BBC Worldwide Press Releases

The world's biggest motoring entertainment show Top Gear will move to the Nine Network following the conclusion of a deal with BBC Worldwide Australia.

Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond and The Stig will arrive at their new home in early 2010.

The deal includes Top Gear Australia from Freehand, BBC Worldwide’s production partner.

The move is a further consolidation of BBC Worldwide's relationship with PBL Media. Top Gear Australia Magazine, the country’s most widely-read men's monthly and topgear.com/au, the online home of the brand, sit within Park Publishing, the BBC Worldwide Australia / ACP joint venture.

"We are thrilled to create a unified home for the Top Gear brand in Australia," said Julie Dowding, BBC Worldwide Australia's Sales Director. "This country is Top Gear's biggest territory outside the UK. We greatly look forward to developing its potential with a long-standing partner like Nine."

David Gyngell , Chief Executive of the Nine Network, described the Top Gear agreement as a landmark partnership with BBC Worldwide.
"We are absolutely delighted to be working together with one of the world’s great broadcasting powerhouses on a program of this quality and wide appeal," he said. "Top Gear is quite simply an outstanding television product, and linking the experience and expertise of BBC Worldwide with the proven capacity of the Nine Network is a great outcome."

"We are genuinely excited to have Top Gear under the Nine banner and look forward to bringing it to an even wider audience," he added.

Top Gear is an International Emmy-award winning show whose audience is more than 40% female. Top Gear is viewed in more than 120 countries and has enjoyed enormous success in Australia in recent years, building its presence with the UK and Australian series, Top Gear Australia magazine, topgear.com/au, the Top Gear Live show and huge retail success with DVDs and merchandise.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Cast and transmission details for Top Gear Australia are yet to be confirmed

Fiona Bickerstaff