Disney Extends 'Hannah Montana,' 'Suite Life'

Zap2It.com | December 2, 2008

Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, 'Hannah Montana'

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Channel picks up more episodes of two top series

It looks like all those reports about the impending end of "Hannah Montana" were a little premature.

The Disney Channel said Tuesday (Dec. 2) that it's extending the order for its signature show's third season, and has also picked up a second season of "The Suite Life on Deck." Both shows are among the top programs on cable among the channel's target audience of kids and pre-teens.

"The talent behind ' Hannah Montana' has made it a true global sensation and cultural icon not just on television, where it topped the ratings on Disney Channels around the globe, but as a chart-topping music act and beyond," says Gary Marsh, Disney Channel's entertainment president. "It has become part of the global cultural lexicon for kids, parents and families everywhere."

"Hannah Montana," which stars Miley Cyrus as the undercover pop star, is the top-rated basic cable series among kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 and leads all basic cable scripted shows in total viewers. A movie based on the series is due in theaters next spring.

As for "The Suite Life on Deck," Marsh says, "We're thrilled with the extraordinary performance of our newest series ... and we look forward to telling more great stories with this talented cast and production team." The series, a spinoff of "The Suite Life with Zack and Cody," puts stars Cole and Dylan Sprouse in a semester at sea program aboard a luxury cruise ship.

The show trails only "Hannah Montana" in ratings among the 6-11 set and ranks third among tweens.