Thunderbird Distribution, a division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc., has acquired global media rights (excluding the U.K., Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden) and consumer products rights to new preschool series BeddyByes. The CG-animated series is produced by Ireland’s JAM Media and is an original production for BBC Children’s and Education that will debut on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in spring 2025. Additionally, Ireland’s RTÉ is on-board as a co-producer and Nordic pubcasters DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and SVT (Sweden) have prebought the series.
BeddyByes (52 x 11′) is a visually rich and uniquely tactile CG-animated series designed to help toddlers and young preschoolers get ready for sleep by taking them on a gentle, undulating journey to bedtime. Viewers will follow central characters MeMo and BaBa through the routine of a young child’s day, from playtime and mealtime to bathtime and bedtime, as they encounter a host of fantastical beings that encourage good nutrition, mindfulness and creativity, winding down towards sleep.
“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,” said Richard Goldsmith, Thunderbird President of Global Distribution & Consumer Products. “It is exactly the kind of exceptional commercial property produced by an extraordinary producer that we’re continually on the lookout for as we build our third-party business. We believe toddlers and young preschoolers will be drawn to the incredibly huggable world of BeddyByes created by JAM. We can’t wait to share it with international platforms and other potential partners.”
“We are so pleased that Thunderbird Distribution will be introducing BeddyByes to global platform buyers, along with potential consumer products partners through Thunderbird Brands,” said John Rice, JAM Media CEO. “JAM co-founder Alan Shannon and I, both had toddlers at the same time a few years back, and that sparked the idea for this series. We saw a real need for content that would provide toddlers and young preschoolers with a calming and soothing experience that would help them happily drift off to sleep. And now, with Thunderbird on-board, kids around the world will get a chance to meet and fall in love with MeMo and BaBa and their friends.”
BeddyByes is produced by U.K.- and Ireland-based JAM Media, which has offices in Belfast and Dublin. Executive producers and creators are John Rice and Alan Shannon, with Beth Gardiner serving as the Commissioning Editor for CBeebies and Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children’s & Young People’s Content at RTÉ , representing the broadcaster.
