MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC?s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has announced its latest co-production agreement with CCTV9 at MipTV, on ?Hidden Kingdoms?, the forthcoming series from the BBC?s Natural History Unit. The Chinese state broadcaster?s documentary channel had agreed its first ever co-production deals with BBC Worldwide last year, on science series ?Wonders of Life? and ?Generation Earth? and later on natural history title ?Africa?.

Billed as ?Pixar meets Life?, ?Hidden Kingdoms? is the untold story of the natural world?s most fascinating diminutive characters. From chipmunks in North America, to giant rhinoceros beetles in Tokyo and sengi in East Africa, the series looks at the challenges faced by the natural world?s mini-heroes.

BBC Worldwide president, global markets Paul Dempsey said, "We?re really excited about this groundbreaking new series from the NHU, and pleased to be working with CCTV9 once again. The support of CCTV9 on Hidden Kingdoms guarantees it a huge audience in China, and helps the NHU to create a memorable series that will resonate with viewers all around the world."

CCTV9 channel director Liu Wen commented, "The BBC?s Natural History Unit is renowned as a world-leader in its field, so we?re very happy to be taking this new title to viewers in China. It?s a unique project that brings something completely new to the genre, and we can?t wait to see the finished series."

BBC Worldwide has previously brokered a co-production for ?Wild China? (known in China as ?Beautiful China?), between the BBC?s Natural History Unit and CTV, a production company under CCTV. The series, distributed by BBC Worldwide, has been licensed to over 160 territories around the world.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of UK pubcaster the BBC, has agreed to sell the travel guide business Lonely Planet to NC2 Media, following approval from the BBC Trust.

The move follows the BBC?s commercial review last year which set out the company?s strategy to focus on BBC brands and promote the best of the corporation?s output globally.

BBC Worldwide will receive ?51.5 million with ?41.2 million paid on completion and ?10.3 million paid in one year?s time.

BBC Worldwide interim CEO Paul Dempsey said, ?We acquired Lonely Planet in 2007 when both our strategy and the market conditions were quite different. Since then, Lonely Planet has increased its presence in digital, magazine publishing and emerging markets whilst also growing its global market share, despite difficult economic conditions. However, we have also recognised that it no longer fits with our plans to put BBC brands at the heart of our business and have decided to sell the company to NC2 Media who are better placed to build and invest in the business."

Lonely Planet is a travel publisher and has printed approximately 120 million books in 11 different languages. Lonely Planet?s magazine franchise has expanded beyond the first UK edition to 14 international editions.

However, Lonely Planet?s financial performance has been impacted in recent years by the continued strength of the Australian dollar, the rapid consolidation of the publishing industry and a global recession which affected leisure travel.

BBC Worldwide has been exploring strategic options for Lonely Planet over the last year and was keen to find a new owner that could bring greater focus and capital to the business. NC2 Media demonstrated a commitment to invest in Lonely Planet and today?s announcement concludes the process to find the right buyer.

NC2 Media is a US-based media company primarily engaged in the creation, acquisition, and distribution of quality digital content and the development of the technologies that make this possible. The company is poised to leverage the opportunities presented by the changing landscape within the industry. The business is headquartered in Nashville Tennessee, and led by Daniel Houghton, its executive director, who will take on additional responsibility at Lonely Planet as COO.

NC2 Media?s primary shareholder is Brad Kelley, an American businessman and Forbes 400 member. His historical business interests include consumer products and real estate and he was formerly the largest shareholder and board member in Churchill Downs. Kelley?s current business interests focus on media via NC2 Media and various technologies through VAON Technology Unit. He also pursues significant interests in land and wildlife conservation through the Kelley Conservation Foundation.

NC2 Media executive director Daniel Houghton commented, ?With this acquisition comes a global footprint, not only in the travel guide business, but also in magazine publishing and the digital space. We are very excited about this opportunity, and delighted to agree this deal with BBC Worldwide. The challenge and promise before us is to marry the world?s greatest travel information and guidebook company with the limitless potential of 21st century digital technology. If we can do this, and I believe we can, we can build a business that, while remaining true to the things that made Lonely Planet great in the past, promises to make it even greater in the future.?

The sale transaction will occur at the end of the current financial year 31 March, and Lonely Planet will continue to function as a global operation.

BBC Worldwide had acquired 75 per cent of Lonely Planet in 2007 for ?88.1 million and the remaining 25 per cent in 2011 for ?42.17 million, for a total consideration of ?130.2 million.

During the time BBC Worldwide has owned Lonely Planet, its annual revenue has grown from ?810 million in 2007 to ?1.08 billion in 2012 ? with profit increasing from ?111 million in 2007 to ?155 million in 2012.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide incoming president, global markets Paul Dempsey has named his senior leadership team who will be responsible for running the businesses in Western Europe; Central and Eastern Europe; Middle East and Africa (Cema); Asia and Latin America.

The appointments, which officially start on 2 April, follow the reorganisation of BBC Worldwide to further increase its focus on international markets, enabling it to capture future growth opportunities around the world.

The reorganisation will see the business reconfigured from divisional to geographic lines of management. As a result, BBC Worldwide?s existing structure, primarily based around five global divisions, will cease to exist. Instead, P&L ownership and primary commercial accountability will move closer to its customers.

