Toronto-based Temple Street Productions is extending the global licensing presence of its tween drama The Next Step courtesy of a new deal with BBC Worldwide and UK-based licensing agency Brands with Influence (BWI).

Following the deal, Brands with Influence will manage the brand licensing for the reality-style series in all regions outside of North and South America.

Aimed at kids and tweens ages six to 12, The Next Step follows the lives of a group of dancers at The Next Step Dance Studio.

The show has been greenlit for a third season by Family Channel, which is now owned by DHX Media. Production on season three started this summer.

It debuted globally earlier this year, with sales of the program in the U.S. (Hulu), the U.K. (CBBC), Australia (Disney Channel Australia), Italy (Sky Italia) and Croatia (Hrvatska Televizija/HRT) by BBC Worldwide, who handles international distribution of the series.

BWI will also present the show to licensees at BLE and MIPCOM, looking for partners to work across the U.K., Australia, Germany and France, with additional regions coming on stream in the coming months.

The Next Step is produced by Temple Street and executive produced by Frank van Keeken, Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Wingin’ It, Orphan Black), with financial assistance from The Shaw Rocket Fund. Segal Licensing manages the licensing program in Canada, which has included an exclusive direct-to-retail partnership with Walmart.

– From Kidscreen