BBC Worldwide cuts lifestyle deal with RAI

BBC Worldwide has sold a package of lifestyle programming to Italian public broadcaster RAI, TBIvision has learned. Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK public broadcaster, has licensed Himalaya with Michael Palin, Design for Life, Paul Merton in Europe and Lonely Planet: Best in China to RAI.

The Italian public broadcaster will roll out the shows on RAI 5, its free-to-air digital terrestrial channel.

6x50mins Himalaya with Michael Palin follows the Monthy Python star as he visits the mountain range.

6x50mins Design for Life follows designer Philippe Starck as he looks for the UK’s most promising new designer. 6x50mins Paul Merton in Europe is fronted by the comedian and is his look at the more curious side of European life. 13x25mins Lonely Planet: Best in China is a travelogue about the country.

Worldwide has a history of selling factual content to RAI, but less of a track record of selling in lifestyle programming.

Territory manager for Italy, Francesca Doria, said: “We have long enjoyed a strong relationship with RAI in factual programming and are delighted to be further developing this relationship with acquisitions in other genres, as with these lifestyle titles.”