'High School Musical 2' averaged 17.2m viewers when it was shown on The Disney Channel last Friday, and it is hoped the movie's UK premiere will attract equal enthusiasm. Disney has announced that the viewing figures make High School Musical 2 the most watched US telecast ever for the six to 11 age group.
The sequel has outperformed the original movie, whose premiere was watched by 7.7m viewers in January last year.
The brand extends to a stage show in North America, which launched at the start of this month, an ice-skating show currently in development and plans to licence clothing, books and video games to stores along with its DVDs and CDs by the end of the year.
Both instalments of the movie have been supported by the release of a hit soundtrack and single, with the soundtrack to the first movie becoming the best-selling US album of 2006.
The new movie will be premiered in the UK in September. Disney is already promoting the release with vigorous cable network advertising, an HSM2 talent competition and a unique nationwide bus tour. The is tour is under way visiting major UK cities and delivering a movie-inspired show featuring music from the film, cheerleaders and professional basketball players.
Due to the success of parts one and two, plans are being made for 'High School Musical 3', currently in pre-production, to be released to cinemas worldwide.
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