BBC Worldwide Inks Volume Deal in Croatia

LONDON, June 17: BBC
Worldwide has sold 302 hours of drama and factual-entertainment programming to
Croatian pubcaster HRT.

Titles acquired from BBC
Worldwide include Mistresses, Cranford and DinoSapien. The agreement also includes an additional 51
hours of natural-history programming that will air as part of the BBC Wild-branded block on HRT. Programs such as Expedition
Guyana, Wild China and Yellowstone Tales will make their debut in Croatia.

The BBC Wild-branded block on HRT is a one-hour weekly slot
that will showcase BBC wildlife productions, including Born to Be Wild, Big Cat Diary, Wild Down Under and Spy in the Herd.

Christina Muller, the
territory manager for Eastern European TV sales at BBC Worldwide, said: “I am
delighted to announce our biggest deal with HRT. We have been working very
closely with the broadcaster for a number of years on format deals as well as
program sales. This has led to a rapid strengthening of our relationship, one
which I hope will only continue to grow.”

She continued: “BBC
Worldwide’s catalogue of titles, such as Earth: Power of the Planet, has found wide appeal in Eastern Europe and
Croatia in particular. This success allows us to reach a wider audience and
increase our presence in Eastern Europe.”

BBC Worldwide has also
worked closely with HRT on a number of formats. The British pubcaster’s
commercial arm has licensed two seasons of Dancing with the Stars and Just the Two of Us. The Weakest Link is currently filming a fifth season in Croatia.

—By Irene Lew