July 2024
Latest News
Banijay Entertainment, Everywoman Studios, and The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (GDI) unveiled a pioneering study – Behind the Scenes: Women’s Representation in Unscripted Television – in the US, UK, Brazil, and France. The landmark report investigates gender parity in decision-making roles in reality television. Banijay Launch will also be making its return at MIPCOM after a successful inaugural year.
Find out more on the study here.
The London TV Screenings announced an expanded 2025 edition. The fifth annual distribution event will now run for an extra day, from the 23rd to 28th of February 2025. 30+ companies will be joining the founding distributors, with Banijay Entertainment returning to the iconic BAFTA 195 Piccadilly to showcase its premium scripted and non-scripted titles and formats.
HBO and the BBC are set to co-produce the six-part drama Lions (w/t) from creator and executive producer Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer). The gripping series will follow two brothers, Niall and Ruben, as they navigate through the highs and lows of their 40-year relationship. Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck are directing with Wendy Griffin producing. Tally Garner and Morven Reid from Banijay UK’s Mam Tor Productions and Gaynor Holmes and Gavin Smith from the BBC are executive producing.
Getting to know…
Today we find out more about George Ormond and Mark Pybus, Executive Producers at The Forge, which recently joined Banijay UK’s portfolio of production labels.
How have you found joining Banijay Entertainment?
We’ve been very busy in production since we joined and that’s continued to be our main focus. However, Banijay Entertainment certainly feels like a welcoming home. Having spent a decade amongst ourselves, we’ve enjoyed the stimulation and support that comes with being part of an international group. It’s also been great to share common problems and challenges with other scripted labels, as well as take part in the regular talks Patrick Holland’s team organise, which have been particularly useful.
What are The Forge’s key priorities going forward and have you got anything in the pipeline you can share with us?
We’re currently in production on season 2 of The Buccaneers for Apple TV+, We Go Again for BBC3 and Generation Z for Channel 4. We also have a six-part terrestrial show which hasn’t been announced yet, but we’re happy to share it has been greenlit with production starting next summer. There’s a mixture of bigger budget streamer shows and programmes for the traditional terrestrial broadcasters. Our main goal is to continue to keep working across these two areas without becoming overly reliant on either one.
With recent shows like Shardlake and The Buccaneers, how have you found working with streamers?
In terms of editorial, both shows were commissioned out of the UK and the experience was not that different to working with UK broadcasters. However, from a production and legal perspective, you are very much part of the US studio system, and that’s definitely been a learning curve for us.
Which genre are you seeing a lot of demand for?
More recently, period dramas were becoming unfashionable, but it feels like they’ve been successfully reinvented, either through original points of view or a novel tone. They also feel a lot more inclusive than they used to, for which Bridgerton deserves a huge amount of credit.
What has been your favourite TV show of 2024 so far?
Mark Pybus: I really enjoyed Shogun, particularly Anna Sawai’s performance, which led me to Pachinko, equally as good (although not a 2024 show so I’m cheating!).
George Ormond: I loved One Day – it’s beautifully adapted, performed, directed and produced. It also really showed what television can do, with room to breathe, in comparison to the disappointing 2011 film adaptation.
99 to Beat USA
Initial & ZnakTV, Fox
Big Brother Australia
EndemolShine Australia, Ten
Mrs Playmen
Aurora TV, Netflix
In other news
Baniday 2024
Over the last few weeks, teams across our global offices took part in our annual volunteering day dedicated to supporting a range of charities and NGOs across the DEI and sustainability space. More than 500+ employees came together to volunteer their time and skills to support 40+ charities, with more countries expected to join before the end of the year.
Pride Month
In June, our Banijay Pride network hosted their annual global Pride party themed around gender euphoria.
Staff from all over the world came together to celebrate the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community at Banijay Entertainment and shared inspiring queer stories. Hosted by Rebecca, our dazzling resident drag queen from Mexico, the event featured highlights from Drag Me Out Poland, Invisible Boys, La Vita Che Volevi, Big Brother, and Banged Up. Jaxon Feeley, winner of Hunted UK also joined to talk about LGBTQIA+ representation.
Watch the recording here.
Broadcast 2024 Hot Shots
We are incredibly lucky to have three of Banijay UK’s talented staff members recognised in Broadcast’s 2024 Hot Shots!
Congratulations to Jess Leech, Development Executive for Wild Mercury, Alesya Capelle, Development Producer for Double Dutch, and Connie Sneddon, Development Producer for IWC Media.
Leila Loumi
VP Licensing, Banijay Rights
Leila is responsible for executing Banijay Rights’ licensing and merchandising strategy across Banijay Entertainment’s key brands. An experienced senior executive, Leila was formerly Global Senior Director of Licensing at brands agency, Licensing Matters Global. Prior to this, she held senior licensing positions at media companies and agencies including WarnerMedia, Turner Broadcasting System and Beanstalk.
Claire Douglas
Communications Manager, Banijay Rights
Claire joined the Banijay Rights team from Passion Distribution, where she led the distributor’s PR and marketing efforts for almost a decade. Prior to this, she held marketing and PR roles at A+E Networks UK, Warner Bros. Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company, among other media firms. Based in London, Claire will work closely with Andrew Dickens and the wider marketing team to implement Banijay Rights’ press strategy.
Julia Florek
Format Coordinator, Creative Networks
Julia joined the Creative Networks team where she supports the development, production, and longevity of various formats. She began her media career as a Production Assistant, gaining experience in film and television production in London and Warsaw.
Eli Oloye
Assistant Producer, Creative Networks
Eli joined Creative Networks from WorkerBee, where he worked as a Researcher on various projects, including Bear Hunt, Love Triangle UK, That Peter Crouch Film, and 4 Kings. During his time at WorkerBee, he also won the internal Banijay Big Pitch competition, earning a spot at the Edinburgh TV Festival. Eli began his career at Banijay as a creative intern through the Brightbulb Scheme.
Kristin Viktoria Magnusdottir
Junior Software Developer, Banijay Entertainment
Kristin joined the Goup IT team and is working on development projects across Creative Networks, Music and Legal teams. She was previously a software developer at a small software company.
Alejandro Catania Flores
IT Office Assistant, Banijay Entertainment
Alejandro supports the Group IT Project Manager with general administration. He was previously at Warner Media as Content Operations Coordinator before moving to Ophtha_X Health.
Big Brother hit 70 international markets with the latest adaptation in Malta. PBS-owned TVM in Malta will launch the show later this year.
Banijay Americas received 15 Emmy nominations for the 76th ceremony. Endemol Shine North America’s Ripley (Netflix) received 13 nominations, while 51 Minds‘ Below Deck Down Under (Bravo) earned two.
Alexia Laroche-Joubert, CEO of Banijay France, has made this year’s Legion of Honour recipent list. Recognised by the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, she will be promoted to the rank of Knight (Chevalier).
October
21 – 24
MIPCOM
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