Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: Banijay Germany

  1. Banijay Appoints Małgorzata Perkowska-Czaja as MD, Endemol Shine Poland

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    Banijay today confirms new leadership for its Warsaw-based outfit, Endemol Shine Poland, appointing Małgorzata (Gosia) Perkowska-Czaja as Managing Director. A leading local executive, she will be tasked with evolving the business’ slate, diversifying its offering to identify new revenue streams, and strengthening and innovating its commercial strategy to futureproof and bolster growth. In line with the hire, the label will now fall under the Banijay Germany group umbrella, with the role reporting to Endemol Shine Germany’s MD, Fabian Tobias.

    Endemol Shine Poland alumni Perkowska-Czaja joins from Rochstar, where she has spent a year as MD, responsible for devising and executing the label’s market and sales strategies to ensure a broadening of its client base. She also led on deal negotiations, format and film development, as well as commercial diversification and expansion. Previously, she spent seven years at Endemol Shine Poland, leaving as director of non-scripted sales. Here she oversaw the company’s slate of hit entertainment formats and super brand executions including MasterChef and its spin-offs and Big Brother for TVN; All Together Now and Family Food Fight for POLSAT; The Wall (and international hub) and Don’t Forget the Lyrics! for TVP; and Fort Boyard for Viaplay, as well as branded content and commercial deals for a number of its titles.

    Marco Bassetti, Chief Executive Officer, Banijay comments: “A formidable leader, Gosia joins Endemol Shine Poland with an impressive track record in the local and international content space. With a breadth of experience spanning production and commercial strategy, complimentary values, and familiarity with Banijay and the company’s local team, she is very well-equipped to fulfil our ambitions in the Polish market, and I am sure under her stewardship we will see the label and its slate thrive.”

    Małgorzata Perkowska-Czaja comments: “Endemol Shine Poland has built a reputation for high-quality entertainment, and re-joining the business as MD, I am looking forward to exploring new opportunities to diversify the slate and build on its performance in all genres. While the market is challenging right now, I have no doubt that via innovation and creativity, we can capitalize on new technologies and avenues for growth, cementing the company as the region’s number one and go-to for clients.”

    In addition to her most recent roles, Perkowska-Czaja served for seven years as Head of Development and Sales, and producer for Golden Media/Mastiff Media Poland, having spent between 2004 and 2008 as production manager at Endemol Poland/Endemol Netherland – her first stint at the company. A varied career spanning leading global brands, she has also held a number of freelance positions, as well as posts for Reuters, VRT, CNBC and TVP. In addition to her professional credentials, she occasionally lectures at the National Film School in Łódź.

    The news follows Ryszard Sibilski’s decision to step down from the business.

  2. Banijay’s Good Luck Guys to Begin its Adventure in Germany

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    Media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay, today confirms Good Times, part of Banijay Germany, will produce Good Luck Guys for local SVOD Joyn. This marks the seventh adaptation of the fish-out-of water adventure reality format which was originally created by Banijay Productions France.

    In Good Luck Guys, a group of reality show alumni volunteer to trade their life of luxury with a back-to-basics adventure on an isolated tropical beach. In ‘adventure duos’, they must prove there is more to them than meets the eye, as they embark on challenges and live without comfort or cosmetics. Who will be the last team left standing? The winners will not only claim the cash prize, but they’ll also be able to call themselves “true adventurers…” of sorts.

    Shona Fraser, Managing Director of Good Times comments: “Good Luck Guys is escapist reality programming at its best and a great fit for the streamer Joyn. We‘ve been able to leverage Banijay’s international creative network, for a Good Times production, with entertaining German celebrities, whilst utilising French IP in a French-German-Thai hub. It was a blast!”

    Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations at Banijay says: “It’s no surprise this format is making waves across Europe, given it is packed with reality, humour, and light-hearted entertainment. Its stunning and remote beach location is pure escapism. Good Luck Guys and its social media-friendly cast makes it an easily-marketable format, which is much sought-after by streamers and broadcasters alike, as the recent commissions highlight.”

