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: BBC iplayer

  1. The Adventure Continues for Survivor

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    Banijay today celebrates hitting a landmark 25 years since the original and best adventure reality format, Survivor, debuted in Sweden in September 1997. The milestone achievement follows the format’s most successful year-to-date last year, with 25 productions in 2021.

    Ranked the #1 Best Reality Show Of All Time (Variety), Survivor, a Banijay format created by Charlie Parsons, has been commissioned in 50 territories and is one of the most loved and watched formats around the world. The anniversary follows the recent announcement that Survivor will return to the UK in 2023, with Remarkable Entertainment (part of Banijay UK) producing the series for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Other recent comebacks for the format include Brazil, Norway, Bulgaria and Romania, with all-new first-time adaptations in Mexico and Serbia, as well as an upcoming launch in Canada (French).

    Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay says: “Survivor has all the elements of a hit format, combining jeopardy, reality, strategy and adventure. Whilst each version is unique to its territory, every Survivor season celebrates the core values of this much-loved show. It has been honed through hundreds of seasons of expertise and is head and shoulders above the countless copycats which never quite stand up to the test. We are proud to produce the original – and in our view the best – adventure reality format on television. Most of all, we give thanks to those hard-working production teams around the world, with whom we celebrate this distinguished anniversary.”

    Amongst the hugely successful iterations around the world are the U.S., which is the longest-running version with season 44 confirmed and more than 7.5 million viewers tuning in to the most recent season on CBS; the Netherlands, which has aired every year since 2000; the hugely popular French series, which will air its 29th season next year; and the originating market Sweden, which recently aired its 21st run of Expedition Robinson. The format also enjoys successful companion shows, all-star spin-offs and celebrity versions.

    Survivor has created some of the most iconic moments in TV history over the last 25 years, from an Israeli contestant meeting his child for the first time via video link at the Tribal Council, to a player voting off her Mum so she could progress in series 29 in the U.S, a proposal between two All Star contestants in the U.S. and even a visit to the beach from Ivana Trump in the Italian production, in heels and a sequinned dress!

    Surivor tests the spirit of a group of ordinary, and yet extraordinary, people who are marooned, with little more than the clothes on their backs and their own animal cunning. As they catch their own food, build their own shelter and order their own society, castaways must compete in increasingly difficult tests of strategy and guile.

  2. Survivor will land on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2023

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    Survivor, one of the world’s most successful TV formats, is coming to the UK.

    A new UK adaption of the entertainment phenomenon has been commissioned by BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Banijay UK company Remarkable Entertainment, run by leading entertainment producers Natalka Znak and Claire O’Donohoe.

    The brand new 16 x 60’ series of the ultimate physical and psychological gameshow promises viewers a compelling test of brains, brawn and betrayal as players compete to outwit, out play and outlast their rivals to be crowned the Ultimate Survivor.

    20 people, carefully selected from across the UK will be marooned in a tropical location. They will be divided into two tribes, going head-to-head in a range of physical and psychological challenges. Following a number of eliminations that will take place at the iconic tribal council, the tribes will eventually merge before one person takes away a cash prize and proves that they have what it takes to be the Ultimate Survivor. 

    Survivor, a Banijay format created by Charlie Parsons, is one of the most watched reality entertainment formats around the world. Celebrating 25 years this year, (the format was first employed in 1997 in Sweden), the show has gone on to be ranked as the ‘Number 1 Best Reality Show of All Time’ by Variety. 50 versions have been commissioned around the world to date, and the CBS version of the show from the USA will soon be airing its 43rd series.

    Kate Phillips, Director of Unscripted at the BBC says: “Survivor is a global television hit and to be able to bring one of TV’s most successful formats to audiences in the UK in a uniquely BBC way is a very exciting prospect indeed.”

    Natalka Znak, CEO Remarkable Entertainment says; “Survivor is ‘the greatest gameshow on earth’ for a reason – it has everything – reality, adventure, drama, and the ultimate game. I can’t wait to be boots on the ground, working with Paul Osborne, Stephen Lovelock and the fantastic team at Remarkable to make this epic series for the BBC.”

    Broadcast confirmation, presenter information and further casting details for the UK version of Survivor will be announced in due course.

    Survivor (16 x 60) is a Remarkable Entertainment (a Banijay UK company) production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and was commissioned by Kate Phillips in her capacity as Director of Entertainment Commissioning. Natalka Znak from Remarkable Entertainment is Executive Producer alongside Claire O’Donohoe, Paul Osborne and Stephen Lovelock. The format was developed for the BBC by Richard Hague. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Rachel Ashdown.

  3. Banijay Rights Boards the BBC’s The Drop and Extraordinary Portraits

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    Banijay Rights today announces it has acquired global distribution rights to BBC factual entertainment shows The Drop and Extraordinary Portraits, as this week’s MIPTV gets under way.

