Tag Archives: BBC Studios

Bluey billed “most important preschool IP since Frozen” as Stor SL readies merch portfolio for UK, Ireland, and EMEA

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Bosses at the global product manufacturer, Stor SL have hailed BBC Studios’ preschool property, Bluey “the most important property since Disney’s Frozen” as it prepares to launch a portfolio of more than 50 licensed items to the UK, Ireland, and EMEA markets in the coming months.

The range, spanning drinkware, lunch bags, plates and bowls, cutlery, bottles, and more will be made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, and porcelain and will add natural fibres to traditional plastics to reduce the percentage of plastics by up to 30 per cent.

Stor will also be offering tailor-made options to retailers who request an exclusive line.

Valentin Ortiz, CEO of Stor SL, said: “In my view, Bluey is without a doubt the most important pre-school property since Frozen. It has been a real phenomenon in Australia and the USA and is becoming a huge global hit. Our retailers, customers and Stor local office directors have been asking about this opportunity and we are proud to work together with them to develop our Bluey range.”

Anita Majhu, senior licensing manager, BBC Studios, added: “We are delighted that Stor is joining our raft of world-class partners for Bluey. This partnership offers a fantastic opportunity to reach fans across the UK and Ireland and EMEA markets.

“Stor’s commitment to sustainability also complements BBC Studios’ work in this area and we welcome bringing Bluey products to market that are responsibly sourced.”

The Bluey line of product from Stor will complement extensive launch plans for Bluey licensed product across UK and EMEA driven by ‘exceptional TV ratings’ and led by a comprehensive toy programme.

First launched in Australia in October 2018, Bluey is quickly becoming a global hit, achieving ‘outstanding ratings’ and attracting a multitude of best in class partners.

In its home market, Bluey was the number one children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020 and is the number one series of all time on ABC iview, with over 480 million views across series one and two. The property also won Pre-School License of the Year for the second year in a row at the Australian Toy Association (ATA) Awards.

Meanwhile in France, Bluey is available on France Télévision’s free-to-air channel France 5 and its catch-up kids’ platform OKOO. Toys from global master toy partner Moose is set to launch at retail in France in 2022.

The series is also available on CBeebies in the UK, where it has become the top programme on the channel since it launched in April. Its episodes constitute the top five most requested CBeebies episodes on BBC iPlayer. Toys from global master toy partner Moose will launch at retail in the UK in July.

BBC Studios has a global broadcast deal with Disney for Bluey and recently announced that the third season will debut on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+ in all territories outside of Australia, New Zealand and China.

BBC Studios reshuffles licensing team as Rikesh Desai leaves licensing director role

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BBC Studios has detailed a reorganisation of its licensing team following the departure of Rikesh Desai, the company’s licensing director for the UK and EMEA.

Director of magazines, Mandy Thwaites will take on additional responsibility for the merchandising team, while global director of live entertainment, Mat Way, will now also lead the gaming and interactive team. Both will continue to report to Stephen Davies, BBC Studios’ managing director of consumer products and licensing.

Davies said: “Rikesh has been a driving force behind our merchandise and gaming licensing activity for the last few years and he generated a significant amount of new business and growth for the company, the recent ground-breaking Doctor Who game releases and the tidal wave of Bluey merchandise deals to name a few. It’s fair to say that he has left those businesses in terrific shape.

“I am delighted that Mandy and Mat have agreed to take on additional responsibilities. Mandy has enormous and impressive experience in business leadership, particularly in the field of licensing, and has deep expertise in stakeholder and client relationship management. She also plays a key role in delivering our sustainability agenda, a key consideration for the merchandise team.

“Mat, similarly, has a huge depth of experience. His role managing rights licensing for live entertainment has significant synergy with gaming and interactive markets, as evidenced by recent collaborative projects including the Green Planet 5G project.

“Mandy and Mat both bring passion, energy and commercial nous to carry on the excellent work taking place across the consumer products and licensing division here at BBC Studios.”

Thwaites joined BBC Studios in 2014 and during her time at the company she has managed multiple magazine licensing deals and compliance for over 20 brands, from Gardeners’ World, to Countryfile, to Doctor Who, Top Gear and CBeebies. She is also responsible for the recently relaunched topgear.com.

She said: “It couldn’t be a better time for me to be joining forces with the incredible merchandise team. We’ve the launch of Bluey products about to launch in the UK off the back of the show’s massive success in Australia and the USA. And then Bluey is off to Europe. Hey Duggee will lead the way as we’re soon to roll him out too across European territories. And sustainability is top of my to do list, we’ve made great strides in this area but there is still work to do.”

