Disney Channel In Concert With Jonas Brothers
Network Developing Series, Telefilm Projects With Teen Rock Group
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 9/25/2007 11:06:00 AM
Disney Channel is hoping its popular teen rock group the Jonas Brothers can continue the tween-targeted network’s run of successful series when they star in a new comedy/spy show dubbed J.O.N.A.S in 2008.
The series, scheduled to begin production early next year, in one of several on-screen projects the three brothers-- 19-year-old Kevin, 18-year-old Joseph and 15-year-old Nick -- will develop for Disney, according to Gary Marsh, President of entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide.
The Jonas Brothers, who currently self-titled debut album is currently number 25 on the Billboard Charts will also star in Camp Rock, a Disney Channel Original musical movie that is currently in production and scheduled for a 2008 debut. More immediate is as a concert special, Jonas Brothers in Concert, originating from New York that is slated t premiere Oct. 6.
Disney is hoping the Jonas Brothers will sing the same successful ratings tune on the network that other music-themed series and movies like Hanna Montana, The Cheetah Girls and High School Musical have in recent years.
"Kevin, Joe and Nick are the real deal -- incredible musicians, phenomenal performers, and charismatic stars,” Marsh said in a statement. “An act like Jonas Brothers doesn't come along very often."
The network also announced it will air its two phenomenally successful High School Musical films – as well as the HSM2 Sing-Along version -- on the American Forces Network Oct. 5.
High School Musical 2, which generated a cable industry record 17.2 million viewers in its Aug. 17 premiere on the network, as well as the original HSM film – which generated 7.7 million viewers in its premiere January 2006 airing – will for the first time air back to back on Disney Sept. 30, said the network.
