``Disney Channel PremEARS in the Park Offers'' Cincinnati-area Families a Free Night of ``Original'' Entertainment for All Ages.

Entertainment Editors & Television/Cable Writers

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 17, 2000

Disney Channel, Reebok and DIRECTV Team Up to Bring

Local Event Featuring Movie Screening, Live Music, Games, Prizes

and Favorite Disney Character Appearances

Disney Channel, the leader in television for kids and families, will come to Cincinnati during its fourth annual summer tour, "Disney Channel PremEARS in the Park." The event is presented by Reebok and DIRECTV, which offers Disney Channel to customers of the DIRECTV(R) Total Choice(R) programming package.

Disney Channel "PremEARS in the Park" will transform the Riverbend Music Center, an SFX Entertainment-owned venue located in Cincinnati, into a one-night-only mini-movie festival on Saturday, July 22, beginning at 6 p.m. (rain or shine). On a giant screen, kids and families will be treated to a free, local premiere of the Disney Channel original movie, "Quints," never before seen on television.

Along with the movie, families will also enjoy a variety of all-new Disney Channel-themed activity areas. At the "Reebok Traxtar Challenge" activity area, kids will get to try on Reebok's new Traxtar shoes and race through an obstacle course to test their speed and agility.

Additionally, there will be areas where kids can participate in photo opportunities on the sets of several different Disney Channel Original Movies, including "Alley Cats Strike!," "Rip Girls" and "Up, Up and Away," as well as a side stage performance by favorite Toon Disney characters sponsored by "00" Info.

"PremEARS in the Park" will also feature performances by two rising musical acts, Hoku and BBMak, who recently starred in Disney Channel's "M2M and BBMak In Concert." Both acts will perform prior to the screening of the movie.

"Due to the overwhelming response we've received to the `PremEARS in the Park' the past three summers, we are bringing Disney Channel back to the communities of our kids and family viewers and making this year's events bigger and better," said Adam Sanderson, senior vice president of marketing. "With our partners Reebok, `00' Info and DIRECTV, this year's event promises more activities and entertainment than ever before."

Canned food donations for the "Can Film Festival," a campaign coordinated by DIRECTV in support of a local charity, will be collected on-site. Families are encouraged (but not required) to contribute to this charitable cause.

"Quints," A Disney Channel Original Movie, tells the story of 13-year-old Jamie Grover (Kimberly J. Brown, "Tumbleweeds") who feels the pressures of being an only child. She constantly wishes for the company of a brother or sister. However, when Jamie's parents have quintuplets, her life changes in ways she never imagined. Executive produced by Stan Brooks, "Quints" premieres on Disney Channel Friday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Local residents can call 513/232-6220 for event information. Admission is free of charge; however, parking fees may apply at the venue. Seating is first-come, first served.

Cincinnati is one of just 10 stops on the "Disney Channel PremEARS in the Park" 2000 tour. Other cities on the itinerary include: Riverport Amphitheatre in St. Louis (July 11); The New World Music Theatre in Chicago (July 13); Merriweather Post Pavilion in Baltimore (July 16); Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts in Boston (July 18); Jones Beach Theatre in Long Island, N.Y. (July 20); Starplex Amphitheatre in Dallas (July 24); Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix (July 27); Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, Calif. (July 30); and The Chronicle Pavilion in San Francisco (Aug. 3).

DIRECTV has more than 8.7 million customers, including customers subscribing to PRIMESTAR By DIRECTV. DIRECTV, Cyclone Design logo and TOTAL CHOICE are registered trademarks of DIRECTV Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp.

Hughes Electronics is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, and satellite and wireless systems and services. The earnings of Hughes Electronics, a unit of General Motors Corp., are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE:GMH). Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at DIRECTV.com.

Disney Channel, combining original series, movies and specials with timeless classics, is the only full-time general entertainment television network designed for kids and families. Disney Channel is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.