Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Press Releases

Teletubbies, which is made for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ television by the acclaimed producer of children's programmes, Ragdoll, will be the first ever Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ pre-school television series to be broadcast in China.

All 365 episodes of Teletubbies will be in Mandarin and will start transmitting at the start of the Chinese New Year, broadcasting daily from Monday 11 February 2002. Teletubbies will be broadcast in China nine times a week - 20.00 Monday to Friday, and each Tuesday to Thursday at 09.05 and 4.15pm.

Teletubbies is already seen by more than a billion children around the world: across all 14 time zones of the Russian Federation; coast-to-coast across the United States and all countries of the Americas; and most European, Asian and Pacific states. It has been translated into 45 languages and won many major international awards.

Rupert Gavin, CEO, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide said, "Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide and CCTV have forged a strong relationship over more than twenty years and this new agreement reflects the excellent co-operation we enjoy in China. Working with CCTV, the Teletubbies brand will go from strength to strength in this very important market."

Mr. Yu Pei Xia, Director of Youth & Children Centre, CCTV added, "CCTV is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's successful children's programme Teletubbies to the millions of children in China. We have no doubt that this programme will be as popular in China as it has been the world over."

Teletubbies was co-created by Ragdoll's Founder and Creative Director Anne Wood with Andrew Davenport for children up to the age of four, reflecting Ragdoll's belief that children's confidence and self-esteem develop through fun and laughter. The series was commissioned from Ragdoll jointly by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Ltd and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Education.

Anne Wood says: "We have long hoped that the Teletubbies would bring Big Hugs to the children of China."

Notes to editors:
Teletubbies' favourite phrases in Mandarin:

Teletubbies tian xian bao bao
Tinky Winky ding ding
Dipsy di xi
Laa-Laa la la
Po xiao bo
Noo- noo nuo nuo
Big Hug bao bao
Eh-Oh ni-hao
Tubby toast bao bao kao mian bao
Tubby custard bao bao nai xi

Teletubbies was first transmitted on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ at Easter 1997 and the first sale to another country (Estonia), followed soon afterwards. Teletubbies has received more than 15 industry awards in the UK and internationally, including the Royal Television Society's Best Pre-School Education Award 2001; Best Pre-School Programme at the 1998 Children's BAFTA Awards; 1998 Indies Children's Award; five awards at the 1999 International Licensing Industry's Awards in New York; Children's Entertainment Award 1997 from the Royal Television Society; City of Birmingham Award in 1997 and Grand Prize Winner, Pre-School Education Category in the 24th Japan Prize International Contest in Tokyo, 1997.

Teletubbies has been sold directly to 109 broadcasters in 79 territories. It can be seen in 113 countries and has been translated into 45 languages. These programmes can be picked up by other territories, via satellite, increasing the total number of countries that can receive Teletubbies, to over 120. Countries receiving Teletubbies include:

Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, French-speaking Belgium, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Lebanon, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela and many of the Caribbean and Pacific island states and territories.

Ragdoll Ltd was founded by Anne Wood in 1985 and, from bases in Stratford-upon-Avon and Pinewood Studios, has produced more than 1,100 programmes aimed at the youngest viewers, developing a successful market for complimentary merchandise to enable children to extend their enjoyment of its work. All Ragdoll programmes are designed to reassure children by making them smile and building their confidence and the company's inspiration for its work always comes from children.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm, and a wholly owned subsidiary, of the British Broadcasting Corporation (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ). The company was formed in 1994 to develop a co-ordinated approach to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's commercial activities; television, publishing, product licensing, Internet and interactive. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide exists to maximise the value of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's programme and publishing assets for the benefit of the licence payer, and re-invest in public service programming. It aims to ensure the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ continues to grow as a significant player in a developing world media market, while maintaining the high editorial and production standards for which the corporation is internationally renowned.

*Source: children's population figure of 289,700,000 children aged 0-14, from a total population of 1,295,330,000 counted in the 2000 Population Census published by the National Bureau of Statistics People's Republic of China on March 28, 2001.

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