Top Gear USA Gets First International Pickups

LONDON: BBC Worldwide has notched up international broadcasters for the U.S. version of the hit British motoring show Top Gear, including sales to Italy, Israel, Iceland and Australia. 

Top Gear USA has scored slots in Australia (Nine Network), Iceland (Screen One), Israel (Ego), Italy (Discovery), Finland (MTV3), New Zealand (Prime), Norway (NRK3) and Sweden (Kanal 5). The sales come ahead of the 35th anniversary year of BBC Showcase, which is to take place February 27 to March 2 in Brighton. 

“BBC Showcase is the flagship annual event for British television exports,” said Steve Macallister, the managing director of sorldwide sales and distribution at BBC Worldwide. “By generating programme sales for the BBC as well as independent producers, and providing a forum for developing co-productions, it gives a great boost to the U.K. creative and media industry as a whole.”  

Macallister added, “We expect Showcase 2011 to be our most successful to date. The overall number of delegates has increased by 12 percent from last year and we have our biggest ever delegation from Central and Eastern Europe. We’re also looking forward to welcoming a number of brand new clients to Showcase from Asia.”