MUMBAI: ?Really Cool Stuff? (working title) is the eighth original production to be announced by BBC Worldwide as part of the new commissioning strategy for its global branded channels, unveiled last September.

Blending science and factual entertainment, the fully funded format will premiere on BBC Knowledge (Asia, Africa, CEE, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Poland and the Nordics) and BBC HD (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America) next year. Dissecting the coolest things in the universe, the general knowledge show will be led by three British presenters alongside studio experiments and CGI and animations.
 
The 10 episode factual entertainment series from 360Production will tackle some of the world?s greatest mysteries from why cats have nine lives, to why we experience D?j? Vu and whether anyone could move fast enough to dodge a speeding bullet.

BBC Worldwide?s aim is to deliver 100 hours of original programming to its BBC branded channels by next year.

The company adds that this latest original production which blends science with factual entertainment, demonstrates VP of commissioning Tracy Forsyth?s commitment to work with independent producers and the BBC?s in-house production teams to create original and high quality television formats for the BBC?s international channel portfolio. Lucy Pilkington will act as BBC Knowledge executive producer, while BBC Worldwide will hold all commercial rights to the new series of ?Really Cool Stuff?, including global broadcast and distribution.

Created with an international BBC audience in mind, ?Really Cool Stuff? will take a magnifying glass to the world?s greatest and most intriguing natural wonders and examine quirky topics in bite size chunks. There will be a mix of presenter interaction, CGI, studio-based scientific experiments, demonstrations and expert input. Hosts Greg Foot (Physicist and adrenalin junkie), Fran Scott (biologist and practical experimenter) and Dominic Byrne (radio and TV broadcaster) will together debate, investigate and dissect a wide spectrum of topics including: "What is more deadly, a tornado or a hurricane?", "where do accents come from?" and "what is the loudest living thing in the ocean?"
 
Forsyth commented, "This high-energy, visually stimulating and incredibly informative series by 360Production, truly delivers a great mix of science and factual entertainment content in a fresh, digestible and returnable format. ?Really Cool Stuff? will answer some of those bizarre common-place questions you have always wondered about, no matter where you live in the world ? and this is one of the many reasons I believe the show will have wide-appeal with our international BBC audiences".

360Production creative director John Farren said, "Everyone at 360Production loves perplexing questions, funny answers, brilliant design and making things go bang. In this show, we get to do them all and can?t wait to share the results with audiences around the world."

MUMBAI: Newly appointed BBC Worldwide executive VP, GM for Asia, Joyce Yeung, has named her leadership team who will be responsible for the running of BBC Worldwide?s business in Asia.

The appointments follow the reorganisation of BBC Worldwide to further increase its focus on international markets, enabling it to capture future growth opportunities around the world.

The reorganisation sees the business reconfigured from divisional to geographic lines of management. BBC Worldwide?s structure primarily based around five global divisions ceased to exist on 31 March. P&L ownership and primary commercial accountability has moved closer to its customers.

She reports to president, Global Markets Paul Dempsey.

Reporting into Joyce will be:

Mark Whitehead - senior VP & GM south east Asia and channels lead Asia. In addition to the SEA remit, he is also the channels lead for all of Asia overseeing the regional channels strategy in conjunction with other territory leads.

Myleeta Aga - senior VP & GM India and content lead Asia. In additional to the India remit, Aga is also the creative lead overseeing the Asia content strategy working with other territory leads.

Ken Munekata - president Japan
Pierre Cheung - VP & GM greater China
Soojin Chung - head of Korea
Ken Cheung - head of digital Asia

Each territory head is responsible for the P&L; business development and delivering revenue and profit growth across all businesses which will include channels; TV sales; consumer products and production in their respective country/ regional remits.

BBC advertising Asia and Australasia executive VP Sunita Rajan continues to head the ad sales business for Asia and Australasia with the added responsibility for BBC.com and Lonely Planet advertising sales activities in Australia. Reporting into executive VP international ad sales Carolyn Gibson, she will be working with Joyce Yeung on the ad sales business for Asia.

Yeung said: "I am looking forward to working with this very strong group of leaders in the region. With Mark, Myleeta, Ken Munekata, Pierre, Soojin, and Ken Cheung helming the business with me, I am confident that we will enjoy even more successes in taking BBC Worldwide?s Asia business to greater heights."