For the first time this year, Showcase will also play host to its largest ever delegation of digital clients including Google, Apple, Netflix, Microsoft, Facebook-Oculus and Amazon.
BBC Worldwide Showcase 2018, which will take place from February 18-22, will shine a spotlight on the best of British television as it opens its doors to an array of A-list talent, commissioners, producers and top international TV buyers who will screen brand new British TV content and attend a range of insightful and creative sessions.
For the first time this year, Showcase will also play host to its largest ever delegation of digital clients including Google, Apple, Netflix, Microsoft, Facebook-Oculus and Amazon as well as regional SVODs and telcos such as Showmax, Stan, Deutsche Telecom, iFlix and Hulu, at the four-day event at Liverpools ACC.
Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who), Idris Elba (Luther), Charlotte Riley (Press), Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge), Nicola Walker (The Split) and Karl Pilkington (Sick of It) are just some of the stars that will descend on Liverpools Albert Dock to launch their brand new shows. Producers from the next wave of landmark Natural History series, such as Dynasty and Serengeti, will also be on hand to give buyers a first look at these stunning productions.
Attended by more than 700 buyers and with thousands of hours of TV content to view in 600 specially constructed digi booths, BBC Worldwide Showcase, now in its 42nd year, claims to be the worlds largest international television market hosted by a single distributor.
More than a sales market, BBC Worldwide Showcase brings together producers, financiers and the BBCs top executives as well as Britains most successful creatives giving them the opportunity to develop TV shows of the future. The itinerary includes a co-production forum where potential partners will hear about titles that are in their infancy and, from industry experts, insight sessions on cultural and consumer trends in factual and scripted. Blue chip titles such as The Split, Doctor Who and Serengeti will preview exclusively to buyers where they will hear first-hand from the on and off-screen talent about their new productions.
Speaking about the event, Paul Dempsey, President Global Markets, BBC Worldwide, said: We continually evolve Showcase to make sure it fits the needs of our customers and this year well be hosting a wider range of companies than ever before. Well also be joined by many of the key names from Britains biggest independent production companies, including BBC Studios, as well as producers, broadcasters and financiers from all around the world wholl be discussing their latest content strategies, new projects and global trends.
Along with the ancillary sessions, there will be genre premieres showcasing BBC Worldwides new slate of drama, comedy, natural history, science, formats, factual entertainment, and history and documentaries.
As the biggest distributor of TV content outside of the US studios, BBC Worldwide generates programme sales on behalf of the BBC and independent producers providing a major boost to British television exports.
