RTL joins the BBC for blue chip natural history

RTL has joined forces with the BBC to produce factual programming.

The pan-European broadcast group, which also owns FremantleMedia, and the UK public broadcaster will coproduce upcoming blue-chip natural history series Hidden Kingdom.

The deal is the first of its kind between RTL and the BBC’s commercial division BBC Worldwide.

The BBC Natural History Unit series already has high-profile copro partners in the shape of Discovery and French public broadcast channel France 2. In the UK it will air on BBC flagship channel BBC One.

The show takes a microscopic look at nature, transforming small worlds into giant places and will be filmed in locations including the Amazon Rainforest, African Savannah and Mojave Desert.

Agnes Ostrop will act as executive producer on behalf of RTL and a tailored 1×90 German language version of the series will deliver to the network for broadcast in primetime.

Isabelle Helle, head of German speaking territories, BBC Worldwide said: “RTL has long been a valued partner of BBC Worldwide and we are thrilled they are venturing for the first time into natural history co-producing on this phenomenal project.”

Agnes Ostrop, head of infotainment, RTL said: “We are proud to be part of this ambitious project that reveals an unknown and fascinating world.”