BBC Worldwide Signs New Digital Distribution Deals

LONDON, September 20: BBC
Worldwide has reached deals with independent production companies
talkbackTHAMES and Prominent Television to distribute their content in long and
short forms on digital media platforms.

Under the two deals, BBC
Worldwide will be able to exploit the properties of talkbackTHAMES and
Prominent Television across Internet, mobile, video on demand and other digital
channels.

The talkbackTHAMES deal
covers properties such as Alan Partridge, Big Train, Monkey
Dust and The Day Today. The arrangement with Prominent Television,
Michael Palin’s production company, will see BBC Worldwide secure digital media
rights to the travel presenter’s programs, including Full Circle and Pole to Pole.

The agreements, signed by
BBC Worldwide’s Indie Unit, follow previously secured digital distribution
deals with Kudos and Baby Cow for programs such as Spooks, Hustle and the cult comedy The Mighty Boosh.

Jemma Adkins, the head of
content for digital media at BBC Worldwide, said: “These production companies
represent some of the best known program brands around, including fantastic
content that resonates with the digital audience. This offers a huge
opportunity for digital media exploitation. Whilst digital media rights are now
a standard part of every production agreement, when these programs were made
this wasn’t the case. We’re now remedying that situation so we can
leverage these properties across the range of new output channels that are
available today.”