    Good Luck Guys was originally created by Banijay Productions France, and its version has now enjoyed six series on W9. Represented internationally by Banijay, Germany is the seventh territory to adapt the title. The news follows a recent commission in The Netherlands, produced by SimpelZodiak for Prime Video, with the second series in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway set to return to the aforementioned platform.

  3. Banijay’s Good Times Brings The Block to Germany

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    Content powerhouse Banijay today confirms Good Times, part of Banijay Germany, will produce a new adaptation of The Block for RTL Germany. The show will be known locally as Wettkampf in 4 Wänden – Die ultimative Bau-Challenge.

    In this adaptation of the renovation-based competition reality show, four couples compete in order to turn an unloved apartment into a high-end property. Every room matters in this series as it is all about who can impress the expert jury.

    A Nine Network format, Banijay holds the global distribution rights to the format and finished tape. The Blockhas aired over 800 episodes in Australia to-date, with its 18th-season-launch the top-rated show of the night and its finale was the most-watched unscripted show in 2022. In addition, it already been adapted in 14 territories including New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands, the US, and Denmark, where its eighth season consistently won the slot on all demos.

    Shona Fraser, Managing Director of Good Times comments: “We love The Block – it’s such a strong format and we can’t wait to bring it to RTL in Germany with our own special reality twist. It is so exciting watching the teams create completely new rooms from a blank canvas.”

    Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations at Banijay says: “The Block is a brilliant format that has hooked audiences around the world. Banijay has a strong record in creating must-watch competition reality shows and we are sure with Good Times’ expertise, the German audience is bound to be engrossed in the transformations.”

    Since the company’s creation 25 years ago, Good Times has developed and produced numerous formats for the German audience. Its credits include Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal – Der Profi Kommt, Armes Deutschland and Home of the Year.

  4. Brainpool TV Strengthens and Consolidates its Live Entertainment Businesses

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    Media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, today announces Brainpool TV (part of Banijay Germany) will restructure its live events, agency and tour divisions under a new label, Brainpool Live Entertainment GmbH. The company will be managed by Ingrid Langheld and Godehard Wolpers.

    The news follows the latest announcement from FL Entertainment (listed entity within which Banijay sits) regarding the launch of ‘Banijay Events’, following its minority investment in The Independents and Banijay’s signing of the majority acquisition of Balich Wonder Studio. The move cements both parties’ commitment to delivering a world-leading live events offering, which is further complimented by Brainpool TV’s independent move.

    All live activities and live brands of the Cologne Comedy Festival and Banijay Live Artist Brand GmbH will sit under Brainpool Live Entertainment GmbH. The focus for the division we be on comedy events and stand-up artists. These include well-known brands such as Die besten Comedians Deutschlands, 1LIVE Comedy-Nächte XXL, Der Deutsche Comedypreis, NightWash, 1LIVE Hörsaal Comedy and talented entertainers such as Nico Stank, Fabio Landert and Jokah Tululu.

    Ingrid Langheld, Managing Director Brainpool Live Entertainment and Banijay Live Artist Brand says: “By bundling our live businesses, we become an independent comedy agency and a valuable partner for artists, brands, and the event industry. With our strong live brands we offer unique entertainment and spaces for Germany’s comedians and will continuously expand this portfolio. In doing so, we particularly champion and promote up-and-coming comedians by providing them with sustainable support in their careers and ensuring visibility throughout Germany.“

    Godehard Wolpers, Managing Director Brainpool Live Entertainment/ Producer Brainpool TV says: “One of the most successful Brainpool live events is the Cologne Comedy Festival, with a particularly wide breadth of stars and talent. This year, the 100 or so events in Cologne include premieres, readings with Torsten Sträter and Sarah Bosetti, the already sold-out live podcast Bratwurst und Baklava with Özcan Cosar and Bastian Bielendorfer, and Stromberg night at the Cinedom with Christoph Maria Herbst.”

