BBC
Worldwide today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
leading Chinese media company, Shanghai Media Group Pictures (SMG
Pictures) that will see expansion of the Doctor Who brand in China.
The
MOU was inked yesterday evening at a signing ceremony at BBC
Worldwide’s Television Centre in London, with Mr Chen Sijie, GM of SMG
Pictures and Jaclyn-Lee Joe, Chief Marketing Officer, BBC Worldwide.
Madam Wang Jianjun, Director General President of Shanghai Media Group,
Tim Davie, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide and Kelvin Yau, GM, Greater
China, BBC Worldwide witnessed the event.
The agreement will see BBC Worldwide working with SMG Pictures to increase the Doctor Who fan base in China, exploring future opportunities as well as exchanging expertise between the two teams.
The MOU comes on the back of a content deal that BBC
Worldwide also signed with SMG Pictures yesterday evening. The deal
will see the entire catalogue of Doctor Who including spin-offs, Torchwood and Class available on popular TV channels and on-demand platforms all over China.
The deal not only covers Showrunners Russell T
Davies and Steven Moffat’s Series 1- 10, but also incoming Showrunner
Chris Chibnall’s yet-to-film Series 11, as well as a first look for
Series 12-15.
“This marks the start of a longer and even more
fruitful partnership with SMGP,” said Jaclyn-Lee Joe, Chief Marketing
Officer, BBC Worldwide. “Doctor Who already has a substantial
fan base in China. Now, Chinese fans will be able to access the entire
catalogue of Doctor Who and its spin-offs thanks to this agreement. The
MOU is an affirmation of both parties’ commitment to build the Doctor Who brand and grow its fan base in China.”
“China is going through a time of tremendous growth
and rapid market development. Everyone here is curious about popular
cultures around the world. At the same time, they want to share their
Chinese culture and values,” said Chen Sijie, General Manager, SMG Pictures. “Doctor Who,
with its long television history and iconic place in popular culture,
is a great representative of British pop culture. We hope that this
partnership with BBC Worldwide will enable both parties, as well as
Chinese and British fans to share and exchange ideas and learnings to
grow the universe of Doctor Who in China.”
BBC Worldwide and Oriental Pearl Group previously worked together on the theatrical release of Sherlock – The Abominable Bride as well as the upcoming launch of One Amazing Day a co-production with SMG Pictures. The entire catalogue of Top Gear, Top Gear UK and all the UK specials, as well as five series of Top Gear USA, six series of Top Gear Korea and both series of Top Gear China
has also recently launched on BesTV, SMG’s linear television service.
There has also been a CBeebies programming block on BesTV since 2014.
Shanghai Media Group Pictures is the film business unit of Oriental Pearl Group, held by Shanghai Media Group.
Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and a BBC AMERICA co-production.
Via BBC Media
Via BBC Media
