BBC acquires Jungle Book broadcast rights

The animation, gaming and live-action entertainment production and distribution company DQE today said the British Broadcasting Corporation acquired the broadcast rights for its Jungle Book tele series for the British market.

"The BBC involvement is yet another endorsement of the mass market appeal our pro-production generates," DQE Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tapaas Chakravarti said in a press release here today. The release, however, did not disclose the value of the deal.

DQE's 100 per cent home-grown production 'The Jungle Book' is in production as a 52-episode animated 3D-HDTV series and a 60-minute tele feature in co-production with global majors including TF1 and Moonscoop, France, ZDF Group, Germany with a production budget of Rs 60 crore and is to be released worldwide in 2010, the statement said.

This almost-feature quality tele series written in Britain and France will bring an all new action adventure comedy suitable for the 21st century kids, the release said.

"The Jungle Book is going to be a brilliant adventure for the 5-8-year-olds. The world of the jungle is looking glorious in the series and will reintroduce this brand to a generation who might not know of this fabulous story," BBC's drama and acquisitions head Steven Andrew said in a press statement.

DQE is one of the leading producers of animation, visual effects, game art and live action entertainment content for the global media and entertainment industry.

With a workforce of nearly 3,500 employees and a global client and partner base of over 90 producers, distributors, broadcasters and licensors, including Walt Disney Television Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, and Electronic Arts, among others, the release said.

Currently, DQE has production facilities in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata and international sales representatives in Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo.