• The New York Times, Monday, August 20, 2007 11:45 AM

The debut of "High School Musical 2" on the Disney Channel was highly anticipated by two very different groups of viewers. For the millions of children across the nation, it was the "must-watch" show of the week. For marketing executives at Disney Channel and its parent Walt Disney Co., it was a moment of truth -- had it learned from its previous experiences with the original "High School Musical."

Despite lukewarm reviews, the film's debut drew 17.2 million viewers, according to preliminary ratings estimates from the channel. If those estimates hold up, it would make the debut of "High School Musical 2" the No. 1 television program of the week, on cable or network, as well as the most-watched show of any kind in basic cable history.

The success of "High School Musical 2" is an indication of Disney's long-term efforts to reposition its cable channel to appeal to the under-served 9-to-14 age group and to rope in youngsters for whom Mickey Mouse seems too babyish. For the time being, the movie has made a trio of fictional high school students named Troy, Gabriella and Sharpay as recognizably Disney as that 79-year-old mouse.

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