MIPCOM slates – Viacom & BBCWW

BBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) is revving up its factual entertainment titles for MIPCOM.

Joining the slate are six-part series Astronauts: Toughest Job in the Universe and the latest incarnation of the Top Gear franchise Top Gear America.

Top Gear America stars William Fichtner (Prison Break, Black Hawk Down), Antron Brown and Tom “Wookie” Ford will be joining in at the event, while Commander Chris Hadfield will be meeting buyers and journalists for Astronauts (pictured).

Other titles on the slate include series eight of The Great British Bake Off, Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico and home renovation show Bang on Budget.

“Astronauts: Toughest Job in the Universe and Top Gear America, are both superbly produced shows that are both hugely entertaining and exciting with extraordinary visuals and characters,” said Tracy Forsyth, BBCWW’s genre director of factual entertainment and entertainment and formats.

“The American version of Top Gear continues to demonstrate the versatility of the brand and I have high hopes that Astronauts: Toughest Job in the Universe, which has been highly critically acclaimed in the UK, will go on to be an out of this world success.”

Viacom

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) is bringing a range of content produced by Viacom UK’s public service broadcaster, Channel 5, to Cannes.

VIMN will highlight Cruising with Jane McDonald, which shows the former musician explore the world of cruising. The show will be joined by Young Britain.

Other shows on the list include Britain’s Greatest Bridges, Inside…, Heists That Shook the World, Cleopatra and Britain’s Bloodiest Dynasty.

The shows have already been picked up in a range of territories including in Denmark, Poland, Asia Pacific, Australia and Belgium.

“The welcome addition of Channel 5 titles to Viacom’s sales slate has allowed us to expand our genre offering, with a whole host of new factual entertainment content that perfectly complements our already varied and blended portfolio,” said Lauren Marriott, VP of international programme sales at VIMN.