BBC strengthen commitment to Children’s programming

The corporations’ children’s department have signed an innovative long-term deal that will see CBBC and CBeebies air new ground-breaking programmes designed to entertain and appeal to children of all ages.

The deal with Fremantle Media, owner of Thames Television, will see them co-developing, co-producing and co-funding a number of new children’s shows over the course of the next five years, and investing tens of millions of pounds in order to fulfill the production requirements of the agreement.

The partnership brings together two of the strongest players in the kids and family entertainment space in a dedicated effort to delight and inspire children in the UK and the world over.

Director of BBC Children’s, Joe Godwin, says: “We’re delighted to be signing this new deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises and look forward to building on the success we’ve already had working together on top-rated programmes such as Tree Fu Tom. This groundbreaking partnership will allow us to create and develop even more exciting new shows that will entertain and inspire kids throughout the UK.”

This partnership does not affect the first-look deal that BBC Children’s has with BBC Worldwide who continue to invest in children’s programming and also operate the CBeebies international channels. And BBC Children’s will continue to collaborate with a wide range of creative partners, broadcasters, distributors and indies (who currently produce 70% of the BBC’s children’s programmes).

 “When we started FremantleMedia Enterprises’ Kids and Family Entertainment division just three years ago, our goal was to join forces with leading broadcasters and producers of kids’ content in order to inspire, transform, challenge and stimulate our young audiences who will grow to be the world’s next generation of leaders,” said Sander Schwartz, president of the Kids and Family Entertainment division of FremantleMedia Enterprises.

Extending beyond television screens, the deal will also see FremantleMedia Enterprises representing a range of global ancillary rights, including merchandise, home entertainment, live events, publishing, worldwide distribution, and more. The BBC will retain television rights for the UK and Eire, as well as certain other rights within those countries.