Meanwhile, Way has worked in the live entertainment team at BBC Studios for 10 years and was promoted to global director of live entertainment in 2018. Following an early career in radio production, he has almost 20 years’ experience working for world-class content studios.

He and his team have delivered landmark projects for the business including, the launch of CBeebies Land and CBeebies Land Hotel at Alton Towers, Blue Planet II in Concert, Planet Earth II in Concert, Doctor Who’s immersive production Time Fracture which has just launched in central London, and the Strictly Come Dancing Live Arena Tour.

He said: “I am thrilled to be joining the gaming and interactive business where there is already a deeply knowledgeable and passionate team in place. Both the live entertainment and gaming & interactive businesses provide really exciting opportunities to bring our brands to life and engage fans in new ways, and given the synergy between the two areas, I am looking forward to exploring new ways of working together too.”

BBC Studios adds VTech to growing global toy roster for preschool series Bluey

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BBC Studios has agreed a multi-territory licensing deal with VTech to produce electronic role play toys based on its multi-award winning children’s TV property, Bluey.

Marking the latest expansion of the series’ global licensing programme, VTech’s initial Bluey range will feature popular characters from the series and lines include electronic books, role play watches and a phone.

Product is expected to launch at retail in both Australia and USA for Q3 2022, followed by future roll outs in the UK, France, Canada and New Zealand.

Andrew Barrett, director of product development and licensing at VTech, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with BBC Studios on this beautifully crafted show. Its focus on imaginative play combined with adventurous storytelling fits perfectly with our ethos of play, learn and develop.”

Julie Kekwick, senior licensing manager at BBC Studio, added: “Our new partnership with VTech symbolises a significant extension of our Bluey franchise, joining our other global partners such as Penguin Random House and complementing the highly successful Moose Toys, master toy range.”

First launched in Australia in October 2018, Bluey is fast becoming a global hit, achieving outstanding ratings and attracting a multitude of best in class partners.

In its home market, Australia, Bluey was the number one children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020 and is the number one series ever on ABC iview with over 480 million views across series one and two. It also won ‘Pre-School License of the Year’ for the second year in a row at the Australian Toy Association (ATA) Awards.

In the US, Bluey is the number one new license in the super plush category, and was the number two top new growth property in 2020 for the total toy industry. Across Disney Junior and Disney Channel in Q1 2021, it was the third most watched TV series with kids aged two to five years old.

Bluey is also available on CBeebies in the UK, where it has become the top programme on the channel since it launched in April. Its episodes constitute the top five most requested CBeebies episodes on BBC iPlayer. Toys from global master toy partner Moose are set to launch at retail in the UK in July.

BBC Studios bolsters Hey Duggee toy line up with MV Sports and new launches from HTI

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MV Sports has become the latest name in toys to sign up with the popular BBC Studio preschool property, Hey Duggee in a new deal to produce a range of branded scooters, ride-ons, and bikes.

The first wave of product will launch at retail this autumn, joining the existing toy partner portfolio comprising HTI, who itself now prepares to release a new role play range for 2022. Both deals mark a shift of gear for the Hey Duggee property in the toy space.

HTI was brought on board earlier this year to create a range of licensed Hey Duggee outdoor toys, including The Bubble Flurry, Bubble Bucket, and Patio Chairs. Other Hey Duggee categories due to launch later this year from HTI include character shaped cases, which feature a medical set and stampers of key characters, as well as a range of musical instruments.

HTI will continue to invest in its Hey Duggee role play toy range, with more tooled products set to launch in 2022 and beyond.

Devised by Studio AKA, the multiple BAFTA and Emmy award-winning preschool series Hey Duggee was the most-watched kids’ show of the year on BBC iPlayer in 2020 with over 192 million requests. Year to date in 2021, Hey Duggee continues to be a top performing children’s show on BBC iPlayer and CBeebies each month.

The official Hey Duggee YouTube channel recently surpassed one million subscribers.

Julie Kekwick, senior licensing manager at BBC Studios said: “I am thrilled to have MV Sports and HTI  on board. Their products reflect Hey Duggee’s core brand essence of encouraging imaginative play and  fun outdoor adventure and I’m in no doubt fans will love them.

“The ever increasing popularity of the show is reflected in sales of licensed consumer products. NPD recently reported Hey Duggee toy sales doubling year on year in the first three months of 2021. This success can be attributed to our Master Toy partner Golden Bear seeing UK Trade sales grow by 97 per cent in 2020 and an order book showing an increase of 70 per cent so far in 2021.”

