Nickelodeon US buys Teletubbies reboot

Nickelodeon has bought the new Teletubbies series, taking the preschool reboot into the US.

Nick Jr. has acquired linear and on-demand rights to the upcoming series.

It has been commissioned by CBeebies in the UK and will launch in 2016.

Canada’s DHX Media owns the Teletubbies brand after acquiring the library of Ragdoll, the UK indie that created the show.

DHX and UK prodco Darrall Macqueen is making the new series.

Viacom-owned Nick has also bought 365 episodes of the original series, which the BBC ran between 1997 and 2001 in the UK. It sold well internationally, airing in over 100 countries.

Josh Scherba, senior VP. distribution at DHX Media, said: “There has been overwhelming international interest in the new Teletubbies series, and appetite for the classic episodes remains exceptionally strong.”

He added: “With Nickelodeon on board for the US, as well as CBeebies in the UK and further deal announcements pending, we are building incredibly strong foundations for the next-generation Teletubbies.”

In Canada, the new series will go out on DHX’s Family Jr. channel.