The Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical premiered on January 20, 2006. The modern mix between Greece and Romeo and Juliet had 7.7 Million viewers on the first night it ran, and 6.1 Million the next. The Disney Channel aired High School Musical seven times within a month of its inception – gaining 26.3 Million viewers in that time. High School Musical was created with a $5 Million production budget.

Even before the movie appeared, Disney released the High School Musical Soundtrack, which rose to be the best selling soundtrack in the United States in 2006. Disney promoted the soundtrack by asking popular boy band B5 to record a version of the CD’s hit song “Get’cha Head In The Game.”

The first month of the soundtracks release, the songs hit number 133 on the Billboard 200 hit list in January. However, after heavy airtime on the country’s 56 Radio Disney stations, the song hit number one in March.

There were also free downloads of the songs available online, as well as a High School Musical media player that could be emailed to friends so they could enjoy songs from the movie.

With the High School Musical target audience being young, Disney Channel viewers, it is no doubt that Disney chose to market heavily on their television channel and online website – leading the movie to gain additional momentum through the word of mouth of targeted consumers.

Disney released ads reminding consumers to visit DisneyChannel.com and download lyrics from the film before the karaoke version was released on television.

When High School Musical was released on DVD, it sold 1.2 Million copies in six days – making it the fastest selling TV movie of all time.

The film received numerous awards including Teen Choice Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Artios Award, Television Critics Association Award, Satellite Award, and Emmy Awards.

The movie was also spoofed on MADtv, while on the Halloween airing of Live With Regis And Kelly, Regis dressed up as Troy Bolton, while Kelly dressed like Sharpay Evans.

In the Disney Channel series, the Suite Life of Zack and Cody, the character’s school was putting on the High School Musical play. The High School Musical cast was featured in a 2008 Marvin comic, and the characters in Lilo and Stitch: The Series parodied the song “We’re All In This Together.” Disney has sold the rights to the play version of the film to high schools around the country.

2006 also brought High School Musical: The Concert, while 2007 brought not only High School Musical: On Ice, but also the release of High School Musical 2 on the Disney Channel on August 17th. The second film’s premier brought 17.2 Million viewers – making it both the most watched basic cable movie of all time, and the most watched basic cable showing ever.

There have been video games, books, jewelry, and clothing created to promote the movies, both released and in the works. High School Musical 3: Senior Year is due to come out in October, while High School Musical 4 is still being written.

To promote High School Musical 3, ABC is presenting a reality show titled High School Musical: Get In The Picture, with host Nick Lachey. The reality series airs on July 20, 2008. Similar shows have been created in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, with the winners set to star in each country’s own version of High School Musical. The UK Disney Channel shot a music video with the public dancing to High School Musical songs.

Play Station 2 has released a game for the third High School Musical: Senior Year DANCE! Disney has also placed character cardboard standees in movie theaters throughout the country.

The stars from High School Musical have done other films and endorsements on their own. In 2007, Corbin Bleu starred in the Disney Channel original movie Jump In, which had 8.17 Million viewers. Also in 2007, Ashley Tisdale released her solo album which reached number five on the 200 Billboard chart. Ashley Tisdale is also the celebrity endorser for Red by Marc Ecko and Degree Girl, while Vanessa Hudgens endorses Neutrogena, Red and Old Navy.

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