BBC Worldwide today, on the first day of Showcase 207, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with iQIYI, China’s largest online video platform, to bring almost 300 hours of pre-school content from CBeebies to its viewers. This is the first time that CBeebies programmes will be available in China on a digital platform.
iQIYI is the leader in providing online services in China with 20 million paid subscribers (as of June 2016). CBeebies content will be available on both the platform, and on iQIYI’s app currently active on 120 million devices every day, making it the most-used online video app in China.
The CBeebies programmes branded under 思贝斯 (sī bèi sī) on the online platform, will feature some of BBC’s most popular pre-school programmes including Go Jetters – CBeebies’ latest animated adventure comedy series about four explorers who travel the world with their teacher, Ubercorn – a disco-loving unicorn, and the award-winning Sarah and Duck, which follows the expeditions of seven-year old Sarah and her quacky best friend, Duck. Children will also be able to enjoy Hey Duggee, winner of BAFTA’s Best Pre-School Amination award in 2016, which centres around the adventures of ‘The Squirrel Club’ run by a big friendly dog Duggee and his friends. The series offers a range of interactive activities and adventures for children on which they can earn activity badges along the way.
The MOU was signed by David Weiland, EVP Asia, BBC Worldwide and Wang Xiaohui, Chief Content Officer, iQIYI. It was witnessed by Kelvin Yau, GM, Greater China, BBC Worldwide and Zeng Shangyou, Director, Copyright Management Centre, iQIYI.
“This is the first time CBeebies programmes will be available as a block on a digital platform in China. We are very pleased that iQIYI is our partner for this ‘first’. CBeebies has won multiple awards, most recently ‘Children’s Channel of the Year’ at the BAFTA last year, and now parents and carers in China will have access to its trusted programmes to enthrall their pre-schoolers anytime, anyplace” said David Weiland, EVP Asia, BBC Worldwide. “This partnership is an affirmation of the shared commitment to bring the very best of BBC programmes to a wider audience across China.”
“We first started working with BBC Worldwide in 2015 when we partnered with them to bring their premium factual content to viewers on iQIYI. We are excited to expand this partnership to include their very popular CBeebies programmes for our pre-school audience and their parents and carers. We are confident that CBeebies’ programmes aimed at encouraging ‘learning through play’ in a consistently safe environment will be very popular with our audience,” said Mr Wang Xiaohui, Chief Content Officer, iQIYI.
思贝斯 (sī bèi sī) is set to launch by this summer. Programmes will be serviced in English and/or Mandarin.
BBC Worldwide Showcase 2017, the world’s largest TV sales market to be hosted by a single distributor, takes place at the ACC in Liverpool from 19th to 22nd February. Now in it is 41st year, the four-day event has now become a firm fixture in the diary of over 700 of the world’s top TV buyers, award-winning producers and on-screen talent.
For more information, please contact:
Jeanne Leong
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com
Jessie Lim
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5295
Email: Jessie.Lim@bbc.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.
In 2015/16 BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £133.8m and headline sales of £1,029.4m and returned £222.2m to the BBC.
For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review webpage: bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/