Comments Off on Banijay Entertainment Presents Shine Iberia’s Game of Chairs
Content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces its latest nostalgia-driven, family-friendly, competition format, Game of Chairs. Created by Shine Iberia (part of Banijay Iberia), the series was part of Banijay Entertainment’s exclusive line-up at this year’s London TV Screenings, Banijay @ BAFTA 195 Piccadilly.
The traditional game of musical chairs has been transformed into a vibrant competition, blending tactical and skill-based challenges. As the music plays, ten contestants circle around nine chairs, but when the music stops, one will be left without a seat. They must battle it out with another contestant, in a challenge to determine who stays in the game. As the show progresses, the prize pot grows, and the number of chairs decreases. The victor will then face The Master Chair, where they will compete to win the grand final prize. If they fail to secure it, they will compete again the next day alongside the last four eliminated contestants.
Macarena Rey, CEO, Shine Iberia says: “Fun for all the family, Game of Chairs is inspired by a classic childhood game played all around the world. Our dynamic blend of game show and nostalgia elevates the party favourite, resulting in a dynamic format with international appeal.”
James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development at Banijay Entertainment adds: “Nostalgia, tension, strategy, and knowledge come together in this original concept, which appeals to a wide demographic. Reimagining childhood favourites is a firm favourite with our clients, and Game of Chairs is a fantastic addition to our slate, complementing our successful formats in the space with the likes of LEGO® Masters and Bear Hunt.”
Since 2012, Shine Iberia has produced hit shows in Spain and Portugal, with home-grown content such as the documentary boxset series Bosé Renacido, as well as local adaptations from Banijay Entertainment’s diverse catalogue, including MasterChef, alongside third-party formats such as Next Level Chef,Sewing Bee and The Voice Portugal. Shine Iberia also creates premium branded content such as Hairstyle: The Talent Show, producing five local versions covering Spain, Italy, the U.S., Mexico and Brazil, and Mistura Beirão. It recently moved into scripted programming with biopic Bosé, a collaboration with Elefantec Global and Legacy Rock for Paramount+.
Comments Off on Banijay Entertainment and SimpelZodiak Kick Off Football Island at London TV Screenings
Content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment today unveils Football Island, a groundbreaking format blending sports, survival and competition reality. Created by SimpelZodiak (part of Banijay Benelux), the premium title is set to be a highlight in the exclusive London TV Screenings line-up for Banijay @ BAFTA 195 Piccadilly. Football Island will be the first co-production between SimpelZodiak and Banijay Benelux label Southfields, the largest sports production company in the Netherlands.
Making its global debut in the Netherlands, Football Island drops 13 legendary footballers in a remote tropical location, stripping them of stadiums, status and comfort. Battling the elements they fight for the basics, and victory, in high-stakes, football-inspired challenges. With friendships tested, rivalries reignited, and legacies on the line, this raw and unscripted adventure brings the beautiful game into the brutal wild.
Justine Huffmeijer, Managing Director at SimpelZodiak says: “Football Island is a one-of-a-kind concept bringing legendary footballers back into the heat of fierce competition. This is more than just a game – it’s also a test of strategy, and endurance. Watching football icons relive past clashes and push their unceasing competitive spirit in a high-stake survival environment is set to be a thrilling spectacle for audiences to enjoy.”
James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development, Banijay Entertainment: “Football Island’ electrifying fusion of genres will appeal to sports and entertainment fans alike, offering an intense, character-driven reality format to meet the needs of our many clients around the world. With an outstanding track-record producing high-profile global formats like Survivor and Hunted, SimpelZodiak has raised the bar, pushing survival and reality to the next level, where strategy, resilience and football collide.”
Banijay Benelux label, SimpelZodiak, specialises in adventure reality and factual entertainment for linear and VOD platforms. The company is behind local versions of global hits including Survivor, Special Forces and Hunted. Other credits include Good Luck Guys, Shaolin Heroes, and Banged Up.
