Vancouver’s Thunderbird Distribution has snapped up media sales and consumer products rights to BeddyByes (52 x 11 minutes) on the heels of BBC Children’s and Education commissioning the latest series from Ireland’s JAM Media this summer.

Thunderbird will sell BeddyByes globally (excluding the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden; but CP rights will cover all territories worldwide) and is planning to pitch the CG-animated toon to buyers at MIPCOM next month. Its premise is all about helping toddlers and young preschoolers get used to the daily routines that culminate in going to bed. In each episode, protagonists MeMo and BaBa, who are also young children, lead viewers through playtime, mealtime, bath time and, finally, bedtime.

“There has been a real gap in the market for a series designed to help young children and their parents navigate the journey towards bedtime, and BeddyByes will fill it beautifully,” says Richard Goldsmith, Thunderbird’s president of global distribution and consumer products.  

BeddyByes is slated to premiere in the UK on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer next spring. Ireland’s RTE is attached as a co-producer, and the series has also been presold to DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and SVT (Sweden).

It’s the latest IP Thunderbird has locked up for its growing third-party portfolio, joining Mittens & Pants (Windy Isle Entertainment) and BooSnoo! (Visionality/Mackinnon & Saunders).

To learn more about how Goldsmith and his team are positioning their business unit for success in today’s highly competitive distribution market, check out this feature story from Kidscreen’s Q3 2024 issue.