US media conglomerate Disney has announced that Disney Online and Disney Channel are teaming for a new broadband subscription product called Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online.

This is available for an annual subscription fee of $49.95. Parents can log on to www.preschooltime.com to subscribe to the product or to access a free trial.

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Hosted by the character Bear from the show Bear in the Big Blue House, Preschool Time Online was developed in conjunction with educational experts to provide learning and fun while helping preschoolers develop important kindergarten readiness skills. It offers a range of interactive activities such as puzzles and games.

Key features include:

-- Popular characters from Playhouse Disney series including JoJo's Circus, Higglytown Heroes, Stanley, plus Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse and Pals, among others.

-- A sequence of well-rounded interactive activities including puzzles and games that level in difficulty based on a child's performance.

-- A focus on development of kindergarten readiness skills including letter and number recognition and color and shape identification. For example, a child can learn about numbers with JoJo by popping balloons that are labeled with the number three.

-- Themes such as "bravery" or "sharing" that are incorporated throughout each sequenced set of activities.

-- New updates every two weeks that provide a constant source of new, fun learning activities.

-- Parents' Corner area where adults can manage multiple children's profiles and track their child's activity.

"Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online allows children to learn through a fun setting where they get to interact with their favorite characters, in a dynamic environment that regularly offers new activities," said Disney Online EVP & MD Ken Goldstein. "The increase in broadband use in the home has allowed us to offer an experience that combines rich graphics, video content and character voices to capture kids' imaginations and deliver personalized learning that grows with each individual child."