Banijay

Banijay SAS (formerly Banijay Entertainment and later Banijay Group) is a French multinational production and distribution company founded in January 2008 by Stéphane Courbit. Headquartered in Paris, Banijay stands as the world's largest content producer and distributor; home to over 120 production companies across 22 territories, and a multi-genre catalogue boasting over 88,000 hours of original standout programming.

The company's programmes and formats include Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, The Money Drop, Fear Factor, MasterChef, Your Face Sounds Familiar, Survivor, Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, among others. The company has expanded over the years through multiple acquisitions, including its purchases of Zodiak Media in 2016 and Endemol Shine Group in 2020.

Chaired by Courbit and led by Marco Bassetti (which in past was Endemol's CEO), Banijay Group is controlled by LDH (67%) and Vivendi (33%).

History
Banijay Entertainment was formed in January 2008 the result of successive acquisitions of production companies driven by French entrepreneur and TV producer Stéphane Courbit (LOV Group).

In October 2008, Banijay acquired Air Productions, the production company of famous French host Nagui. In 2009, Banijay acquired 51% of Spanish production company Cuarzo Producciones on 12 January, 50% of German producer Brainpool TV on 2 July and the entire television division of Copenhagen-based film studio Nordisk Film on 12 October. In March 2010, Banijay acquired American production company Bunim/Murray Productions for an undisclosed amount.

In September 2012, Banijay acquired a majority stake in Australian production company Screentime, which included a New Zealand division (Screentime New Zealand) and a 49% stake in Irish producer Shinawil which was sold in 2015. That same year, French celebrity channel Non Stop People and Cyril Hanouna's H2O Productions became new members of the Group, followed in 2013 by Italian producer Ambra Multimedia and Spanish producer, DLO Producciones.

In April 2014, Banijay launched Banijay Studios North America in Los Angeles, California. On 9 January 2015, Banijay acquired New York City-based Stephen David Entertainment.

In July 2015, Banijay Group announced that it would merge with Zodiak Media, making the former the world's only largest television content production and distribution company not owned by a media conglomerate, as other large television content companies are owned by media conglomerates; for example, ITV Studios is owned by ITV plc. The merger was completed in February 2016.

In July 2017, Banijay Group acquired Survivor production company Castaway Television Productions. In February 2018, Banijay Group acquired British-based company Wonder.

In June 2018, three new units, Banijay Studios Italy, Banijay Asia and Banijay Productions Germany, were created.

In October 2018, Banijay entered advanced talks to acquire rival Endemol Shine Group, with a deal approved a year later on 26 October 2019. On 30 June 2020, the European Commission approved Banijay's purchase of Endemol Shine. The purchase was completed on July 3, 2020. On July 6, 2020, the company unveiled a new identity, shortening its name to "Banijay", while also confirming that many of Endemol Shine's divisions will keep their identities.

Programmes
Banijay has several brands of television programmes and formats aimed at different demographics. Some of its better-known programmes and formats produced by its many subsidiaries (past and present) are:


 * All Together Now
 * Big Brother
 * The Biggest Loser
 * Broadchurch
 * Black Mirror
 * The Crystal Maze
 * Deal or No Deal
 * Fear Factor
 * Home and Away
 * Hunted
 * The Island with Bear Grylls
 * Keeping Up with the Kardashians
 * LEGO Masters
 * Location, Location, Location
 * MasterChef
 * Mr. Bean
 * Mister Maker
 * One Born Every Minute
 * Only Connect
 * Peaky Blinders
 * Pointless
 * Ready Steady Cook
 * Shipwrecked
 * Simon's Cat
 * Survivor
 * Versailles
 * The Wall
 * Wife Swap
 * Wipeout
 * Your Face Sounds Familiar

Zodiak Kids
Zodiak Kids is Banijay's children's programming production/distribution arm, combining Banijay Group’s dedicated kids production company, consumer products, digital and TV sales division. The company’s production arm, Zodiak Kids Studios, with offices in Paris & London, produces animation and live action programming for a wide range of international broadcasters and audiences worldwide. The business also encompasses a dedicated international sales team representing programming from Zodiak Kids Studios and third-party producers.

Zodiak Kids boasts one of the largest, high-quality kids catalogues in the world, which includes;  Mister Maker , the ultimate arts and craft show;  LoliRock  , the series bursting with music, magic, and mystery; '' Totally Spies! , the international hit animation series;  Floogals  the unique CGI series and #1 show on Sprout in the US with Kids 2-5; BAFTA award-winning  Secret Life of Boys  for CBBC in the UK & ABC in Australia;  Millie Inbetween  , the CBBC multi-series ratings hit and follow-up for BBC iPlayer,  Flatmates  ; the hit kids drama series,  The Lodge  for Disney worldwide; and more recently, international animation series,  Magiki  ,  Lilybuds  ,  Lost in Oz  and  Kody Kapow. ''

Banijay Rights
Banijay Rights (known until 2017 as Zodiak Rights) is the worldwide distributor of programming produced by Banijay's production teams, which represents a world-class, multi-genre portfolio of over 88,000 hours of standout programming. Leading distribution for the largest international creator and producer, Banijay, the division handles the exploitation of some of the planet’s best scripted and non-scripted brands.

Representing quality, excellence and experience in the business of linear and non-linear television and ancillary activity across all platforms, Banijay Rights’ catalogue encompasses a host of top titles from Banijay’s 120+ in-house labels, and a number of third-party producers, spanning drama, comedy, entertainment, factual, reality, family, formats and theatrical.

Delivering high-quality IP, which was born locally and travels globally, the distributor offers the best stories told the best way. Its landmark brands include  Survivor, Big Brother, MasterChef, Temptation Island, Grantchester, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Deal or No Deal, Versailles, Biggest Loser, Home and Away, Money Drop, Mr Bean  and  Black Mirror .

Built on independence, creative freedom, entrepreneurialism and commercial acumen, Banijay Rights operates under the direction of Chief Executive Officer, Cathy Payne.

Banijay Brands
Banijay Brands was established in September 2020 as a division dedicated to all areas of commercial activity. Led by Banijay's Chief Commercial Officer, Owain Walbyoff, Banijay Brands will encompass brand licensing, merchandising, gaming, gambling and music. The operation will represent an extensive and diverse portfolio covering entertainment, scripted, animation, game shows and kids, which offer a wide range of commercial opportunities. Jane Smith, Group Director, Brand Licensing leads the division's licensing area, overseeing key brands from the world’s largest international content catalogue, comprising of 88,000+ hours of original programming. She will also work with the network of teams in local markets to further expand the business.