    For more information: www.brainpool-live.de/

  5. Banijay’s Blow Up Lands First European Sale

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    Banijay today announces Banijay Productions Germany, part of Banijay Germany, will produce the first European adaptation of the new hit entertainment format, Blow Up (Die Ballon show), for RTL Germany. Blow Up was originally created by EndemolShine Nederland for RTL 4.

    A one-of-a-kind, colourful and creative competition format, Blow Up draws audiences into the magical world of balloon art, as the nation’s best-in-their-craft battle it out. Within a limited timeframe, the balloon artists must complete unique challenges and wow the expert judges with their mesmerising creations. Who has what it takes to be crowned the best balloon artist and blow the competition away in this fun and uplifting entertainment show?

    EndemolShine Nederland launched the format on RTL 4 earlier this year, hitting number one in its slot on all commercial key demos, with the slot average up 168% for 6-12-year-olds.  It was recently announced that the show is heading to Australia, and will be produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Channel 7 and 7plus.

    Arno Schneppenheim, Managing Director of Banijay Productions Germany says: “I can’t wait for German audiences to be blown away by the designs and imagination the balloon artists possess. Afterwatching an episode and seeing the creations, you will forget any associations you may have had between balloons and children’s parties. The teams at Banijay Productions Germany and RTL Germany are ready to bring this show, which is fun, unpredictable, and full of warmth, to viewers of all ages.”

    Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay adds: “Blow Up delivers fresh, joyful, high-energy entertainment, which layers jeopardy, skill and awe-inspiring creations. A celebration of unbelievable craftsmanship and imagination, the show perfectly complements our outstanding portfolio of highly regarded competition reality formats, sitting alongside the likes of MasterChef. With the first European adaptation hot on the heels of the commission in Australia, we are excited to see where Blow Up will go next.”

    Banijay Productions Germany is a leading production company within its market, producing hit formats such as Temptation Island and Battle of the Reality Stars. It was recently announced Banijay Productions Germany will also produce Big Bounce Battle for RTL Germany after a five-year hiatus.

    Blow Up is amongst the slate Banijay will be showcasing at MIPCOM. The world’s largest international content producer and distributor is returning to the market following a three-year hiatus, with a high-end, diverse slate of non-scripted and scripted titles.

  6. Sony Pictures Television Germany Re-Brands Under Noisy Pictures As It Joins Banijay Germany

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    Leading producer/distributor, Banijay, today announces that the planned acquisition of Sony Productions Film und Fernseh Produktions GmbH Germany (Sony Pictures Television Germany) from Sony Pictures is complete. Following customary closing conditions, Banijay Germany has secured 100% stake in the company.

    Founded in 1995, the label will operate under a new guise, Noisy Pictures GmbH, with Astrid Quentell and Mirek Nitsch remaining in position. The company is behind an impressive slate of shows including the award-winning Die Höhle der Löwen (Dragon’s Den), ZDF crime series Heldt, and thriller, Gefährliche Nähe (TVNOW/VOX).

     Marcus Wolter, CEO Banijay Germany comments: “Sony Pictures in Germany is known for high-quality scripted titles, a strong catalogue, and successful unscripted productions like Die Höhle der Löwen. On this foundation, we have every faith that the Noisy Pictures team will be another hit-maker in the Banijay Germany family.”

    Astrid Quentell, Managing Director of Noisy Pictures says: “We are thrilled to be part of Banijay. Looking to the future, we want to maintain the strength of our independent label, with continuity in our productions on the one hand, and fresh impulses derived from creative exchanges across the new family on the other.”

    Founded in 2018 by Marcus Wolter and Banijay, Banijay Germany GmbH now comprises over 20 independent labels and is the country’s leading entertainment engine, developing, creating, and producing a hugely diverse array of formats across all genres, and for all clients. Popular titles include Tatort Dresden, Schlag den Star (Beat the Star), TV Total, Wer wird Millionär? (Who Wants to be a Millionaire?), Kitchen Impossible, The Masked Singer, Promi Big Brother (Celebrity Big Brother), Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal and Kampf der Realitystars (Battle of the Reality Stars), as well as live shows like 1Live Köln Comedy Night XXL and Nightwash, numerous podcasts and comedy platform MySpass.de.

