Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

In a recently completed deal with Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide, ABC TV has licensed more than 67 hours of quality children's content for dedicated kid's channel ABC3.

The deal features new series such as the surreal children's comedy hit Big Babies and a companion series to natural history program, Life, made especially for kids, Inside Life. The deal also includes returning favourites such as series 5 of hugely popular teen spy series M.I. High, series 2 and 3 of Horrible Histories, series 2 of extreme wildlife show Deadly 60.

ABC3 will debut the bonkers new comedy Big Babies (13x15' A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Production) in 2011. Combining live action, puppetry and computer generated imagery, Big Babies follows the adventures of two 'babies' – both with heads and voices of grown men.

Inside Life (10x30' A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Production) will also premier on ABC3 later in 2011. Inside Life is a unique series that takes kids behind the camera of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide's epic natural history series Life. Ten lucky children go on location and get hands on experience filming nature up close. Here, they share their experiences with other kids in this beautifully presented series.

M.I. High series 5 (13x30' A Kudos Film and Television production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ) sees our favourite teen spies return to a new term at St Hopes and new adventures in their quest to protect Britain from dastardly villains and other threats to national security.

Horrible Histories (13x30' A Lion Television/All3 Media production in association with Citrus Television for CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ MMX) is based on the award-winning children's book series written by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown. Series 2 and 3 tell more tales of foul facts and despicable deeds and rampaging rakes, enacted through a mix of live action and animation and narrated by show's host, Rattus Rattus.

Deadly 60 series 2 (20x30' & 6x30' specials, A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Production) brings Steve Backshall back on the trail of some of the most deadly animals on the planet from the Arctic to South America.

"We are immensely proud to distribute quality children's content that delivers the highest standards in production and story-telling for kids of all ages," commented Robyn Campbell, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Australia's Sales Manager, New Zealand and Children's, "These programs really highlight that quality and we are delighted that ABC3 will carry this content to Australia’s younger audiences."

"We have always enjoyed the high quality content from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide," added Barbara Uecker, ABC TV's Children's Head of Programming and Acquisitions, "We are sure that our ABC3 audience will be thrilled with the new programs and the new series of some of our most popular programs."

Fiona Bickerstaff