Be in the Know – April

October 2024

Latest News

Congratulations to Banijay Rights who topped the 2024 Broadcast Distributors Survey. Knocking BBC Studios off the top spot, BR recorded £389.1m in distribution revenues, up 8.4% from last year’s £359m. Read the full survey here.

Award-winning scripted label, NL Film, part of Banijay Benelux, has signed a first-look deal with sunny pictures, a newly-established production company. Led by influential forces Paula van der Oest and Mark van Eeuwen, sunny pictures crafts bold, original, and high-quality films and television for both local and international audiences. Through this collaboration, NL Film and sunny pictures will join forces to elevate their creative and production capabilities, and by combining strengths they will deliver powerful, impactful projects, while expanding their respective slates.

Banijay Americas has invested in new label launch, BD4. With a bold approach to premium documentary creation, the joint venture fronted by award-winning producer Daniel Silver, will blend mainstream film themes and structures with talent-driven, brand-driven, and other genre-specific storytelling approaches. BD4 will showcase the untold stories of today’s cultural icons, athletes and performers, sparking emotion in audiences by celebrating and redefining long-celebrated genre narratives through an authentic lens.

Getting to know…

Today we find out more about Małgorzata Perkowska-Czaja, Managing Director at Endemol Shine Poland.

Endemol Shine Poland has had an exciting year so far with lots of new commissions announced. What current trends in the Polish market are influencing the types of formats you are developing?

It’s been a remarkable year for us. The Polish market is increasingly embracing formats that prioritise authentic storytelling and resonate on a personal level with audiences. There’s a growing appetite for content that reflects societal changes, explores diverse perspectives, and engages viewers emotionally. Additionally, interactive and immersive experiences are becoming more popular, influenced by the rise of digital platforms and social media engagement. These trends are guiding us to develop formats that are not only entertaining, but also thought-provoking and reflective of our times.

Recent commissions, including Good Luck Guys and Boomerissima, come from Banijay Entertainment’s catalogue. What sort of shows are you looking for when considering the global portfolio?

When exploring the Banijay Entertainment catalogue, we’re particularly interested in formats that combine universal appeal with the flexibility to localise it for the Polish audience. We look for innovative concepts that offer fresh storytelling angles and have the potential for strong audience engagement. Formats that address current social themes, encourage viewer interaction, and can be adapted to reflect our culture and values are especially attractive to us.

Given the success of shows like Drag Me Out Poland, do you believe there is now greater openness in Poland to exploring newer, more diverse formats that address a broader range of topics?

Absolutely. The success of Drag Me Out Poland signals a positive shift in audience openness towards diverse and inclusive content. Polish viewers are increasingly receptive to formats that challenge traditional norms and offer new perspectives. This growing acceptance allows us to introduce a wider range of topics and stories, promoting inclusivity and reflecting the diverse fabric of our society.

You recently announced the revival of the Polish version of Penoza after nearly a decade. Could you share some insights about the show and the reasoning behind its return at this time?

Penoza was a groundbreaking series that captivated audiences with its intense drama and complex characters. Bringing it back now feels timely, as there’s a renewed interest in premium scripted content in Poland. The themes of family, loyalty, and moral ambiguity are as relevant today as ever. With advancements in production technology and storytelling techniques, we believe we can offer a fresh take that will appeal to both original fans and new viewers alike.

What additional growth opportunities do you foresee for Endemol Shine Poland in the coming year, particularly in the scripted space?

We see significant potential in expanding our scripted offering, especially with the increasing demand for locally produced content. There’s an opportunity to develop original series that highlight Polish narratives and talent. Collaborations with streaming platforms are also opening new avenues for distribution and audience reach. Additionally, we’re exploring genre-blending formats that combine elements of drama, comedy, and reality to create unique viewing experiences.

What’s your favourite TV show at the moment?

At the moment, I’m particularly proud of and excited about SAS: Who Dares Win. It’s a compelling show that puts participants through real special forces training exercises, testing their physical and mental limits. The programme not only provides intense and gripping entertainment, it also offers insights into the resilience and determination of each contestant. Seeing them overcome incredible challenges has been both inspiring and a testament to the human spirit, making it a standout series in today’s TV landscape.

Read the rest of the interview

In this month's episode, we hear from Leila Hobday (VP Acquisitions, Banijay Rights) and Fabian Tobias (Managing Director, EndemolShine Germany) about their experience as working parents.

99 to Beat USA

Initial & ZnakTV, Fox

Big Brother Australia

EndemolShine Australia, Ten

Mrs Playmen

Aurora TV, Netflix

Disenchanted

Banijay Studios France, France Télévisions

In other news

Banijay Kids & Family acquired Procidis

Banijay Kids & Family announced the majority acquisition of French production company, Procidis. Creator of the famous edutaining saga Once Upon a Time…, and inclusive of its iconic umbrella brand, Hello Maestro. The complementary deal broadens the group’s existing portfolio of premium kids labels and marks its first edutainment focused producer. 

It’s raining awards!

Over the last few weeks, Banijay Entertainment shows and labels across the footprint have been recognised: 

Ripley won the Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, accepted by writer-director Steve Zaillian. The series, one of the year’s most nominated, also took three Creative Arts Emmys: Outstanding Cinematography for “V Lucio,” and Outstanding Sound Editing and Special Visual Effects for “III Sommerso.”

Endemol Shine Australia triumphed at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, with MasterChef Australia Dessert Masters winning Best General Entertainment Programme and Tipping Point Australia taking home Best Game or Quiz Programme.