Additional titles within Banijay Entertainment’s format line-up for London TV Screenings include Against All Odds (Meter/Jarowskij), Mission Unknown: Atlantic (Banijay Productions Germany), The Rest of Your Life (Pineapple Entertainment), AI Love You (Nordisk Film TV) and 30 Days and 30 Dates (Cuarzo Producciones).
This new title taps into Banijay Entertainment’s growing efforts in sport following its launch of Banijay Sports.
Comments Off on Banijay Entertainment Lifts the Curtain on Must-See London TV Screenings Line-Up
Global content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces its top-tier premium line-up for its exclusive London TV Screenings event, Banijay @ BAFTA 195 Piccadilly.With a range of captivating and multi-genre programming, the group’s event will span three sessions on Wednesday, 26th February.
Headlining the 2025 showcase is Maigret the first contemporary television adaptation of Georges Simenon’s beloved detective novels, from the Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning production company behind Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light; landmark documentary series 7/7: The London Bombings, marking the 20th anniversary of the London attack; and reality dating format 30 Dates in 30 Nights with several brand new formats to be announced on the day. Additionally, the powerhouse will spotlight highly-anticipated reboots including fan-favourite reality series Faking It.
Cathy Payne, CEO, Banijay Rights says: “From high-end dramas to gripping factual series, this year’s line-up highlights the exceptional depth and quality of our burgeoning catalogue, reinforcing our reputation for delivering standout content across multiple genres to buyers worldwide. We cannot wait to come together later this month with our partners at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly for what has become an unmissable event in the TV industry calendar.”
James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development and Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations at Banijay Entertainment, comment: “The London TV Screenings is the perfect stage to showcase Banijay Entertainment’s latest and most innovative IP, alongside reimagined hit formats. Creativity is brimming across our footprint, and with global partners seeking bold new formats, our portfolio of buzzworthy titles truly set us apart.”
For its UK premium scripted slate, Banijay Rights’ offering includes Maigret for MASTERPIECE from Playground, which reframes Parisian Chief Inspector, Jules Maigret, as an unconventional young detective; a modern re-imagining of iconic detective series Bergerac, an U&Original seriesfor U and U&DRAMA from Blacklight TV; Emmy-winning Baby Reindeer-creator Richard Gadd’s deeply personal drama Half Man for BBC and BBC Scotland, in coproduction with HBO, from Mam Tor Productions; Wild Mercury and Capricorn Productions’ psychological thriller FEAR for Amazon Prime Video; The Forge Entertainment’s Just Act Normal a comedy drama series about three stubbornly optimistic siblings with a dark secret, for BBC iPlayer and BBC Three; and The Feud, a domestic thriller for Channel 5 from Lonesome Pine Productions in association and North East Screen.
Crossing over to continental Europe is French crime series The Family Detective for TF1 from Shine Fiction; Dutch thriller Elixir for NPO and New8 from Banijay Benelux label Topkapi Films; and French horror thrillerThe Rose Family for Cine+ OCS from Black Sheep Films. Also featured are the eagerly awaited second seasons of Marie Antoinette, the CANAL+ Creation Originale, produced by CAPA Drama, Banijay Studios France and Beside Production; and Filmlance’s Swedish crime drama Fallen for TV4.
A range of fascinating documentaries headline the factual slate including 7/7: The London Bombings from The Slate Worksfor BBC Two and BBC iPlayer; true-crime series The Drowning Pool from Caravan for Channel 5;Workerbee’s gripping title Anatomy of a Murder; investigative climate justice documentary The Silence of the Earth,from Diagonal TV with Crescendo Media Production for TVE and ARTE;and CNN Original series Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain from Hyphenate Media Group.
Banijay Entertainment’s formats continue to push boundaries, with a blend of original and highly-entertaining offerings including Meter/Jarowskij’s cross-country skiing competition Against All Odds for SVT; influencer-fuelled adventure Mission Unknown: Atlantic from Banijay Productions Germanyfor Prime Video; life-changing Danish reality format TheRest of Your Life for DR1 and DR TV; and Nordisk Film TV’s docu-format AI Love You for TV 2.
