BBC Worldwide Secures Australian Deal for Top Gear

SYDNEY, November 19: BBC
Worldwide has licensed the rights for a local version of the British motoring
show Top Gear to Australian
terrestrial network SBS.

This is the first global
deal for a local version of Top Gear. Freehand Productions, BBC Worldwide’s Australasian partner, will
produce the Australian version of Top Gear, which will air on SBS in 2008. Eight episodes of the series are
planned. SBS has also extended its commitment to the British version of Top
Gear for the life of the series. Top
Gear has aired on SBS since 2005
and is the network’s highest-rated non-sport show.

Adam Waddell, Top Gear managing director at BBC Worldwide, said: “This is
an incredible step forward for the brand in one of our most important
territories. With the U.K. series viewed in more than 100 countries worldwide,
and BBC Top Gear magazine
licensed in 19 countries, our focus is very much about expanding the brand
through areas such as local production and localized online content.”

“In making it, we won’t simply
replicate the U.K. series with an Australian version of Jeremy Clarkson,
Richard Hammond or James May,” said Matt Campbell, director of content at SBS.
“SBS plans to make a program that is uniquely and quintessentially Australian.”

—By Irene Lew