BBC pushes ahead with plans for China Showcase

BBC Worldwide is pushing ahead with plans to launch a Showcase event in China. The event, which would likely run for one day, is tentatively being scheduled for autumn 2009, Steve Macallister, BBC Worldwide managing director, global TV sales, told TBIvision.

"We have our Showcase in Rio and doing something similar in China makes sense. We do not get that many Chinese buyers in Brighton," he said.

Worldwide’s main Showcase event is held in Brighton each year. "It’s important to us, it’s all about getting 600 buyers to immerse themselves in our library over four days," Macallister says.

A Rio event is now in its fifth year. With dedicated events in the UK, China and Brazil and the regular markets such as MIP TV and MIPCOM Worldwide says it can service all international clients – there are no plans afoot for additional in-house roadshows in other territories.

Worldwide has had some success selling content into China and has also been involved in Anglo-Chinese coproductions including natural history series Wild China.