BBC Studios inks its first factual content deal with Mediaset in Italy

BBC Studios has confirmed its first significant factual content deal in Italy with the country’s largest commercial broadcaster, Mediaset. The long-term agreement covers first-window pre-sales of natural history landmarks in the Italian territory, including the BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s upcoming "Frozen Planet II", "Dynasties II" and "Planet Earth III". The content package also comprises of two additional commitments for factual content on Mediaset’s Focus Channel hosting an additional 25 hours per year.

Acquired titles from the BBC Studios catalogue for Mediaset’s portfolio of FTA channels include "Animals with Cameras" Series 2 and "Mummies Unwrapped" and can be seen on the channels later this Spring.

Salim Mukaddam, Senior Vice President, EMEA Content Sales said, “BBC Studios and Mediaset are united in their ambition to bring premium factual shows to Italian audiences. BBC Studios has an eclectic portfolio of world-class content and we’re thrilled that this new substantial agreement will ensure Italy has access to some of the most loved and much talked about shows from the BBC and leading UK independents.”

"KINGDOM" GOES TO BBC ONE AND BBC AMERICA
One of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, "Kingdom" is a dramatic 6x60’ series for BBC One and iPlayer - filmed in one spectacular location over four years. It chronicles the real-life sagas of four African animal families, all vying for dominance in a remote and fertile river valley in Zambia: one of the most stunning landscapes on Earth.

The audience will witness for the first time how the lives and fates of the four groups - leopards, hyenas, wild dogs and lions - are inextricably linked as they battle for supremacy over the valley, and wrestle for power within their own family units.

The NHU will also be working closely with locally-based talent – both employing already established local crew and helping to develop the next generation of Zambian wildlife filmmakers to chronicle this truly cinematic saga.

Mike Gunton, Executive Producer and BBC Studios Natural History Unit Creative Director said: “Being given access to film in this part of Zambia for such a concentrated period of time is a dream come true for the Natural History Unit. Working alongside our partners in Zambia we are all looking forward to seeing how the next four years unfolds, all we can predict is that it will be unpredictable…but exciting too.”