete, I have witnessed first-hand the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle. So I am very pleased to be involved in Healthy Me Week, an initiative that inspires and empowers young people to make decisions to promote their own health and fitness," said Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Healthy Me Week ambassador. "The theme of Healthy Me Week is Get Up! Fuel Up! Own Up! which speaks to the importance of eating well, exercising and taking control of your own health. You are never too young, or too old, to develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime and help you achieve your dreams."

Younger viewers and their families can receive an early introduction to healthy eating and exercise with a multitude of special content on Disney Junior. Both the French- and English-language networks have short series that address being active including Mickey Mousekersize, Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps and Feeling Good with JoJo; while The Bite-Sized Adventures of Sam Sandwich, Tasty Time with ZeFronk and Adventures in Nutrition with Captain Carlos look at the importance of eating right.

By visiting Family.ca and DisneyXD.ca, viewers can learn more about the Healthy Me Week campaign and view all the special healthy living shorts featured during the week. The websites also link to the Healthy Me Week website (www.healthymeweek.com) that includes information and tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle for young people.

Family Channel is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in approximately 6 million homes across Canada. Dedicated to celebrating family life and providing a fun experience for all, Family airs a unique mix of series, movies and specials, with a large portion of programming supplied by Disney. Family Channel also offers Family OnDemand, a television-based Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service and Family OnLine, an internet-based, streaming service, these services, available at no additional cost, present hit Disney movies and series plus top-rated Canadian series to subscribers when they want it, where they want it. Visit us at Family.ca.

Disney Junior is a commercial-free channel available in French and English to subscribers across Canada. Committed to offering the best in engaging and development-based programming for younger children, Disney Junior showcases series with a focus on imaginative storytelling. Presenting exclusive, first-run programs from Disney together with celebrated Canadian series, Disney Junior is also available through Disney Junior OnDemand and Disney Junior OnLine.

Disney XD is an advertising-supported digital specialty network and multiplatform brand offering a compelling mix of high definition live action and animated programming to homes across Canada. Disney XD features series, movies and short form content that focus on comedy, discovery, sports, accomplishment and adventure. Disney XD programming is also available through dedicated on demand and broadband services. Visit us at DisneyXD.ca.

Family Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD are members of the Astral family. Astral Media Inc. (TSX: ACM.A/ACM.B) is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and interactive media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

SOURCE: Family Channel

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Jaime Werby at 416-956-8584 or [email protected]
Joanna Landsberg at 416-956-8547 or [email protected]