Sacrée Bluey! BBC Studios appoints France tv distribution as their French licensing agency for Bluey
BBC Studios announce the appointment of France tv distribution as its French licensing agent for the multi-award winning Children’s series Bluey across the region. France Télévisions has also secured the title for France 5.
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.”
Bluey joins the big family of the must-have licenses in the France tv distribution line-up including BBC Studios’ He, Oua-Oua (Hey Duggee).
From Saturday 10th April, Bluey will be broadcast on France 5 on weekends at 08:45 and from Monday to Friday at 08:20, 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 4-10 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 #1 new license in the super plush category** and was the #2 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 & 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”
Winner of an International Emmy Kids Award in March 2020, Bluey is attracting high ratings in several markets and on various platforms. In Australia, Bluey was the #1 children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020*** and is the #1 series ever on ABC iview with over 480 million views across series 1 and 2****.
In the US, Bluey hit 16 million total views on Disney Channel and Disney Junior in Q4 2019. During summer 2020, Bluey ranked number1 on DisneyNOW for 17 consecutive weeks*****. Bluey is also available in the UK on the streaming platform Disney+ and has recently announced its launch on CBeebies in April and its YouTube channel has over 7.5 million hours of watch time and over 232 million views.
Created by Joe Brumm and made entirely in Brisbane Australia, 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, with production support from the Australian Government through Screen Australia, and Queensland Government through Screen Queensland.
-Ends-
Sources
*Source: France tv distribution
**Source: US NPD data
***Source: Oz TAM (5 City Metro), Consolidated 28 Data 2020 YTD (01.01.20 – 30.08.20). Top children’s programs by genre. All FTA channels. Total Ppl.
****Source: OzTAM (VPM & Begin Event Data) 01.1.2018 – 05.11.2020
***** Source: Omniture, 7/1 – 9/20/2020
For more information, please contact: Alexandra.thrift@bbc.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Bluey. BBC Studios has offices in 22 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2500 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Amazon and China Mobile, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles. To the BBC, BBC Studios contributes both cash dividends and funds for programme-making, supporting the licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.
About France tv Distribution
A subsidiary of the France Télévisions group, France tv distribution is the partner of producers and rights holders in the search for financing and pre-sales of their programs on all media supports (video and VOD publishing and distribution, music publishing, magazines and books, derivative rights and financing of audiovisual programs).
Since January 2017, France tv distribution has also been supporting cinema internationally, all territories and all rights.
About Moose Toys
Moose Toys exists to make children Superhappy, it's at the heart of everything we do. The team has innovation in its DNA and is famous for the design, development, and manufacture of award-winning toys that continue to disrupt the market! Moose Toys leads in categories including collectibles, craft, dolls, games and youth electronics and is consistently recognized as the most creative company in the industry.
We are a family run business but that doesn't mean we are small-time, we shook up the toy industry in 2014 with the global phenomenon Shopkins and through these pint-sized characters, reinvigorated the way children play. Not satisfied to stop at toys, we have also stretched ourselves into creating content, entertainment and making worldwide licensing deals. Moose calls Australia home, but our 500-strong team is scattered globally, spreading the Superhappy.
Last year Moose Toys announced an expansion of their European network with the acquisition of popular Scruff-a-Luvs brand and talented design led UK business, Worlds Apart. Worlds Apart is a leading UK toy company and creator of children’s lifestyle products, well known for their Scruff-a-Luv, Ready Beds and Kid Active brands.