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CANNES -- BBC Worldwide, the sales arm of the British pubcaster, announced several children's programming sales and factual/natural history co-productions on the first day of MIPTV. The pubcaster signed licensing deals for more than 100 hours of key kids properties, including Fimbles, Tweenies, Ace Lightning and Little Robots, across a range of territories. BBC Worldwide also announced a slate of major co-production deals with Discovery, Austrian broadcaster ORF and Germany's ZDF. The news came as BBC Worldwide chief executive Rupert Gavin noted that BBC Worldwide's total media exports rose 13% to $362 million from $322 million last year, now accounting for 54% of the total U.K. export market.

BBC Worldwide said Wednesday it has signed a major seven figure licensing deal with Australia's ABC Network for over 100 hours of programming. The eve of MIPCOM sales deal covers the cream of the pubcaster's forthcoming drama, factual and kids slates in addition to library shows that have already aired on BBC channels in the U.K. Headlining the deal is the BBC forthcoming adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes detective tale The Hound of the Baskervilles, starring Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge), Ian Hart (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) and Richard E. Grant (Gosford Park). Other drama titles covered by the deal include international espionage series Spooks, contemporary fatherhood drama Man and Boy and returning comedy drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet. The deal also includes the BBC's landmark natural history series Life of Mammals and the Michael Palin globetrotting adventure series Sahara. ABC is also taking the kids animated show Ace Lightning. "The programs licensed to the ABC are some of the highest quality productions coming from the BBC this year," commented BBC Worldwide Australasia sales head Julie Dowding. "This line-up is testament to the ABC's commitment to bringing their Australian audience the best and widest variety of programming available."...