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MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of UK pubcaster the BBC - has announced that In the Night Garden, the UK pre-school programme from Ragdoll Productions, has been sold to Gulli and Tiji in France, taking the total TV sales so far to 24 countries including Canada, Australia and Spain. |
BBC Worldwide MD children‘s and licensing Neil Ross Russell says, "France is a really important territory to us and these sales enable us to open up additional platforms to launch our merchandising, publishing and DVD plans. These, in turn, provide valuable revenue to be invested back in to programming and services at the BBC."
BBC Worldwide adds that In the Night Garden has triumphed with high ratings, awards and press accolades since its launch in Spring 2007. It was the fastest growing new toy property in 2007, beating other newcomer High School Musical and is valued at ?10.8 million.
To date the property has sold over half a million DVDs and over 1.5 million books. Hasbro‘s Blanket Time Igglepiggle scooped the prestigious Toy of the Year award and scored exceptional sales success in the run up to Christmas in 2007.
In France, In the Night Garden launched on Gulli, a children‘s channel jointly owned by the France Télévisions public service group and the Lagard?re group. The pre-school show will broadcast every morning. Tiji, a pre-school channel owned by Lagard?re, will broadcast the programme every day.
A mid-September launch in Spain is already proving a ratings success. After just 18 broadcasts on public service broadcaster TVE, the channel has reported an almost 25 per cent audience share for the programme.
In Europe In the Night Garden has also been sold to Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Denmark, Serbia, Sweden, Lithuania.
The programme has also sold to the Middle East including Iran and Israel, South Africa and India where it airs on CBeebies.
Recent sales deals of the show in Asia include the media company Everyshow in Korea, Malaysia on RTM and Singapore on Kids Central as well as to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Launched on ABC1 in Australia this April, In the Night Garden enjoys an average of 25 per cent audience share each morning. Hasbro toy sales in the region recently surpassed Thomas the Tank Engine and Dora the Explorer toy sale.
Publishing is proving equally strong with 11 book titles selling-through 121,000 units since hitting the shelves in June***, with more than 45,000 DVD units sold-through since initial release in early August.
In the Night Garden launched on Canada‘s Treehouse in February 2008. The show airs everyday. Hasbro and Penguin launched new product to market in the Summer. The programme has also sold to Trinidad in South America.
