Thunderbird Distribution Acquires BeddyByes

Thunderbird Distribution has picked up the global media (excluding the U.K., Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden) and consumer products rights to the new preschool series BeddyByes.

The CG-animated title, produced by Ireland’s JAM Media, is set to debut on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in spring 2025. Ireland’s RTÉ is on-board as a co-producer, while Nordic pubcasters DR (Denmark), Yle (Finland) and SVT (Sweden) have prebought the series.

“There has been a real gap in the market for a series designed to help young children and their parents navigate the journey towards bedtime, and BeddyByes will fill it beautifully,” said Richard Goldsmith, Thunderbird’s president of global distribution and consumer products. “It is exactly the kind of exceptional commercial property produced by an extraordinary producer that we’re continually on the lookout for as we build our third-party business. We believe toddlers and young preschoolers will be drawn to the incredibly huggable world of BeddyByes created by JAM. We can’t wait to share it with international platforms and other potential partners.”

“We are so pleased that Thunderbird Distribution will be introducing BeddyByes to global platform buyers, along with potential consumer products partners through Thunderbird Brands,” added John Rice, JAM Media CEO. “JAM co-founder Alan Shannon and I both had toddlers at the same time a few years back, and that sparked the idea for this series. We saw a real need for content that would provide toddlers and young preschoolers with a calming and soothing experience that would help them happily drift off to sleep. And now, with Thunderbird on-board, kids around the world will get a chance to meet and fall in love with MeMo, BaBa and their friends.”