Phil Ratcliff, joint managing director at MV Sports, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with BBC  Studios on Hey Duggee! With an exceptional time slot on CBeebies, outstanding BBC iPlayer ratings and a history of strong toy sales, Hey Duggee is showing all the signs of becoming a classic.

“Loved by both parents and children alike, Hey Duggee has the perfect awareness profile for strong and sustained  wheeled and outdoor toy sales.”

Hey Duggee boasts an impressive global footprint in over 150 territories, while licensing agents and European toy partners have recently been secured for both France and Spain, with launches planned for later this year.

Bluey tops the ratings on CBeebies and iPlayer during first month on its UK free to air home

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Bluey has been named the top rating programme on CBeebies in April, the same month that the popular preschool series launched to its free to air home in the UK.

The series also become the number one show in its time slot for 0 to six year old children, and its episodes constitute the top five most requested CBeebies episodes on the BBC iPlayer. So far throughout May, Bluey represents nine of the top ten most requested episodes on CBeebies.

Henrietta Hurford-Jones, executive producer for Bluey and director of children’s content partnerships at BBC  Studios, said: “Working with Ludo and ABC on Bluey is a joy and a privilege, and seeing audiences worldwide respond so positively to the warmth, humour and authenticity of the show is immensely rewarding. The degree to which the CBeebies audience has now embraced Bluey too is equally incredible.”

Bluey has been winning the hearts of kids and parents around the world since it first launched in Australia in October 2018, and the show is fast becoming a global hit. In its home market, Bluey was the number one children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020 and is the number one series ever on ABC iview with over 480 million views across series one and two.

In addition to winning over audiences worldwide, Bluey has scooped up multiple awards, such as the  International Emmy Kids Award in the prestigious Preschool category last year. The accolades have continued into 2021, with Bluey winning four Kidscreen Awards in February.

Multi-award winner Bluey follows a six year-old Blue Heeler dog who loves to play and turns everyday family life into extraordinary adventures. Bluey is produced by the multi-Emmy award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC Kids Australia and is co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios.

Stateside | Hit pre-school series Bluey makes play for costumes market with Disguise, Inc partnership

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Bluey, the hit children’s animated TV series from Ludo Studio and BBC Studios, is making a new play for the American costume and fancy dress market, thanks to a new partnership with JAKKS Pacific’s Halloween costume division, Disguise, Inc.

Under the partner, Disguise is set to design, market, manufacture, and distribute costumes and costume accessories for the popular animated property, starting this year. The new line will debut as a first-to-market launch at Walmart across the US.

Bluey is an Australian animation series that follows a six year-old Blue Heeler dog, who loves to play and turns everyday family life into extraordinary adventures. Aimed at pre-school children and their parents, the series champions the importance of unstructured play for enhancing children’s creativity and helping to develop their mental, physical and emotional resilience.

The series celebrates the joyful simplicity found in family life, role play, and imagination. A sensation with US audiences since its fall 2019 premiere, Bluey reached 16 million total views across Disney Channel and Disney Junior in Q4 2019.

“Bluey explores the important themes of family life, parenting and imaginative play. It has a huge fan base of preschoolers and parents that will be thrilled with our new line of Bluey costumes,” said Tara Hefter, EVP and GM of Disguise, Inc.

“Our new partnership with BBC Studios has created some exciting new additions to our 2021 line. We expect to see a positive reaction from fans and at retail this fall.”

Suzy Raia, VP consumer products and business development, BBC Studios, added: “Bluey is our fastest growing show in the US and we’re looking forward to this meaningful partnership with Disguise that will bring the Bluey characters to life with their high quality costumes and accessories.

“Bluey fans will now have the chance to dress up this Halloween and be a part of this sweet Blue Heeler family.”

BBC Studios expands consumer products division with double appointment

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BBC Studios is expanding its consumer products division with the appointment of Louise Rigby and Gaby Dior as its new licensing managers, with a focus on expanding the programmes around Bluey, Hey Duggee, BBC Earth, and Doctor Who.

The pair will report to BBC Studios’ licensing director merchandise, partnerships, and interactive, Rikesh Desai. Rigby will manage UK deals while Dior will oversee the licensing operations and agent relationships across EMEA.

Desai said: “Louise and Gaby bring a wealth of experience and creativity from the brand and licensing world. They have worked with some of the most popular brands and I’m thrilled they’re joining us at an exciting time to provide our fans with more opportunities to interact with their beloved programmes and characters in new and exciting ways.”

Rigby joins from Fashion UK & Global Licensing with over 12 years’ experience working in the brand and licensing industry. She has worked with over 100 world renowned brand owners including LEGO, Disney, WB, Hasbro, Nickelodeon and PlayStation, and has led PR, marketing and account management for product areas including soft lines, accessories, footwear and health & beauty.

