Inviting UK and Australian producers to co-develop and co-produce content
BBC Children’s & Education has partnered with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Children & Family to create opportunities for UK and Australian producers to co-develop and co-produce global kids content.
The Shared Horizons initiative is designed to bring together the strengths of both production sectors, with both broadcasters seeking creator-driven broadcast and streaming projects that appeal across both territories.
The scheme will focus on scripted live-action drama and animation for preschool audiences, children aged five to eight, and young audiences up to 10 years old.
Director of BBC Children & Education Patricia Hidalgo said: “At its best, public service children’s content helps young audiences make sense of the world around them. Through Shared Horizons, the BBC and ABC will combine the creative talent of the UK and Australia to develop distinctive stories with global reach and discover the next generation of children’s characters and ideas.”
ABC head of children & family Melinda Wearne said: “The ABC and the BBC share a public service DNA that puts children at the heart of what we do.
“This partnership gives producers in Australia and the UK the confidence to think big, knowing they have two major public broadcasters ready to collaborate from the very beginning of the creative process.
“The best children’s stories are always grounded in authentic local experiences and universal themes, and we want creators to celebrate what makes their communities and cultures unique.”
The broadcasters have a long history together, including on the co-commission of live action tween comedy Spooky Files, produced by Tony Ayres Productions and Megaboom Pictures.
The UK corporation also has had a major animation push in place in recent years, having set up the BBC Ignite scheme to support homegrown shows such as CBeebies’ pre-school series Rafi the Wishing Wizard.
British submissions for the Shared Horizons scheme can be made as for any other project through PiCoS and Australian submissions can be made through the ABC Children & Family production portal.
Details of funding and deadlines for applications are as yet unknown.
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