Big Brother Modo Stone won at the Venice TV Awards in Branded Entertainment. Let’s also recognise other nominees: Shine Television’s Mistura Beirão and HairStyle: The Talent Show, along with Generación porno in Documentary. Workerbee’s That Peter Crouch Film was nominated in the Sport category, and Endemol Shine Brasil’s The Masked Singer Brazil 2024 received nods in Light Entertainment and Technology/Innovation.

Banijay Launch, the global accelerator programme of emerging women creators, won the MIPCOM Diversify TV Awards ‘Behind the Scenes Impact Award’.

A whopping 18 nominations at the C21 International Format Awards. Congrats to Banijay Germany, Shine Iberia, Banijay France, Endemol Shine North America, Tuesday’s Child, Banijay Italia, Banijay Mexico and U.S. Hispanic, Cuarzo Productions, Metronome, Shine Television, and Endemol Shine Australia. Cathy Payne, CEO of Banijay Rights will receive this year’s C21 Gold Award at the awards ceremony. This prestigious honour celebrates her lifetime achievements in the formats industry and will be presented ahead of MIPCOM.

In France, the Molotov Awards took place where Adventure Line Productions’ Fort Boyard took home Favourite Adventure Show and Endemol France’s Les 12 Coups de Midi won Favourite Daily Game.

Congratulations to Banijay Iberia’s Portocabo, Diagonal TV, Shine Iberia, Gestmusic, and Cuarzo Productions, along with Banijay Americas’ Endemol Shine Boomdog, Endemol Shine Brasil, and Banijay Mexico and U.S. Hispanic for their impressive 25 nominations at the Produ Awards. We also saw nominations for formats produced by external partners, such as MasterChef Argentina, Survivor Argentina, and Survivor Mexico.

Banijay Iberia companies Shine Iberia, Cuarzo Producciones, Diagonal TV and Portocabo, have all been honoured at the FesTVal Awards, for standout formats inlcuding Bose Renacido, Suenos de Libertad, Supervivientes, Generacion Porno, and Rapa.

Congrats to Wild Mercury Productions, Endemol Shine Australia, Endemol Shine Boomdog, and Banijay Asia on their International Emmys nominations! Wild Mercury’s The Sixth Commandment scored nominations for Best Mini-Series and Best Performance by an Actor for Timothy Spall, while Banijay Asia’s The Night Manager is up for Best Drama Series. In Non-Scripted Entertainment, The Summit by Endemol Shine Australia and Nine Network, Endemol Shine Boomdog’s Me Caigo De Risa (Anything Goes), and the Banijay format Die Brug (The Bridge South Africa) all received nominations.

Congratulations to IWC Media and Remarkable Entertainment for their BAFTA Scotland nominations. The Banijay UK companies scored 3 nominations in the Entertainment category for The Agency: Unfiltered, Richard Osman’s House of Games, and Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out. Plus, a Features nomination for Location, Location, Location.

Last but not least, at the RTS Midlands Award, Kudos’ This Town received 7 award nominations including Best Writer for Steven Knight, Best Director for Paul Whittingham and Breakthrough On Screen Scripted (Acting) for Levi Brown and Ben Rose. While Three Little Birds received 5 nominations including Best Writer for Sir Lenny Henry, Best Acting Performance for Rochelle Neil and Saffron Coomber and Breakthrough (Off Screen) Scripted for Yero Timi-Biu.

Read more

Parents and Carers

This month we hosted a Parents and Carers Coffee & Conversation, an opportunity for working parents to share their experiences, challenges and practical tips and advice. Watch the recording here.

Leila Hobday, VP Acquisitions, Banijay Rights, was joined by Susie Chase, Director of Legal and Business Affairs, Banijay UK; Karen Hudson, Professional Coach, TV Executive and Founder of Hudini Coaching; Dee Stevens, Development Producer, Tiger Aspect Kids & Family; and Cédric Brignon, CFO, Banijay Entertainment. 

If you would like to get involved, please email: BanijayGroupComms@banijay.com. 

Madelene Hansson

CEO, Meter/Jarowskij

Previously CEO at Meter, Madelene will now lead Meter/Jarowskij as CEO. With extensive experience in non-scripted programming, Madelene has overseen iconic global brands like MasterChef, SAS: Who Dares Wins, Good Luck Guys, and LEGO Masters, along with Swedish originals such as Wild Kids and Luxury Trap. Under her leadership, the label will continue to adapt and produce international formats for the Swedish market, while also investing in local creativity to develop new, original shows.

Elin Kvist

CEO, Jarowskij/Yellow Bird

Elin has been promoted to CEO of Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, after serving as VP/Creative Director at Yellow Bird. With a background in developing acclaimed scripted content, Elin will now lead the newly merged entity, combining Jarowskij’s strength in popular comedy and drama with Yellow Bird’s expertise in epic suspense and international co-productions. Under her leadership, the label will focus on creating ambitious television and feature films, leveraging top Nordic creative talent.

Magnus Gustafsson

Chief Creative Officer, Meter/Jarowskij

Magnus has been appointed Chief Creative Officer of Meter/Jarowskij. Formerly with Jarowskij, Magnus brings a wealth of creative expertise to his new role, where he will focus on driving innovation and strategic growth. Together with Madelene, he will oversee the development and production of large-scale non-scripted content, ensuring the company continues to deliver impactful programming for Swedish and international audiences.

October 1st marked World Vegetarian Day, a global day to raise awareness about the health, environmental and ethical benefits of following a plant-based diet. Check out these delicious MasterChef veggie recipes here.

Nordisk Banijay’s 71° North celebrated 25 years of uninterrupted broadcasting with over 42 seasons across all versions.

Newly-launched Conker Pictures Northern Ireland announced a year-long Writer In Residence scheme to nurture emerging showrunners from Northern Ireland.

October

10 

World Mental Health Day

October

21 – 24

MIPCOM