  7. Nico Rossmann Joins Banijay Germany’s Brainpool TV

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    Banijay today announces Nico Rossman will join Brainpool TV GmbH, part of Banijay Germany, as the Co-Managing Director, where he will be responsible for overseeing a new comedy unit within the label. He joins the management team alongside Brainpool CEO, Marcus Wolter, and Co-Managing Director, Godehard Wolpers.

    Rossmann is a TV producer with a passion for entertainment. Joining from RTL Television, where he was Head of Comedy, he developed and oversaw shows including Ninja Warrior Germany and Frei Schnauze, as well as the stage shows for comedians such as Carolin Kebekus, Sascha Grammel, Chris Tall, and the Ehrlich Brothers. Prior to RTL Germany, he held positions at Tresor TV and Norddeich TV.

    Marcus Wolter, CEO Banijay Germany and CEO Brainpool says: “Nico is an excellent creator of comedy and entertainment formats. I am very pleased that he has accepted the role of Co-Managing Director for Brainpool. With Raab TV, Godehard Wolpers and Nico, we will be ideally positioned to build on our comedy offerings, big shows, and relationship with artists. Welcome, Nico!”

    Nico Rossmann adds: “In my opinion, Brainpool is Germany’s number one comedy brand, with decades of entertainment experience. It also operates to the highest standards and is incredibly innovative. That’s why I’m very pleased to help shape the future of this successful label, both on the production side and in the development of future hit formats alongside the outstanding team. My thanks go to RTL Germany, especially Markus Küttner, for six great years in the TV entertainment department.”

    Brainpool TV, founded in 1994, is a leading production company in Germany. It boasts an impressive slate of titles including Beat the Star, Catch!, Ladykracker and the Free European Song Contest.

  8. Banijay Germany’s SR Management Strengthens its Music Division

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    Banijay today announces SR Management, part of Banijay Germany, will launch SRM Music. Chris Klimek will lead this new division and report to SR Management Managing Director, Sascha Rinne.

    SRM Music will take over the operational business for all music-relevant artist management areas, as well as build up the division’s booking, publishing, and label sources. In addition to the management of artists Giovanni Zarrella, Mike Leon Grosch, and Ramon Roselly, the company will welcome new pop artists and offer personalised representation strategies.

    Klimek brings extensive experience as a passionate music industry expert and artist manager, having previously worked at BMG Köln, Roadrunner Records, earMUSIC/EDEL, and Ivy Quainoo/The Voice of Germany.

    Marcus Wolter, CEO Banijay Germany says: “With the expansion of SRM Music, we are strategically building on our offering within this important entertainment space. Combining the power of our Banijay family, Sascha’s team, and Chris, we are well placed to create successful careers for artists.”

    Sasha Rinne, Managing Director of SR Management comments: “At SRM Music, we want to expand our management expertise and are very pleased that Chris, an established and respected entertainment professional, will take the helm for this task.”

    Chris Klimek, Head of SR Management Music adds: “I am very much looking forward to this challenge and thank Sascha and Marcus for their trust! The set-up at SR Management GmbH and Banijay Germany is unique, and my focus for all our music artists will be to utilise our concentrated entertainment know-how as synergistically as possible, in order to deliver a professional, creative and successful environment.”

    Banijay Germany is an association of independent entertainment producers and entrepreneurs. Made up of 20 labels, the entity is behind numerous well-known brands including Celebrity Big Brother, Schlag den Star, Battle of the Reality Stars, Temptation Island, Tatort Dresden, The Masked Singer and, Kitchen Impossible.

  9. Banijay Germany Enters Joint Venture with influence.vision

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    Banijay Germany announces continued growth in the tech and influencer realm via new partnership with influence.vision.

