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BBCWW and SMG expand partnership

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BBC Worldwide signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai Media Group (SMG) – an agreement that will expand their strategic relationship to include programme and format  production, programme distribution and co-production opportunities. Under the agreement, BBC Worldwide will work with several of SMG’s subsidiaries, including Internet TV Service, BesTV, DocuChina, Dragon TV, Wings Media and Toonmax Media.

The MOU was signed in a ceremony that took place during MIPTV in Cannes with Wang Jiajun, Director General President representing SMG and Paul Dempsey, President, Global Markets, for BBC Worldwide. 

Key areas of collaboration include:

  • Extension of the CBeebies brand in China – exploring opportunities with BesTV, to broaden the CBeebies brand in China to  beyond TV to include consumer products, e-commerce and marketing.
  • Co-production opportunities – with BesTV, DocuChina and Toonmax Media exploring areas of co-operation in documentaries, factual entertainment  and drama spaces including theatrical – for the Chinese and global markets. The first co-production output of a major documentary is expected to be completed within 12 months. 
  • Format production – with Dragon TV, focusing on the production of BBC formats for the channel, and ultimately co-developing original formats to take to the international market.

“We are delighted to be cementing our relationship with SMG by announcing this exciting new phase of our long term alliance and look forward to working together towards the exchange of expertise and creation of new business models across media spaces in both China and  globally,” said Paul Dempsey, President, Global Markets for BBC Worldwide.

“SMG and BBC Worldwide have enjoyed extensive content distribution collaboration over the years.  I’m delighted that our collaboration will expand to new territories in the future. We look forward to deepening our relationship with BBC Worldwide to greatly enhance SMG’s original production capacity.” Said Madam Wang Jiannjun, Director President, Shanghai Media Group.

BBC Worldwide has a long standing relationship with SMG, with BesTV acquiring BBC documentaries and dramas since 2008. Chinese versions of BBC formats, Top Gear and Dancing with the Stars are produced for and shown on Dragon TV, and there is an existing branded block of CBeebies content seen in over 20 million Chinese households on the IPTV platform.