DISNEY CHANNEL ORDERS A FOURTH SEASON OF "JESSIE," THE HIT COMEDY SERIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES

---Series Star Debby Ryan to Direct Summer Episode--

Jessie and the Ross kids will return for a fourth season of "Jessie," the hit comedy series for kids and families, it was announced today by Adam Bonnett, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide. Production resumes in Los Angeles in August with season four scheduled to premiere in January 2015 on Disney Channel. Meanwhile, new episodes of season three are currently airing, including one directed by the series 21 year-old star/producer Debby Ryan, and a wedding story arc this fall in which Jessie gets engaged.

2014 to date, "Jessie" is TV's #1 telecast in its time period, and overall, it is TV's #2 live-action series in Kids 2-11 (1.6 million/4.0 rating) and Kids 6-11 (1.3 million/5.4 rating), and the #4 TV series in Tweens 9-14 (1.2 million/4.8 rating).

Bonnett said, "'Jessie' is a fan favorite for kids and families all around the world. Pam Eells (Executive Producer, Creator) and the entire team behind 'Jessie' have made this television family a huge global hit. Our audience gets to continue the journey with these characters, watching the Ross kids grow up with Jessie guiding the way for them."

Starring are Debby Ryan as Jessie, Kevin Chamberlin as Bertram, Peyton List as Emma, Karan Brar as Ravi, Cameron Boyce as Luke and Skai Jackson as Zuri.

The live-action comedy series was created by Pamela Eells O'Connell ("Family Matters," "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "The Suite Life on Deck"), who serves as executive producer. Debby Ryan is a producer.

New episodes of "Jessie" air FRIDAYS on Disney Channel. The series is a production of It's A Laugh Productions, Inc and carries a TV-G parental guideline.

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable and satellite in nearly 97 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

[Source: NTI, U.S. ratings, 12/31/13-5/18/14, most current.]