The next Bluey? ABC and BBC launch global hunt

The ABC and BBC are joining forces to find the next big children's hit, launching a new co-development and co-production partnership designed to take Australian and British ideas to global audiences.

Dubbed Shared Horizons, the initiative brings together ABC Children & Family and BBC Children's & Education, with the public broadcasters opening the door to independent producers and creators across Australia and the UK.

The brief is broad, but the ambition isn't small. The broadcasters are looking for scripted live-action drama and animation spanning preschoolers through to children aged 10, with projects expected to work across linear television and streaming.

In other words, they're looking for stories that can start local and travel.

READ MORE: ABC, Herald and University of Sydney launch fellowship in memory of Judith Whelan

READ MORE: ABC Late News presenter Mike Tetlow announces departure

Broadcasters back co-development

Under the initiative, the ABC and BBC will work together to identify, develop and co-produce projects, giving producers access to both broadcasters from the development stage.

ABC Head of Children & Family Melinda Wearne said the partnership would give producers greater scope to develop ambitious projects.

“The ABC and the BBC share a public service DNA that puts children at the heart of what we do. This partnership gives producers in Australia and the UK the confidence to think big, knowing they have two major public broadcasters ready to collaborate from the very beginning of the creative process.

“The best children's stories are always grounded in authentic local experiences and universal themes, and we want creators to celebrate what makes their communities and cultures unique.”

Director of BBC Children & Education Patricia Hidalgo said Shared Horizons would combine production talent from both countries in a bid to develop stories with international potential.

“At its best, public service children's content helps young audiences make sense of the world around them. Through Shared Horizons, the BBC and ABC will combine the creative talent of the UK and Australia to develop distinctive stories with global reach and discover the next generation of children's characters and ideas.”

Submissions open in September

Australian submissions will open in September through the ABC Children & Family production portal, with further details, including key dates and submission requirements, available to producers.

UK producers can submit projects through the BBC's existing PiCoS submission system.

The initiative builds on the longstanding relationship between the two public broadcasters, but adds a more formal pipeline for finding ideas that can make the leap from Australian or British screens to audiences worldwide.