BBCWW takes Pests and Rich Kids into Africa

Passion Distribution has shopped a raft of content to BBC Worldwide in the wake of the recent Discop Africa market.

Worldwide acquired a package that includes Rich Kids of Social Media and UKTV’s pest control series Deadliest Pests Down Under (pictured) for its channels in the region.

The deal also included Firecracker Films’ one-off Channel 4 doc Secret Life of Human Pups and two-part science doc Evolution of Us from Pioneer Productions.

“We always strive to provide our customers with the best and most engaging content and are looking forward to seeing audience reactions to the shows when they air next year,” said Katie Benbow, head of acquisitions, BBCWW, the BBC’s commercial arm.

In another large package deal covering Africa, Wananchi, which owns the Zuku platform, struck a deal with Passion for 170 hours of factual programming.

Titles include Timber Kings (left) and Carver Kings from Paperny Entertainment, 3 Scientists Walks into a Bar from The Weather Channel, and Firecracker shows Daredevils: The Sky Walker, Daredevils: The Human Bird and Daredevils: The Ice Man.

Like Passion, Firecracker is part of the Tinopolis Group.

Agnes Mbye, sales manager at Passion, said: “We are delighted to continue working with BBC Worldwide channels and Wananchi.

“Africa is a growing market where viewers are increasingly looking for choice and quality. It’s exciting to know that Passion Distribution content continues to find audiences in this diverse and competitive environment.”

Out of Africa, Deadliest Pests Down Under also travelled to Discovery Australia, NTV in Germanty and BBC Worldwide in Poland.