The BBC has entered into a joint venture with production company Ragdoll, securing the long-term rights to programmes such as Teletubbies, Boohbah and Tots TV and including new properties Tronji and In the Night Garden (left).
A new company, Ragdoll Worldwide Ltd has been set up, and will launch the two new properties, In the Night Garden and Tronji, which Ragdoll is now in the final stages of completing. Both In the Night Garden, a pre-school property, which will be launched at MIPCOM in Cannes next month, and the CG/live-action programme Tronji are scheduled to air in the UK on BBC in 2007.
BBC Worldwide will manage the international broadcast sales and the UK and international licensing of all Ragdoll properties including Blips, Boohbah, Brum, Tots TV, Rosie and Jim and the Open a Door series on behalf of the new joint venture. Ragdoll retains all UK broadcast rights and Ragdoll USA Inc, part of the new joint venture, will manage the Ragdoll portfolio in North America.
"Ragdoll is pleased to further strengthen its unique relationship with BBC Worldwide,” said Mark Hollingsworth, commercial director of Ragdoll. "Creating a vehicle that is equally owned by, and managed with BBC Worldwide allows both organisations to collaborate and capitalise on our respective strengths around the world. I am certain that the creation of Ragdoll Worldwide will result in additional exposure and awareness of the Ragdoll brand globally," he added.
BBC Worldwide’s managing director for Children's and Global TV Sales, Mark Young said: "This is an important development for BBC Worldwide as it secures one of our most important relationships in the Children’s business in advance of the launch of their new slate of fantastic properties. Ragdoll and BBC Worldwide have had a long and successful partnership going back over a decade."
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