BBC Studios Pacts with China’s Tencent

BBC Studios is set to launch BBC Earth Tribe, a brand-new BBC Earth fan community, with China’s Tencent, which is also on board as a co-production partner for the natural-history series Dynasties.

The co-production agreement with Tencent for Dynasties is part of a larger multiyear partnership between BBC Studios and Tencent, which will see the two parties work together to develop and grow BBC Earth Tribe. The Chinese online community for people passionate about natural history and science will feature over 650 hours of BBC Studios’ natural-history and documentary programs. It will also deliver access to the series’ creators, via Q&As with BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit’s award-winning producers, both online and at events.

Suman Wang, chief editor of Tencent Video and senior VP of Tencent Penguin Pictures, commented: “Our audiences have a huge appetite for BBC Earth content so we are thrilled to partner with BBC Studios on this new initiative, bringing our customers unparalleled access to an incredible portfolio of high-quality content and unique interactive experiences.”

David Weiland, executive VP for Asia at BBC Studios, commented: “Chinese audiences’ appreciation for BBC’s premium natural history content has grown over the last two years. Blue Planet II delivered over 250 million views on Tencent, and Planet Earth II in 2016, got over 200 million views. We are very excited to extend our partnership with Tencent with the co-production of Dynasties, and work with them to build a community of like-minded natural history fans, bringing our content beyond the screens to them via BBC Earth Tribe.”