BBC AMERICA TO ADAPT SBS AUSTRALIA'S LANDMARK DOCUMENTARY SERIES "GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM"
New York - Monday, March 12, 2012 - BBC AMERICA and SBS Australia announce today a format deal for the landmark documentary series Go Back to Where You Came From. The series sparked heated national and international debate when it aired on SBS Australia last year.
Refugees and asylum seekers are a controversial issue around the globe and Go Back to Where You Came From (4 x 60) followed six Australians who agreed to challenge their preconceived notions about refugees and asylum seekers by retracing their harrowing journeys from their original homelands... in reverse. The Australian series was produced by Cordell Jigsaw productions.
Perry Simon, General Manager, Channels, BBC Worldwide Americas: "In the tradition of the BBC, BBC AMERICA is committed to bold, provocative original programming that illuminates contemporary social and cultural issues. Go Back to Where You Came From provides another perspective on immigrants and refugees that is sure to spark conversation among our viewers and the public at large."
SBS Australia Managing Director Michael Ebeid said: "It's rare for a television format to be able to break new ground using an issue that's a political hot button worldwide. The high level of interest from both international broadcasters and production companies is testament to the compelling nature of the format and the fertile ground it offers to tap into local sentiments about refugees and asylum seekers."
In the Australian series - deprived of all their possessions, the group are thrown into situations real refugees face every day. They board a leaky refugee boat, are rescued mid-ocean, experience immigration raids in Malaysia, live in Kenyan refugee camps and visit slums in Jordan, before ultimately ending-up in war-torn Iraq.
The series ignited passionate debate on online forums around the world with widespread attention throughout the Australian and international media. It trended number one on Twitter worldwide, with over 50,000 Tweets and hundreds of thousands of discussions on Facebook, Google+ and other social networks.
The breakthrough deal with BBC AMERICA is the first time SBS Australia has signed with a major US broadcaster. They also have signed deals with TV2 Denmark and Keshet Broadcasting for Israel. Tuvalu Media, Studio Hamburg DocLights, Snowman Productions and Curious Pictures have all signed on having the option to produce local versions of Go Back in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and South Africa respectively.
BBC AMERICA delivers US audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including an Emmy(R), five Golden Globes(R) and ten Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable's most affluent and educated audiences and is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 76 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist.