FD Broadcast Media: Newsdesk

BBC Licences Top Gear to Australia

Matt Campbell, the SBS director of content, said he wanted to do something new."In making it, we won't simply replicate the UK series with an Australian version of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond or James May," Campbell said. "SBS plans to make a programme that is uniquely and quintessentially Australian."

Australia is to get its own version of Top Gear after the BBC signed its first international licensing deal for the popular motoring show.
State-owned SBS, which was set up to be a multicultural broadcaster but carries advertising, will screen the programme from next year with a planned eight episodes.
The production is the first by Sydney-based Freehand Productions since BBC Worldwide bought a minority stake in January.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/19/bbc.television

This Story seems to have not been widely reported in the Media, least of all on the BBC Website, but could be seen as a Major change in the way the BBC will operate and look to gain a foothold in Foreign Markets. BBC Programmes are sold and shown throughout the World and are renowned for their quality – but this takes things a step further.

Australian 'Ute'

BBC Worldwide – the BBC’s Commercial arm – is looking to Licence spin off Programmes around the world and plans to have 8 Production Offices or Joint Ventures with Production Offices by March next year. BBC Worldwide owns a 25% Stake in Freehand Productions (who will be Producing Top Gear for Australia) and has also opened Production Offices in Los Angeles and Mumbai.

So, this is not a sudden response to the Funding Shortfall, but a plan that is already in action – I wonder if as part of the deal the International Versions will be Licenced to the BBC for the UK Market for free ?

This will be something to watch with interest - a new British Empire ?!!