Through a new deal with free-to-air channel Free Sat, Disney Channel programming will be accessible to more than 60% of Turkish TV households starting in January.

Disney Channel Turkey will be launched as an advertising-supported unencrypted channel and will also be available unencrypted to all major direct-to-home, cable and IPTV platforms.

In addition, the launch will see Disney Channel’s distribution top 100 million homes across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 2012.

Turkish viewers will need a satellite decoder to access Disney Channel and such live-action series as Shake It Up and Wizards of Waverly Place, original movies such as the High School Musical series and Lemonade Mouth, and animated programming including Phineas and Ferb.

Disney Turkey, which also broadcasts the boy-focused Disney XD and preschool brand Disney Junior, says it is poised to create opportunities for Disney Channel to be more localized through investment in local television programming and homegrown talent.