On the reality front comes 30 Dates in 30 Nights from Cuarzo Producciones (part of Banijay Iberia) for Mitele Plus (Mediaset España) and highly-anticipated popular reboots including Faking it; Ladette to Lady and hit extension LEGO Masters: Out of the Box.
From its third-party non-scripted portfolio is reality format My Name Is Gabriel for JTBC and Disney+; unique culinary format Atypical Critics featuring autistic food critics; ultimate gameshows Genius Game for ITV and Clone Heads; and competitive knitting series Game of Wool for More 4. This follows yesterday’s announcement of The Insider, the first format to stem from a newly-announced co-development deal between Endemol Shine Australia and Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) – a reinvention of Junya Ueda’s Actor Vs Reactors.
These London TV Screenings highlights complement Banijay Entertainment’s globally renowned catalogue, which includes superbrands Big Brother and Peaky Blinders; travelling hits The Fifty and Good Luck Guys from Banijay France’s B Prod; and streamer launches Celebrity Bear Hunt, co-produced by Banijay UK’s Workerbee, The Natural Studios and Talkback for Netflix; Last One Laughing UK from Zeppotron and Initial for Prime Video, created byHitoshi Matsumotoand produced by Banijay Entertainment labels in 11 markets; and visually-stunning French drama Carême, a Shine Fiction (part of Banijay France) and VVZ Production for Apple TV+.
Comments Off on Banijay Entertainment Says AI Love You at London TV Screenings
Content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today unveils AI Love You, a pioneering tech-driven factual format headlining its exclusive London TV Screenings event, Banijay @ BAFTA 195 Piccadilly. Created and produced by Banijay Nordic label Nordisk Film TV, Denmark and commissioned by TV 2, the life-affirming format incorporates cutting-edge AI technology, available to global buyers as part of the international package.
AI Love You celebrates love’s resilience against life’s impermanence. Exploring everlasting love and loss, the show follows couples who face an early end to life, as they decide to use AI to preserve their love beyond life itself. Guided by a psychologist and tech expert, they spend their final months cherishing each moment while creating a digital avatar of their loved one. The journey begins with a heartfelt gathering where family and friends contribute memories, letters, videos and anecdotes shape the AI, capturing the quirks and essence of the person. As they construct the avatar, couples also visit dream destinations, mend old wounds and reconnect with those who shaped their lives. Once complete, the AI is stored away until needed, and after their partner’s passing, the surviving loved one, supported by a psychologist, chooses whether to engage with it, or leave it untouched.
James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development at Banijay Entertainment, comments: “This trailblazing docu-format redefines how technology can enhance human storytelling. Packed with raw emotion, AI Love You pushes the creative boundaries and sets a new benchmark for non-scripted innovation. It’s a powerful concept, and impossible to ignore, adding even more scale and ambition to our London TV Screenings line-up.”
Ulrik Jørgensen, CEO Nordisk Film TV adds: “Bold and boundary-breaking, AI Love You merges tender human emotion with innovative technology. It’s a provocative exploration of love, loss, and memory, capturing the intimacy of personal connections and embracing the unfamiliar possibilities of AI. In true Nordic style, this docu-format dares to challenge conventions, offering a ground-breaking perspective on how we sustain our relationships in the digital age.”
One of Denmark’s leading production companies, Banijay Nordic’s label Nordisk Film TV creates premium content across a range of genres, with successes including All Against 1, Wonderkids and Home of the Year.
Other titles within Banijay Entertainment’s format line-up for London TV Screenings include Sweden’s Against All Odds (Meter/ Jarowskij for SVT), Germany’s Mission Unknown: Atlantic (Banijay Productions Germany for Prime Video), Denmark’s The Rest of Your Life (Pineapple Entertainment for DR1 and DR TV) and Spain’s 30 Days and 30 Dates (Cuarzo for Mitele Plus)