    As the largest independent producer of TV, digital and live content in Germany, Banijay Germany aims to further professionalise influencer marketing by combining its high-quality storytelling and talent relationships, with influence.vision’s technology, platform and content creator expertise.

    Founded in 2017, the Austrian start-up is an all-in-one solution for influencer marketing, present in three territories with customers throughout Europe. To date, influence.vision has connected over 1000 brands and content creators on a common platform. It has implemented campaigns for numerous brands including Dyson, NordVPN, Universal Pictures, and refurbed, and also offers individual campaign consulting and integrated reporting to measure conversion and campaign goals. The start-up is completely agnostic to social media and works with creators across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Podcast, and Facebook.

    Marcus Wolter, CEO Banijay Germany says: “influence.vision is the best platform to connect brands with influencers and therefore, a great fit for us to build on our offerings in this important space. The brand’s marketplace is a consistent, and strategic addition to our ecosystem, and in Florian and Branko, we have two smart, highly talented young entrepreneurs. I am very much looking forward to collaborating with them to shape the content creator economy of the future.”

    Branko Markovic, Co-Founder & Co-CEO influencer.vision: “As a fast-growing tech start-up, the market in which you operate is crucial. Internationally, influencer marketing is currently estimated at $16.4 billion and is growing by 40% annually. It is our ambition to set the industry standard, and a global business like Banijay is the perfect partner for this.”

    Florian Bösenkopf, Co-Founder & Co-CEO influencer.vision: “The exciting thing about this partnership is that we have a common vision with Banijay that is very unique in the current influencer market. Influencers and content creators are more than just pure reach, they are digital storymakers in their own right. The group and its creatives have been helping to shape the zeitgeist of our society for many years, and as a tech player, we can use it to connect the best content creators and artists under one brand and develop the most creative concepts for advertisers.”

    Banijay Germany is an association of independent entertainment producers and entrepreneurs. Made up of 20 labels, the entity is behind numerous well-known brands including Celebrity Big Brother, LEGO® Masters, Schlag den Star, Battle of the Reality Stars, Temptation Island, Tatort Dresden, The Masked Singer and, Kitchen Impossible.

  10. Banijay Germany’s Labels Expand Their Teams

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    Banijay Germany today announces a series of appointments and moves across its local entities, with Panagiota Vafea joining Endemol Shine Germany as Executive Director and Tom Kühn as Executive Producer; and over at Good Times, Shona Fraser will join Sylvia Fahrenkrog-Petrsen as joint Managing Director, with Creative Director, Cornelia Landgraf, promoted to Deputy Managing Director.

     

    Vafea joins Endemol Shine Germany’s Management Team from ITV Studios Germany where she was Executive Producer, overseeing hit shows including Dancing on Ice and long-running German formats, Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! and Grill den Henssler. She will be responsible for a wide variety of formats, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, LEGO® Masters and Beauty and the Geek. Endemol Shine Germany also welcomes Executive Producer Tom Kühn to the family, following 18 years at i&u TV production where he produced ARD’s popular Saturday evening show, Klein gegen Groß. Prior to that, he was a journalist for Stern TV.

     

    Elsewhere, Good Times welcomes Shona Fraser as joint Managing Director, alongside Sylvia Fahrenkrog-Petersen. In her previous role as head of entertainment at RTLZwei, Fraser was responsible for hit formats such as Battle of the Reality Stars, Love Island and Naked Attraction. The company also announces the promotion of Cornelia Landgraf to Deputy Managing Director. In her new role, Landgraf will work closely with MDs Fahrenkrog-Petersen and Fraser, having been with the label for 15 years, as an editor, in development, and most recently as Creative Director.

     

    Fabian Tobias, Managing Director of Endemol Shine Germany says: “Panagiota is a trusted award-winning producer and a valuable asset to our Management Board. We also warmly welcome Tom to the Endemol Shine Germany family who brings his wealth of TV expertise to the company. With our strengthened team, we are ideally positioned in the market to further drive success for our existing and upcoming projects and will continue to be at the forefront of shaping the industry.”

