Marlo Miazga-led prodco BGM has landed its first commission since it exited the Kew Media Group in March.

TVOKids has ordered Abby’s Farm (30 x seven minutes), a preschool series that shows kids how the food they eat arrives on their plates.

Marney Malabar, director of kids TV at TVO, commissioned the series for the provincial broadcaster and will executive produce alongside BGM executive producer for kids Daniel Bourré, VP of development Sean Connolly and president and CEO Miazga. The show is made with financial support from Shaw Rocket Fund and the Canada Media Fund.

Aimed at three- to five-year-olds, Abby’s Farm explores daily life on a working farm from the perspective of six-year-old Abby, an adventurous math-loving girl who introduces viewers to her friends, neighbours and community.

The show is accompanied by a shortform companion series Count With Abby! (20 x two minutes), which expands on the show’s numeric theme.

Following a period of uncertainty for companies formerly owned by Kew Media, BGM embarked on a new chapter when it was acquired by DATSIT Sphère in mid-March. For Montreal-based DATSIT Sphère, which also bought Sienna Films from Kew, the acquisitions are part of an expansion into the English-language factual and scripted space.

News of the greenlight comes ahead of the May 20 premiere of another BGM series, music-focused Backyard Beats (26 x 11 minutes, pictured), which will air twice a week on the linear TVO network and stream online at TVOkids.com. The series explores different genres of music, mixed with a DIY approach to crafting musical instruments using everyday items.

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