Leading independent distributor All3Media International has signed a wave of early sales for award-winning Silverback Films' "Parenthood" (5 x 1-hour), with broadcasters across five continents acquiring the landmark blue-chip wildlife series ahead of its UK premiere on BBC One and iPlayer.
Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, "Parenthood" is a definitive series on nature’s greatest challenge. Created by acclaimed natural history producer Silverback Films ("The Hunt", "The Mating Game", "Ocean with David Attenborough"), the series was filmed over three years across six continents. Using cutting-edge 8K technology, it captures the drama, danger, and joy of animal parenting in a fast-changing world.
Ahead of its BBC broadcast, "Parenthood" has been picked up by broadcasters in Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. In China, CCTV-9 (China Media Group’s Documentary Channel) secured the first linear window. In a unique multi-platform strategy, All3Media International’s APAC office also closed non-exclusive digital deals across iQIYI, Youku, bilibili, and Tencent Video, expanding the reach across both linear and digital platforms.
Warner Bros. Discovery will carry the series in selected Asian markets, while Japanese broadcaster NHK—also a local co-production partner—will premiere a tailored version for Japanese audiences this summer. Further APAC buyers include Now TV (Hong Kong), TVNZ (New Zealand), and Network Ten (Australia).
European deals include NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), Telefónica (Spain), SIC (Portugal), France Télévisions (France), SH Channel 8 (Israel), and HRT (Croatia). Central and Eastern European buyers include CANAL+ Polska (Poland), Latvian Television (Latvia), MTVA (Hungary), and ERR (Estonia). Discovery Asharq has acquired rights for the Middle East and North Africa.
In North America, The WNET Group has licensed "Parenthood" for broadcast on PBS's "Nature" series in the U.S., while CBC will air the series on CBC TV and CBC Gem in Canada. Warner Bros. Discovery has signed a pan-regional deal for Latin America.
"Parenthood" was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual at the BBC. The series is produced by the BAFTA- and Emmy-winning Silverback Films, with Jeff Wilson as Series Producer and Director, Keith Scholey as Executive Producer, and Tara Knowles as Production Manager.
These global deals for "Parenthood" follow the success of "Ocean with David Attenborough", another Silverback Films project co-funded and distributed by All3Media International. The feature-length documentary debuted as a global cinema event celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s 99th birthday, with a London premiere attended by King Charles III. Attenborough also discussed the film in a public interview with Prince William ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in June. The film is now available on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu, and its initial pay-TV window is active on Nat Geo.
Rachel Job, SVP Unscripted at All3Media International, praised the documentary: "I’m delighted to see 'Parenthood' leaving its footprint around the world. This groundbreaking documentary delivers must-see viewing, using stunning visuals to immerse audiences in the ever-changing and often dangerous world of animal parenting. Packed with engaging characters and capturing behaviours never seen before, these incredible stories — in combination with the film’s powerful, relatable message about investing in future generations and the importance of preserving the natural world — are sure to resonate deeply worldwide," expressed.
Driven by Sir David Attenborough’s narration, "Parenthood" captures the high-stakes challenges of animal parenting—from spiders to giraffes, otters to crabs, dolphins to hippos, chimpanzees to lions. The series unfolds across five films, offering powerful tales of devotion and sacrifice, showcasing the extraordinary lengths animals go to ensure their young survive in a changing world.
Meanwhile, in "Ocean with David Attenborough", the legendary broadcaster delivers one of his most urgent messages yet. Drawing on a lifetime of experience, Attenborough takes audiences through Earth’s most awe-inspiring undersea ecosystems, declaring this the greatest age of ocean discovery and offering a message of hope: that marine life recovery is still within reach.
Related News
