Sky U.K. Buys Full 'Little Princess' Catalog in Banijay Kids Deal

Sky U.K. has bought the complete catalog of "Little Princess," the British pre-school animation series that ran for 135 episodes across four seasons, in a deal announced Wednesday at Mipcom by Banijay Kids & Family.

The agreement covers all series and specials. It's the biggest of four new distribution deals on the show announced at the market. Nordisk Film takes Seasons 1-3 plus the specials for streaming across the Nordics; RTV Slovenia picks up Seasons 1-2; and Telecom Italia's TIM has acquired the series for TIMVision, its Italian streaming platform aggregator.

The push signals what distributors think the current kids' market wants: proven, long-running brands rather than brand-new linear shows.

Why an 18-year-old show still sells

"Little Princess" is based on the best-selling children's books by author and illustrator Tony Ross. It launched in 2006 on Channel 4's "Milkshake" children's block and ran until 2020, ending after four seasons. In its first linear run, the show sold to 140 territories.

Since 2008, the series has also built a fandom on YouTube and other platforms — evidence, as Banijay sees it, of durable appeal beyond broadcast.

The show earned four BAFTA nominations. It follows a bubbly, ever-curious princess in a purple-bricked castle, who confronts everyday problems — like getting a scratch after a minor accident in the episode "I Need a Plaster" — and learns she won't always get her own way. Banijay Kids & Family describes each episode as told with "a warm blend of humor and surprise."

What does this change for buyers?

It confirms that established IP (intellectual property with existing audience recognition) now carries more commercial weight than fresh commissions in kids' content. Julia Rowlands, SVP of Sales, Co-Productions and Acquisitions at Banijay Kids & Family, said: "Across the industry, we're seeing continued demand for trusted, established IP that can cut through in an increasingly crowded landscape. With a new U.K. home on Sky and partners across Europe, 'Little Princess' demonstrates the enduring value of distinctive characters and storytelling that audiences know and love."

The production force behind it

The Illuminated Film Company produces "Little Princess." Its credits include Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories" and the RTS Award-winning "The Rubbish World of Dave Spud."

Banijay Kids & Family, led by CEO Benoît Di Sabatino, spans France, Italy and the U.K. through production companies including Monello Productions, Movimenti Production, Procidis, Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, Zodiak Kids & Family France and Zodiak Productions UK. Its kids' brands include "Totally Spies!," "Mr Bean," "LoliRock," "Super Happy Magic Forest," "Street Football" and "MiniHeroes of the Forest."

With Sky now holding the full catalog and three more European territories signed, expect distributors to keep pricing longevity over novelty at future kids' markets.