"Top Gear,” the cult cars and guys lifestyle show, is to drive off with new Chinese audiences following a deal between BBC Worldwide and Shanghai Oriental Pearl.
The agreement sees some 360 hours of “Top Gear” shows, including the upcoming series 24, launch exclusively on BesTV, the IPTV platform of Shanghai Media Group.
Also included are the “Top Gear” U.K. specials, five series of “Top Gear USA,” six series of “Top Gear Korea,” and two series of “Top Gear China.”
"We are extremely pleased to extend our relationship with Shanghai Oriental Pearl. We first worked with them in 2008 when we provided factual progams to BesTV platform. They are also our partners for CBeebies, where we have a program block on the channel,” said Paul Dempsey, president global markets, BBC Worldwide.
Earlier this year BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of public broadcaster the British Broadcasting Corporation, signed a deal with SMG Pictures to co-produce “Earth: One Amazing Day,” to be launched in 2017. In January, it has also partnered with SMG to give TV special “Sherlock: The Abominable Bride” a wide theatrical release in China.