Disney Show Will Appear First on App for Tablets

Noting that tablet computers like the iPad are increasingly the “first screen” for pre-school-age viewers, Disney executives said they would make the first nine episodes of a prominent new series available on mobile devices first.

The series will arrive on the Watch Disney Junior app and a related Web site on Nov. 24. Then, early next year, the series will have its debut on two traditional TV networks, Disney Channel and Disney Junior. “This is an entirely new approach for us,” said Nancy Kanter, executive vice president and general manager of Disney Junior Worldwide, which is aimed at children age 2 to 7. “We have been amazed at how quickly kids have embraced this new technology. We’re talking billions of minutes spent watching.” Disney is in some ways racing to keep up with its tiniest viewers. More than half of households with children now own a tablet, a 40 percent increase from last year, according to research conducted by the company. The devices are perfect for small hands, and parents have quickly become comfortable with iPads and similar devices as a form of entertainment.