Nat Geo takes SA kids show to MENA

Siyaya: Come Wild With Us

National Geographic Channel has picked up a youth-skewing wildlife series from UK distributor Scorpion TV for its feeds in the Middle East and North Africa.

Siyaya: Come Wild With Us (26×30’) is produced by Francois Odendaal Productions (FOP Films) in South Africa for local public broadcaster SABC. The series is described as a fast-paced adventure series for kids set around South Africa’s national parks.

The National Geographic deal follows on the heels of recent sales to UK-based VoD platform Azoomee, Germany’s RTL Disney, Poland’s iTVN and South Africa’s Mindset TV.

Scorpion has also secured the rights to the latest in FOP’s Siyaya series: Wildest Cape (13×30’) which has just aired on SABC and will launch internationally at Mipcom next month. The series sees adventurers take on daring challenges in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, which is flanked by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Scorpion is now working with FOP to extend the Siyaya franchise. In addition to the African titles, Siyaya: China, Siyaya: USA and Siyaya: Coast to Coast are currently in development. Scorpion is actively seeking coproductions with local broadcasters, in order to help children from around the world to experience, enjoy and appreciate the nature and wildlife in Africa.

In other recent natural history deals, Scorpion has sold Chile: A Wild Journey (8×60’) to RTBF in Belgium, TNU in Uruguay and CB International in China. The series explores the creatures, some of them virtually unknown to science, found in the South American country.