CBeebies to Showcase Australian Output

LONDON/SYDNEY: BBC Worldwide Channels Australasia is calling on Australian producers to submit ideas for an "upbeat, humorous" series targeting kids 4 to 6 that will air on CBeebies feeds around the world.

Pitches are being invited for a six- to eight-hour show for broadcast on CBeebies in Australia, the U.K., India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Poland, Africa, Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market. The show is intended to target a demo that "actively seeks out exaggeration and physical comedy, and loves the unexpected," according to a press release. The successful pitch will appeal to both boys and girls and will be physically rooted in the real world.  A budget of A$150,000 to A$250,000 per programming hour is available.

“This initiative is an excellent opportunity for Australia’s incredible production talent to showcase their work locally and internationally,” said Brendan Dahill, the director of television at BBC Worldwide Channels Australasia. “CBeebies is still in its infancy in Australia, having only recently launched in November 2008. Commissioning local content is a fundamental step to delivering unique, compelling and engaging television for our young Aussie viewers that reflects their world and supports the programming we have acquired from the BBC and other producers.”

Michael Carrington, the controller of CBeebies, added: “I’m very excited about the opportunity to commission our first production specifically for Australia. Creating distinctive, high quality and original programmes has been key to the success of CBeebies in the U.K., and now that the channel is rolling out internationally commissioning local content will help us to be even more relevant to our viewers. We’ve had a long relationship with the production community in Australia and it’s fantastic that our first local commission for CBeebies will come from this vibrant market.”

The deadline for the pitches—500 words or fewer—is June 5. A shortlist of six will be drawn up and successful producers will be invited to a formal pitching session in Sydney the week of July 6, with the winning commission to be unveiled July 10.