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08.10.02
BBC
sales bonanza at international television market
BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm of the BBC, has concluded
record programming deals at the Mipcom international television
market in Cannes, 7 to 11 October 2002.
The
company has notched up more than £5 million worth of co-productions
and programme licensing agreements in the first few days of the
market.
Overall
business, as a result of its attendance at the market, is expected
to generate more than £40 million for BBC Worldwide.
More than 1000 hours of programming, from across all genres, has
been licensed to broadcasters around the world. Highlights to date
include:
The natural history series Wild New World has been licensed
to WDR Germany, SVT Poland, VRT Belgium, TV Catalunya, Tele Madrid,
TV Valencia and Euskal Telebista in Spain, and YLE Finlan.
The Life of Mammals, David Attenborough's new ten-part series,
to YLE Finland, SVT Sweden, VRT Belgium, ORT Russia, M-NET South
Africa and ABC Australia.
The ABC has taken Walking with Cavemen, along with France
2, VRT Belgium, SVT Sweden and CBC Canada, whilst Sahara,
Michael Palin's latest globe trotting adventure, has been pre-sold
to 11 broadcasters including TVNZ New Zealand, ABC Australia, YLE
Finland, VRT Belgium and NRK Norway.
Crime
and Punishment,
alongside Spooks, Mersey Beat, Tweenies and
the new electrifying teen-action Ace Lightning have also
been licensed to VRT Belgium, whilst the BBC's racy new period drama,
Tipping the Velvet will be broadcast by CBC Canada and the
BBC's hit comedy series The Office (series 2) by TPS Cinéma
in France.
Ace Lightning has also been licensed to German terrestrial
channel ZDF, HMG Netherlands and TVB Hong Kong.
In Australia BBC Worldwide Asia Pacific has signed an agreement
with ABC TV to broadcast Fimbles, the latest addition to
the BBC Worldwide Children's programming line-up, on ABC Kids in
2003.
BBC Worldwide also signed a record nine co-production agreements
with broadcasters in Germany, significantly refocusing the company's
business in the market.
ProSieben has co-produced the landmark series Lions, Walking
with Cavemen and the three forthcoming Walking with Dinosaurs
specials.
Public
broadcaster NDR has signed co-production agreements for the new
history documentary Pyramid and the three-part series Monsters
We Met. ZDF will co-produce Human Hunter and The Race
for Everest. (Monsters We Met and Pyramid are BBC /Discovery
Channel/NDR Germany co-productions).
Rupert
Gavin, CEO BBC Worldwide, commenting on the Mipcom deals said, "It's
clear from our early successes that overseas broadcasters are eager
to acquire rights to our plentiful supply of prestigious high-end
programming.
"With early hits across all genres and all markets we expect
great things for our new line-up of programming."
A
raft of other deals for these titles and many more from across BBC
Worldwide's portfolio is expected during the market and over the
coming months.
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