BBC Worldwide Opens Local Production Outfit in India

CANNES, October 9: BBC Worldwide has revealed plans to open up a local production base in India, to be headed up by Saul Nassé ¡s general manager and creative head.

The new office, BBC Worldwide Productions India, will be responsible for bringing the enormous production expertise of the BBC to the Indian market, and will work with local talent throughout India to produce and deliver high-quality television. It will complement BBC Worldwide’s Los Angeles production studio—which currently works with all the major U.S. networks and is responsible for producing the record-breaking Dancing with the Stars on ABC—and its production company in Australia, a joint venture with Freehand.

Nassé ²ecently led the BBC’s highly successful India and Pakistan 2007 season, having previously been editor of Tomorrow’s World and acting head of religion and ethics at the BBC. Working alongside Nassé ·ill be Sonia Chowdhry, the creative director of development and special projects at BBC Worldwide Productions India. Chowdhry launched the award-winning Haath Se Haath Milaa (Let’s Join Hands) program for the BBC World Service HIV/Aids campaign in India and was the head of programming for Nickelodeon in India. She will be driving the future business of the company, working with the development teams in London and pitching to local broadcasters. Additional appointments will be announced shortly.

Wayne Garvie, the managing director of content and production at BBC Worldwide, said: “India is one of the most important and successful territories for BBC Worldwide. This local production office underlines our commitment to Indian broadcasters and audiences and firmly positions BBC Worldwide as a leading global content network. Under Saul’s leadership, I’m confident that the office will quickly become a key player in India’s growing television industry.”

Nassé ¡dded: “I’ve spent the past year in India, setting up the office and meeting representatives from all the many broadcasters with whom BBC Worldwide works. Two indisputable facts: local productions are by far the most popular programming in India and BBC Worldwide has one of the world’s richest catalogues of television content and formats. Taken together, therefore, the Indian production base offers genuine synergy. I’m delighted that the office is now open for business.”