Each executive VP becomes responsible for the P&L; business development and delivering revenue and profit growth across all businesses in their region which will include channels; TV sales; consumer products and production.

Reporting into Dempsey, the new executive VPs are:

• David Weiland, who becomes executive VP for Western Europe. In addition, this role will be responsible for guiding and leading the development of commercial Sales strategy?s in order to maximise the value of BBC Worldwide IP, and grow BBC Worldwide revenue within Western Europe, CEMA, Asia and Latin America.
• Ian McDonough, who becomes executive VP for Central Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. In addition he has a global commercial remit for BBC Channels Strategy and will work closely with Liam Keelan, the new BBC Worldwide Editorial Director.
• Joyce Yeung, who becomes executive VP for Asia.
• Fred Medina, who becomes executive VP for Latin America.

Dempsey said, ?We?ve got big plans to build the fan base for BBC brands all around the world. These senior level appointments are a sign of our ambition. With Fred, David, Ian and Joyce leading the charge, I?m sure we?ll enjoy much success in taking the ?Worldwide? in our company name to new heights.

MUMBAI: Broadcasters from across Middle East and Africa have snapped up a number of the latest top dramas at BBC Worldwide Showcase 2013.

The four-day event plays host to over 700 TV buyers including IBA, Yes and Al Jazeera from the Middle East and Africa?s MNet. Between them the networks have licensed ?The Paradise?, ?Call the Midwife?, ?Da Vinci?s Demons?, ?Top of the Lake? and ?Ripper Street? amongt others.

Israel broadcaster IBA has picked up two key Showcase titles, ?The Paradise?, starring Elaine Cassidy and Emun Elliott and ?Call the Midwife? (series one). IBA has also licensed a number of David Attenborough natural history titles including ?Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild? and ?Attenborough?s Giant Egg?.

Also in Israel, Yes DBS has concluded a drama package that leads with the eagerly awaited ?Da Vinci?s Demons?, written by David S. Goyer and starring Tom Riley and Laura Haddock, based on the genius? early years in Renaissance Italy. This follows BBC Worldwide?s sale of the eight-part series to Fox International Channels announced in August last year. Other series in the deal include ?The Fear? and ?The Secret of Crickley Hall? as well as a documentary package for titles such as ?Addicted to Tattoos?, ?Eat, Fast and Live Longer? and ?Junior Doctors? (series two).

In a drama double, BBC Worldwide has licensed both ?Ripper Street? and ?Top of the Lake?, to MNet for South African territory premieres.

?Doctor Who? (Series 5, 6, 7) will premiere on Al Jazeera?s children?s channel. Meanwhile Al Jazeera Documentary Channel has bought 200 hours of documentary, current affairs, science and natural history programming including ?Attenborough?s Giant Egg?, ?India on Four Wheels?, ?Panorama: Poor America?, ?Panorama: Price Tag Wars?, ?Transit of Venus? and ?True Stories? (series 2-4).

Elsewhere, OSN Dubai has acquired the latest series of ?Top Gear? (S19) and ?Top Gear USA? (S3), securing the exclusive first window in the Middle East territories.

BBC Worldwide territory manager Middle East and Africa, sales and distribution Paola Tonella said, "Drama is topping the bill at this year?s Showcase and it?s clear that BBC Worldwide?s programming with its quality scripts and first class production values are extremely attractive to global buyers. We are very proud of the Showcase slate, and I?m delighted we have completed important deals for these series, as well as our premium blue-chip documentaries, to key broadcasters in this region."

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has unveiled Numtums Adventures as the latest new title in production for the international CBeebies network.

Created as a result of BBC Worldwide Channels? ongoing deal with CBeebies in-house productions in the UK, Numtums Adventures continues BBC Worldwide?s commitment to invest in programmes that will encourage children around the world to learn through play.

BBC Worldwide will hold the commercial rights for the series, including global channel broadcast, distribution and merchandising.

Aimed at four to six year olds, the adventure comedy evolved from a series of five-minute learning shorts that currently air on the preschool channel in the UK and around the world to help children with their numbers.

The new series targets upper pre-schoolers by introducing story driven episodes, fast paced comedy and visual humour, and distinct voices and personalities for the Numtum characters. Using CGI, each episode sees the number-obsessed heroes use their maths and number skills to resolve problems in their quirky hometown of Gumnut Gorge.

Numtums Adventures is produced by the CBeebies in-house team and animated by A Productions in Bristol. The series will debut on CBeebies in the UK and around the world in 2013/14.

Numtums Adventures is the latest in a slate of new investments for BBC Worldwide?s international CBeebies network.

CBeebies is a multi-platform brand for preschoolers aged six years and under, which encourages children to learn through play. In the UK, CBeebies offers a mix of new and landmark, high-quality, UK-produced content to educate and entertain the BBC?s youngest audiences in a consistently safe environment.

The international CBeebies channel is wholly-owned by BBC Worldwide and is available in the following territories: Pan Asia, Australia, Pan Latin America & the US Hispanic market, Poland, South Africa and the Nordic region.