The mouse hits the web

Starwave: manages leading US websites

One of the world 's largest entertainment groups, Disney, has signalled its determination to become a major player on the Internet by buying a major US online company.

The Walt Disney Co. has bought all the shares in Starwave Corp., a Seattle-based company which produces and manages some of the largest web sites in the United States. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

Starwave was founded in 1993 and has become a major player in delivering news and sport online.

Starwave's clients include US broadcaster ABC News, the National Football League and the National Basketball Association, two of the largest sporting bodies in the US.

The company, set up by Microsoft's co-founder Paul Allen, entered a partnership with Disney before the close of the deal.

Winebaum: Disney brand trusted by parents

Starwave becomes part of Buena Vista Internet Group, Disney's online services company.

The chairman of Buena Vista Internet, Jake Winebaum, said the deal would leave Disney in a strong position.

"The purchase of Starwave gives us the ability to accelerate new product development activities.

"Our advertisers will be able to take advantage of multi-product and network advertising and e-commerce opportunities reaching our unique and rapidly expanding Web audience."

The company said it also intended to standardise navigation across all the Starwave and Disney web sites.

Disney said that the jobs of Starwave's 300 staff in the Seattle area would be safe.

Expanding interests

Disney: expanding online services

The Walt Disney Co. has been rapidly expanding its online service from its Hollywood headquarters since 1995.

Disney websites offer merchandise sales and online entertainment in English and eight other languages.

One of the company's key aims is to reinforce its brand name as something parents can rely on on the worldwide web.

It now has a dedicated children's online subscription channel, Disney's Daily Blast, and also promotes Disney.com as "the website for families".

Speaking at a conference on Internet safety last year, Mr Winebaum predicted that Disney would become a name that parents could trust, offering children secure and high quality entertainment services.