     

    Sylvia Fahrenkrog-Petersen, Founder and MD of Good Times says: “Shona is one of the most experienced television creators in the industry and is the perfect person to join Good Times as we expand our portfolio in the areas of reality and entertainment. I am also delighted to continuing working with Cornelia. She is a passionate television producer, with a keen sense of what makes a good story and I am grateful for her years of loyalty and dedication to Good Times.”

  11. Banijay Germany Partners with Stephan Denzer to Found Fiction Label, Good Humor

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    Banijay today announces the 1 November launch of a new label to its portfolio, Good Humor. The co-founded entity sees Banijay Germany CEO, Marcus Wolter, bring former editorial director for comedy and cabaret at ZDF, Stephan Denzer, back to television. Based in Cologne, the comedy fiction label will be headed by the latter as managing director and executive producer.

     

    Good Humor will focus its output on humorous fiction formats, from comedy series and sitcoms, to comedies and sketch shows. Commencing as a start-up, the business will look to organic growth via the wider power of the Banijay group and its capacity as a world-leading distributor, with the ultimate goal of enriching comedy output in Germany and beyond.

     

    From July 2019, Denzer was head of the Mainzer Kleinkunstbühne Unterhaus. Previously, he headed the Cabaret and Comedy division at ZDF within the “Show” editorial department. There for ten years, he was at the forefront of establishing a host of successful comedy brands. Under his leadership, he created the Heute Show, Neues aus der Anstalt, Sketch History, and comedy fiction formats like Merz gegen Merz, Nix Festes and Ellerbeck. From 2016, Denzer was also responsible for all comedy formats on ZDFneo and 3Sat in addition to those for ZDF’s main schedule.

     

    Marcus Wolter, CEO Banijay Germany comments: “Stephan Denzer has decisively shaped the comedy successes of ZDF for over 15 years. Standing for quality, he certainly knows his way around sitcoms and comedy series. With his creativity and experience, we believe Good Humor will be a resounding success in Germany and look forward to the new partnership.”

     

    Stephan Denzer: “We believe good humour is important in a time full of challenges, in order to give us joy and thus strengthening our resilience. With the backing of Banijay, we want to create formats with relevance, originality and a lot of love, in order to perhaps bring a little more lightness and laughter to the world and hope to find partners who share this vision.

  12. Banijay Productions Germany Establishes New Documentary Unit, Doc. Banijay

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    Banijay Productions Germany GmbH confirms it has expanded its portfolio into documentary series with new label, Doc.Banijay. The new entity is set to be led by Executive Producer Marc Schlömer, who reports to Banijay Productions Managing Director, Arno Schneppenheim.

     

    Marc Schlömer has spent 20 years at broadcaster ARD as a Bundesliga football league commentator, and as the author of documentaries including Das Leben ist ein Hauch. During his time there, he was awarded a German Television Award for his reports for WDR magazine, Sport Inside. Schlömer is also known for addressing climate change and socio-politics topics, having produced projects for ARD-Weltspiegel and Swiss Television. These are areas which he will continue to tackle through the Banijay-backed Doc unit.

     

    Schlömer is renouncing his participation as a reporter at the Olympic Games but will maintain his broadcasting roles for ARD at the European Football Championship. Additionally, he will continue to contribute to Sport Inside and the online series, “No Sports!?”, for WDR.

     

    Other genres, including Factual, Reality and Comedy will continue to be led by Banijay Productions Germany’s Creative Director, Katrin Heller.

     

    Marc Schlömer: “For me, the fact that I get the chance to co-found and build a docu-department within Europe’s largest production group is an honour. I am grateful to the ARD managers for allowing me to step back from upcoming tasks in the summer so that we can get started straight away at Banijay Productions Germany.”

     

    Arno Schneppenheim, Managing Director of Banijay Productions Germany: “I have long been interested in the genre of journalistic documentation and with brilliant talent such as Marc leading, we have the perfect expert to create this new arm within Banijay Productions Germany.”