BBCWW in Chinese digital copro first

Mike Gunton of the BBC’s Natural History Unit, David Weiland of BBCWW and Tencent’s Molly Feng and Stefani Sun

MIPCOM: BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has struck its first documentary coproduction deal with a Chinese online service.

Tencent, one of China’s largest online video platforms, is joining as a coproducer on Planet Earth II.

The company has previously partnered with BBCWW to offer premium documentaries to Chinese viewers but this deal marks its first as a coproducer.

The move will make Planet Earth II available on Tencent’s v.qq.com platform and its video app simultaneously with its UK air date on BBC1.

Jeff Han, VP of Tencent Online Media Group and general manager of marketing and video content cooperation, said the agreement signified a “new level” in the companies’ relationship and was “just the beginning of a fruitful and successful partnership.”

The other coproducers on the series are BBC America, ZDF and France Télévisions and the show has also been pre-sold globally.

David Attenborough returns to narrate the 6×60’ series, which is produced by BBC Studios and the BBC Natural History Unit.

David Weiland, executive VP for Asia at BBCWW, signed the deal with Molly Feng, Tencent’s director of video content cooperation.

Weiland said the new production is a game-changer in natural history filmmaking. “It will reveal our planet from a completely new perspective, using significant advances in both filming technology and our understanding of the natural world,” he said.