BBC Studios to launch local production arm following Stargazing Live win
BBC Studios has launched an Australian production arm, with the ABC’s astronomy show Stargazing Live 2 as its first commission.
The first Australian series of Stargazing Live, originally conceived by the BBC Studios’ science unit for the UK market, was produced for the ABC by Fremantle Media last year.
Stargazing Live featuring astronomer Brian Cox has been recommissioned by the ABC for 2018
The Australian production arm comes ahead of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios merging into a single commercial organisation from the beginning of April.
Jon Penn, managing director of BBC Worldwide ANZ, will continue to lead the local operation.
Penn said in a media statement: “The new BBC Studios has got off to a great start in Australia with the Stargazing Live 2 commission and this new role will spearhead the growth of our Australian production arm.
“We’re looking forward to producing more of our own formats and programs for local clients, who already broadcast many of the quality shows that our expert BBC production colleagues make.”
To manage the new operation, the organisation is on the hunt for a director of production, to be based out of the BBC’s Sydney offices.
Lisa Opie, managing director of Factual at BBC Studios, said in the media statement: “We’re delighted to be working so closely with ABC on Stargazing Live 2 after the huge success of last year’s programme. Stargazing is science programming at its very best and Andrew Cohen and his brilliant team in the Science Unit have enjoyed evolving and developing the format specifically for ABC’s audience. “
Steve Bibb, head of Factual at ABC, says: “Stripped over three nights, Stargazing Live was a new kind of event programming for ABC in 2017. It reached an incredible number of Australians right across all our platforms and on social media. Our viewers even discovered a new solar system in a major citizen science project. ABC is thrilled to be working closely with BBC Studios to make Stargazing Live an even bigger and more exciting event this year.”
