BBC Studios has announced a strengthening of its partnership with the ABC via a deal that will bring around 100 hours of new kids and family programs to free-to-air and streaming TV in Australia.
As shared, the new content deal comprises an array of new and upcoming BBC Studios-produced shows designed for kids of all ages.
New kids shows on ABC – quick links
All the new BBC Studios kids and family shows coming to ABC
One of the headliners of the new deal between BBC Studios and the ABC is Zog, a new CG-animated series from Magic Light Pictures inspired by the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The series follows the adventures of Zog the dragon, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout as they look after the weird and wonderful creatures of their world and maintain peace for everyone.
Rafi the Wishing Wizard is another major BBC show on the way to Australia. This follows a seven-year-old named Rafi Martin who seeks to become a powerful wizard, using her magical but unreliable wishing wand.
You can also expect the arrival of Crookhaven, adapted from JJ Arcanjo’s book series, which follows a group of ‘gifted young crooks’ who learn to hone their kills in a secretive British boarding house.
Also included in the deal are selected seasons of Hey Duggee, Horrible Histories, Supertato, as well as Season 2 of Horrible Season, Season 7 of Deadly 60, and the Australian premiere of Dodge’s Pup School.
Also coming to ABC
As well as these new kids and family programs, BBC Studios has also confirmed two new documentaries presented by David Attenborough, Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure and Wild London, as well as the six-part comedy The Reluctant Vampire.
The Reluctant Vampire follows a young vampire (Lenny Rush) who discovers ‘he is in fact alive, not undead, and must navigate his newly discovered human side while juggling the expectations of his tradition-obsessed father, the suspicions of his brother, and the support of the only family member who knows the truth, his mother.’
It’s worth noting the comedy follows in the footsteps of other acclaimed BBC supernatural dramas, including Young Dracula and Being Human.
The continued partnership of BBC Studios and ABC
Both BBC Studios and the ABC remain enthusiastic about their long-term partnership, and what’s to come for Australian audiences. Deborah Tod, the ANZ Director of Content Partnerships and Sales at BBC Studios, described the ABC as ‘a valued long-term partner’ with a reputation for ‘exceptional children’s content in Australia’.
‘Our partnership has continued to evolve alongside audience demand for premium content, and this latest agreement reflects our shared commitment to delivering distinctive storytelling across genres and platforms,’ Tod said.
Maria-Nicole Miriklis, Acquisitions Manager at ABC, added: ‘We’re delighted to extend our partnership with BBC Studios, bringing more outstanding and much-loved children’s programs to our platforms. These compelling series will engage and entertain Australian children and families while reflecting the quality content our audiences value.’
Australian audiences can look forward to seeing more from these shows in the coming months. Zog is one of the first shows to premiere, with this arriving on 22 August on ABC Kids and ABC iview.
