BBCWW backs South Africa’s Rapid Blue

6 hours ago by Daniele Alcinii

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has invested in South African prodco Rapid Blue in a bid to expand into the region and meet growing demand for relevant local content in the African marketplace.

Founded in 1993, the prodco behind SA's Got Talent (pictured) develops and produces original content and international television formats for South African, African and international audiences. The firm's production credits include such localized formats as The X Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, Dragons' Den, Pawn Stars and the 2002 Emmy-awarded documentary Lion's Trail.

The Johannesburg-headquartered studio has also produced content for neighboring countries Nigeria, Ghana and Angola, including Don't Forget the Lyrics, GBam, Got Talent and X Factor.

BBCWW has previously worked with Rapid Blue on such South African Film and Television Awards-winning series as Strictly Come Dancing, The Weakest Link and Come Dine with Me South Africa. In 2015, Rapid Blue produced the first series of the BBC Lifestyle hit, The Great South African Bake Off.

With outposts in South Africa, Nigeria and Angola, Rapid Blue will continue to produce programming for BBCWW, alongside existing and new distribution and production partners.

"With BBC Worldwide's enviable formats catalog and our combined knowledge and expertise, this agreement will enable us to provide content solutions for broadcasters across the continent, positioning us as the destination for quality television production in Africa," said Grant Welland, executive VP of CEMA at BBC Worldwide, in a statement.

"We are very excited about this partnership as it provides us with access to tremendous development opportunities, as well as to a deep skills base and support as we continue to grow and develop our staff and the creative and production teams who work with us," added Rapid Blue CEO Duncan Irvine.

Tags: BBC Worldwide, Duncan Irvine, Grant Welland, Rapid Blue

Source: BBCWW backs South Africa's Rapid Blue