She said: “I’m so pleased to be joining BBC Studios at such an exciting time, when the consumer products team is supporting the success and significant growth of preschool properties like Hey Duggee and Bluey.

“I’ve also seen their dedication to supporting partners with sustainable, ethical and environmentally friendly manufacturing which is an amazing thing to be part of. I’m looking forward to working with our existing partners and building new relationships for potential future collaborations.”

Meanwhile, Dior has over 15 years’ experience working in licensing and consumer products and has previously managed licensing programmes across EMEA for leading international agency Wildbrain CPLG, and internationally for Zodiak Rights (now Banijay Rights).

She has worked on leading entertainment brands including The Simpsons, Sonic The Hedgehog, Sesame Street and most recently Brown & Friends, BT21, the Spin Master portfolio, Ghostbusters and the Sony Pictures Entertainment TV portfolio.

“I am thrilled to be joining the team at BBC Studios, home to the very best of British creative content,” she said. “Tapping into my experience across the European markets, I am looking forward to developing and growing the footprint of the licensing business for the new and award-winning preschool brand Bluey and the wider portfolio of existing and trusted brands across the EMEA region.”

The announcement follows a successful year for BBC Studios’ consumer products division which has secured an extensive catalogue of licensees in the UK to coincide with the launch of Emmy Award-winning pre-school series Bluey on CBeebies, new partnerships and renewed deals for Hey Duggee including its first confectionery product with Kinnerton, and successful BBC Earth branded product launches.

BBC Studios is looking to expand its brand footprint in both the UK and EMEA and they will lead key projects in 2021 and beyond.

Sacrée Bluey! BBC Studios appoints France TV Distribution as French licensing agency for Bluey

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BBC Studios has appointed France TV Distribution as its French licensing agent for the multi-award winning children’s series, Bluey across the region. It arrives as France Televisions also secured the title for France 5.

Bluey is the latest to join the family of must-have properties within the France TV Distribution line-up that already includes the BBC Studios hit He, Oua-Oua (Hey Duggee).

From Saturday April 10th, Bluey will be broadcast on France 5 on weekends at 8:45am and from Monday to Friday at 8:20am, the episodes will also be available on catch up on France Televisions’ kids platform OKOO. Previously Bluey has been available to French children’s audiences via Disney Junior since December 2019, where in February 21, it was the number one program for four to ten year olds on the channel.

 Bluey is a multi-award-winning Australian children’s series that follows Bluey, a six year old Australian blue heeler Dog with an endless imagination. Her favorite hobby is to transform everyday moments into extraordinary adventures. She often involves Bingo, her four year old sister in her games, but also her friends, her parents and even the neighbours who appreciate her « joie de vivre ».

 BBC Studios’ partnership with global master toy provider Moose Toys for Bluey includes France and preparations to launch in the territory in 2022 are underway. Moose Toys already markets a wide range of toys in Australia and the United States, as well as the UK from this Autumn.

In the U.S, Bluey is the number one new license in the super plush category and was the number two top new growth property in 2020 for the total toy industry. In Australia, Bluey recently won ‘Pre-School License of the Year’ for the second year in a row at the Australian Toy Association (ATA) Awards. 

 Global master publishing partner Penguin Random House will launch books in France next year following the successful launches in both US and Australia and UK this Autumn.

For other product categories, France TV Distribution is in the process of setting up an ambitious licensing program with the upcoming recruitment of partners for textiles and accessories, bedding, outdoor games, party and home.

 Julie Kekwick, senior licensing manager, BBC Studios, said: “Building on the success of Bluey in Australia, New Zealand, the US and of course the widely anticipated launch in the UK, I am delighted that we have expanded our pre-school portfolio with France TV Distribution, as our licensing agent for Bluey alongside Hey Duggee and in turn strengthening our partnership with them.”

 Aude de la Villarmois, Director of the Licensing Department of France TV Distribution, said: “We are very happy to become the agent of the Bluey brand and thus strengthen our collaboration with the BBC (after the recent acquisition of Hé Oua-Oua).

“France TV Distribution demonstrates once again its ambition to accompany the most powerful preschool brands. Bluey joins the large family of Okoo’s must-have brands and France tv distribution’s license line-up (Peppa Pig, Pyjamasques, Masha and Michka and T’Choupi). Our strong expertise in the preschool field makes France TV Distribution a solid partner.”

 Vincent Brun, commercial and marketing director, Moose France, said: “Moose Toys looks forward to working with France TV distribution to build on the outstanding break-out success of Bluey in both the US and Australia and to roll out Bluey toys across France in 2022.”

