Major European production and distribution groups: Banijay

French entrepreneur and former Endemol France boss Stéphane Courbit created Banijay Group in 2008 with backing from investors including Groupe Arnault and De Agostini, later joined by Vivendi. The company has grown through acquisitions, notably with production groups Zodiak Media in 2016 and Endemol Shine Group in 2020.

The debt-fuelled deal-making has propelled Banijay to the front ranks of the indie production sector, and it is now the world’s biggest independent production group with more than 130 labels in 21 territories. Some 20% of its production revenues derive from scripted shows such as Versailles, Peaky Blinders and SAS Rogue Heroes; the rest comes from unscripted such as Master­Chef, Big Brother and Survivor. It has amassed a library of more than 180,000 hours, which is sold internationally through its distribution arm Banijay Rights.

Banijay was listed on Amsterdam’s Euronext stock market in 2022 through special purpose acquisition company FL Entertainment. Among recent deals, Banijay’s acquisition of Balich Wonder Studio signalled a move into live entertainment and events. It also moved into the US mainstream scripted space with an investment in Cris Abrego and Eva Longoria’s Hyphenate Media Group. Looking ahead, Banijay says its priorities include greater scale through organic growth and M&A as well as further diversifying the business.

Like many of the big groups, it has not been immune to the challenges facing the TV industry. Banijay announced last month it is closing RDF Television, one of the UK’s best-known labels, citing a “radical shift in demand for content” from broadcasters, away from general factual and lifestyle programming and towards scripted, documentary, entertainment and reality.

• In focus: the major European production and distribution groups