BBC Studios has agreed a multi-territory licensing deal with VTech to produce electronic role play toys based on its multi-award winning children’s TV property, Bluey.
Marking the latest expansion of the series’ global licensing programme, VTech’s initial Bluey range will feature popular characters from the series and lines include electronic books, role play watches and a phone.
Product is expected to launch at retail in both Australia and USA for Q3 2022, followed by future roll outs in the UK, France, Canada and New Zealand.
Andrew Barrett, director of product development and licensing at VTech, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with BBC Studios on this beautifully crafted show. Its focus on imaginative play combined with adventurous storytelling fits perfectly with our ethos of play, learn and develop.”
Julie Kekwick, senior licensing manager at BBC Studio, added: “Our new partnership with VTech symbolises a significant extension of our Bluey franchise, joining our other global partners such as Penguin Random House and complementing the highly successful Moose Toys, master toy range.”
First launched in Australia in October 2018, Bluey is fast becoming a global hit, achieving outstanding ratings and attracting a multitude of best in class partners.
In its home market, Australia, Bluey was the number one children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020 and is the number one series ever on ABC iview with over 480 million views across series one and two. It also won ‘Pre-School License of the Year’ for the second year in a row at the Australian Toy Association (ATA) Awards.
In the US, Bluey is the number one new license in the super plush category, and was the number two top new growth property in 2020 for the total toy industry. Across Disney Junior and Disney Channel in Q1 2021, it was the third most watched TV series with kids aged two to five years old.
Bluey is also available on CBeebies in the UK, where it has become the top programme on the channel since it launched in April. Its episodes constitute the top five most requested CBeebies episodes on BBC iPlayer. Toys from global master toy partner Moose are set to launch at retail in the UK in July.
