CANNES — BBC Worldwide has sold its royal documentary William and Kate: A Royal Engagement to 32 broadcasters in 24 international territories, head of sales and distribution Steve Macallister said Monday.
The show is part of a slate of wedding-related fare that is being snapped up by international buyers as the April 29 date rapidly approaches and networks look at clearing their schedules for coverage of an event expected to have an audience of over two billion viewers worldwide.
The special, due to air on Universal in the U.S., includes contributions from close friends, constitutional historians, biographers and commentators and looks at the couple’s very different backgrounds and upbringings.
Other wedding-themed shows on BBC Worldwide’s slate include the two-part doc Britain’s Royal Weddings, which goes behind the pomp and circumstance of royal weddings going back to 1923, covering the weddings of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, the Queen and Prince Phillip and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
The production also charts the changing social attitudes to the Royal family and the expectations of the monarch.
Untold Stories of a Royal Bridesmaid, which will air on TLC, Royally Mad, and Inside the Royal Wedding complete the slate.
“The impressive sales of William and Kate: A Royal Engagement highlight the international interest there is in the imminent Royal Wedding,” said Mcallister. “We have a strong collection of new programs to satisfy this demand at MIPTV.”
BBC Worldwide will also be distributing rights to the BBC1 live feed on April 29, which will be showed on BBC America.