    Created by Renowned Films for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, streetwear competition The Drop (8 x 60’) sees the UK’s most promising up-and-coming creative entrepreneurs go head-to-head to win the chance to have their first clothing line stocked in a major UK retailer.

    Across the competitive business format, the contestants are mentored by Grammy Award-winning recording artist, style icon and S1C streetwear brand owner Miguel – who also serves as Executive Producer – as they complete weekly themed challenges to help them develop their brand and business. Banijay Rights holds global rights for the finished series and format.

    Meanwhile in Extraordinary Portraits (6 x 60’) – from Chatterbox Films for BBC One and BBC iPlayer – musician and passionate collector of art Tinie (formerly known as Tinie Tempah) matches members of the public with extraordinary stories to a selection of distinctive and celebrated portrait artists.

    The artists are then challenged to turn these personal and powerful experiences into compelling portraits using different mediums of art, from underwater photography to street art, with the final piece unveiled to the sitter and their family and friends.

    Cathy Payne, CEO, Banijay Rights, said: “The Drop and Extraordinary Portraits are two outstanding cutting-edge factual shows that showcase different crafts at the highest level, from dazzling streetwear design to intricate portraiture. These factual series epitomise the range and depth that sits within Banijay Rights’ multi-genre catalogue of more than 120,000 hours, and we’re in no doubt they will be a big attraction to international buyers this year.”

    Both The Drop and Extraordinary Portraits join Banijay’s outstanding slate of Spring 2022 highlights, which includes entertainment formats Starstruck, Limitless Win, The Courtship, Language of Love, Your Body Uncovered and Shaolin Heroes. On the scripted front, Banijay Rights is highlighting dramas including Rogue Heroes, Then You Run and Signora Volpe.

     

     

  4. BBC iPlayer and CBBC Commission New Content from Zodiak Kids

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    Zodiak Kids, part of Banijay Group, today announces it is producing a brand-new comedy drama for BBC iPlayer – Flatmates, as well as a further series of multi-award-winning comedy drama, Secret Life of Boys, for CBBC and ABC Me.

     

    Flatmates follows the lives of young Gen-z’ers as they take their first uncertain steps into adulthood. Getting to grips with the next stage of growing up the group wrestle with the expectations and anxiety of trying to fulfil the ‘Millennial Dream’.

     

    Struggling with the realities of independent living are Lauren, a scatty, ambitious young woman, determined to go places, she just doesn’t know where, her dependable and lovesick ‘boyfriend’ Declan, and deluded and insecure step-brother, DJ Craig. The odds are stacked against them as they grapple with the world of work, dating, and new friends, but from their point of view, it’s an exhilarating, intoxicating leap into freedom; and they’ll do anything to make it work.

     

    The BAFTA-winning series Secret Life of Boys returns for a fourth series with another 10 x 22’ episodes for broadcast on CBBC and ABC ME. The series has been scooped its fifth award this month winning its second Broadcast Digital Award for Best Children’s Content.  Series two also picked up a Broadcast Digital Award as well as the RTS Northern Ireland Award in the Children and/or Animation category. The accolades follow the prestigious Children’s BAFTA Award for Interactive: Original and the Kidscreen Award for Best Web/App Series, which was given to series one.

     

    Series 4 of Secret Life of Boys picks up with sixteen-year-old Ginger having adjusted nicely to living in the UK.

    She starts the summer on a mission to travel across Canada with best friend Heath. Robbie wants to grow up

    fast and having put his dreams of owning a motorbike on hold, he decides to refocus on his band which is going on a tour through Germany! With Ginger and Robbie away, the series introduces some new characters and Corey and Bob are both hard at work this summer on their own projects, prompting them to call on Bob’s mother to help with the kids. Unfortunately, Granny Bob’s idea of ‘helping’ isn’t quite what they expected…

     

    Steven Andrew, Creative Director, Zodiak Kids Studios comments: “Flatmates represents the significant journey we all make from childhood to adulthood. With a balance of drama and comedy, the show taps perfectly into BBC iPlayer’s millennial following and has all the elements we hope will make it a bingeable success. Secret Life of Boys continues to go from strength to strength scooping up its fifth award this month across three series.”

     

    Flatmates will be executive produced by Zodiak Kids‘ Creative Director, Steven Andrew, and Raymond Lau will serve as producer. It was commissioned by CBBC’s Melissa Hardinge. The 10 x 30’ youth-targeted series will launch this month on the platform.

     

    Creator and lead writer Anthony Q. Farrell (The Office) is executive producing Secret Life of Boys alongside Trevor Klein and Zodiak Kids Studio’s Creative Director Steven Andrew. The Executive Producer for CBBC is Amy Buscombe, and for ABC, Jan Stradling.  The series will launch on CBBC Autumn 2019.

     

    Zodiak Kids own international distribution rights to both series.