Off the Fence wins Babelgum order

Extinction Sucks

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Off the Fence has won its first online commission, a factual wildlife series for web TV platform Babelgum.

Extinction Sucks follows Australian conservationists Aleisha Caruso and Ashleigh Young, who are challenged in each episode to find innovative and fun-filled fund-raising stunts to help save an individual animal or an endangered species.

The series is the second project to be developed under Babelgum's digital studio initiative, a $13.8m new content investment fund established in March.

The first was Downstream, a documentary focusing on the controversy over the development of Alberta's oil sands.

Extinction Sucks will also aim to encourage fans of the show and volunteers from around the globe to join in and raise funds for vital wildlife projects.

The World Wildlife Fund will support the series internationally with experts who will offer information and input on species and locations.

Off the Fence managing director Ellen Windemuth said: "The series is fast-paced, fun and real. The combination of this kind of content with Babelgum's platform will enable Extinction Sucks to reach a wide audience of young people.

"We can team our experience in creating top-quality programming with the perfect home for such a series, creating a dedicated nature and conservation community with worldwide reach."

Babelgum chief executive Valerio Zingarelli added: "Extinction Sucks is a series that tries not only to speak out on an issue, but also to propose concrete solutions: what each of us can do to really change things. You can watch and forget, or you can act upon the problem by doing simple things that can change the course of life in the long term. This is the most original point made in our new production and will be the distinguishing mark of our future ones".