BBC Worldwide Inks Distribution Deal with Ten Alps

LONDON: A new three-year partnership will see BBC Worldwide handling distribution for the factual catalogues of all Ten Alps’ broadcast companies.

The deal includes documentary production outfits Brook Lapping, Blakeway, Below the Radar and Films of Record, covering landmark documentary, contemporary history, current affairs and observational documentary series, respectively. It covers the work of Brian Lapping, Anne Lapping, Norma Percy, Denys Blakeway, Fiona Stourton and Roger Graef, who are responsible for a host of iconic British TV docs. Titles produced by Ten Alps companies so far in 2009 include Iran and the West, The Future of Food, China’s Capitalist Revolution and The Madoff Hustle for BBC Two; Mountbatten for HISTORY UK and RTE; and Murder Mansion and several Dispatches for C4.

BBC Worldwide’s indie unit will provide development-investment funding and will work closely with the Ten Alps companies on international opportunities within their respective development slates. BBC Worldwide will have an exclusive first-look deal to distribute commissioned Ten Alps’ programs.

 Alex Connock, the CEO of Ten Alps, said: “We made expansion of the international potential of our programming a key goal for this year. Working with BBC Worldwide, with their unique footprint and truly global expertise, is exactly the relationship we were looking for.”

Wayne Garvie, the director of content and production at BBC Worldwide, added: “Ten Alps is one of the U.K.’s most exciting media companies. Their stable provides amazing breadth in documentary, great programming made by great producers and directors. It’s programming with huge international appeal and a perfect complement to our existing catalogue.”