Popular pre-school series Bluey to land on CBeebies next month with UK toy ranges to follow

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The Australian smash hit kids’ series, Bluey is landing on CBeebies next month. The channel will be the first free-to-air platform in the UK to broadcast the series which is backed by BBC Studios.

Under the new deal, series one of the hit animated series will air on the channel every day.

Bluey has won multiple awards since its launch on the international market, including an International Emmy Award in the Preschool category in March last year.

Sarah Muller, head of commissioning and acquisitions for BBC Children’s, said: “Bluey is such a warm show, with a charming and recognisable family at its core, that we know our audience will take to their hearts. Kids love how Bluey is all about play, but it’s also genuinely funny so the whole family can watch it together.

“The animation from Ludo Studio is world-class, so we’re completely delighted to be the UK’s free-to-air home for Bluey.”

Henrietta Hurford-Jones, executive producer for Bluey and director of children’s content partnerships at BBC Studios, added: “Developed with heart, humour, and an honest take on modern family life, it is so wonderful to see Bluey fast becoming a favourite show of children and parents globally.

“I’m delighted that we’re now able to reach a new audience here in the UK by bringing the show to CBeebies.”

BBC Studios exclusively distributes the show worldwide where it is attracting high ratings in several markets and on various platforms. In Australia, Bluey was the number one children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020 and is the number one series ever on ABC iview with over 480 million views across series one and two.

In the US, Bluey hit 16 million total views on Disney Channel and Disney Junior in Q4 2019. In Q1 of last year, the series was a top six Disney Junior series with children and girls aged two to five, and a top five series with boys aged two to five.

Bluey is also available in the UK on the streaming platform Disney+ and its YouTube channel has over 7.5 million hours of watch time and over 232 million views.

A global licensing programme for the series is already in place, with best-in-class partners lined up for the UK market with products set to hit retail in months following the show’s launch on CBeebies.

Global master toy partner Moose Toys and puzzles licensee Ravensburger will debut their respective Bluey lines in Autumn 2021.

Additionally, Blues / Dennicci recently joined the brand’s growing softlines portfolio as daywear partner, alongside Aykroyds, TDP, William Lamb, Dreamtex, and Roy Lowe. Immediate Media has worldwide rights for Bluey magazines, its first UK issue will hit newsstands in summer 2021.

Global master publishing partner (excluding China) Penguin Random House will launch books in the UK later this year.

In its home market Australia, Bluey recently won three gongs at the Australian Toy Association (ATA) Awards, including ‘Pre-School License of the Year’ for the second year in a row, Bluey: Big Backyard was the highest selling book of 2020 and Bluey magazine was the number one children’s magazine.

In the US, Bluey is the number one new license in the super plush category and was the number two top new growth property in 202o.

BBC Studios names Andrew Carley director of global licensing to build Bluey momentum

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BBC Studios has promoted licensing industry expert Andrew Carley to the newly created role of director of global licensing, as the firm looks to build on the momentum of the hit pre-school brand Bluey.

In his new role, Carley will lead a five-year strategic growth plan for BBC Studios’ global licensing business, partnering with regional licensing teams, while reporting into BBC Studios’ chief marketing officer, Nicki Sheard.

“I am delighted that Andrew is taking on this new role to help us fuel the growth of Bluey which is quickly gaining worldwide fame,” said Sheard. “His experience of taking pre-school brands global will be invaluable in unlocking the potential of Bluey, and his strategic approach to licensing will benefit BBC Studios’ wider portfolio of hero brands.”

The former Entertainment One executive boasts a wealth of experience in building global licensing programmes around popular pre-school IP, having led the charge for eOne’s Peppa Pig before the company was acquired by the entertainment powerhouse, Hasbro, in 2019.

Andrew Carley, said: “The BBC has long been synonymous with high quality children’s programming. To be given the opportunity to use my experience to help build a long-term global licensing prgoramme around such fantastic programming, including Bluey, is hugely exciting.

“Bluey has many of the rare attributes associated with evergreen global preschool success stories. With that potential comes the opportunity to build on its success and cement BBC Studios’ position as a global player in licensing and consumer products.”

Bluey has already proven itself a hit in international markets, including its launch market Australia. The series has won a slate of awards including the International Kids Emmy and a host of Kidscreen awards. In the US, Bluey has been listed as the number two top new growth property last year for the total toy industry.

Bluey has struck up a number of partnerships across consumer products and publishing already, with Penguin Random House leading its master publishing roll-out, and Moose Toys tapped as the property’s master toy licensee.

Products is due to launch in the UK this year.