Tag Archive: Cathy Payne

  1. Banijay Rights Takes Rogue Heroes Worldwide

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    Banijay Rights today announces landmark acquisitions of major new six-part limited series Rogue Heroes, as this week’s London TV Screenings showcase event gets under way.

     

    In deals negotiated across the Banijay Rights global sales team, Rogue Heroes has been picked up by HBO Max in Europe, Prime Video in Canada and SBS in Australia.

     

    The agreements follow premium network EPIX’s acquisition of the drama for the US in November last year – the first international deal for the series.

     

    Produced by Kudos and Nebulastar for the BBC – and entitled SAS Rogue Heroes in the UK market – the series is a dramatized account of how the world’s greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

     

    Cathy Payne, CEO, Banijay Rights, said: As this week’s London TV Screenings event gets under way, it’s an absolute delight to be able to announce these huge global deals for Rogue Heroes. From the get-go, Steven Knight and Kudos’ tour de force World War Two drama has created ripples of excitement from international buyers, and we are excited to expand this series’ global footprint even further.”

    Martin Haines, Joint MD, Kudos, added: Steven has created a truly brilliant series, and we are thrilled that audiences around the globe will have the opportunity to watch what will be unmissable TV.”

     

    Based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book, Rogue Heroes centres on David Stirling, an eccentric young officer, who is hospitalized after a training exercise gone wrong.

    Convinced that traditional commando units don’t work, Stirling creates a radical plan that flies in the face of all accepted rules of modern warfare. He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest, and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines. More rebels than soldiers, Stirling’s team is every bit as complicated, flawed, and reckless as it is brave and heroic.

     

    Rogue Heroes is developed for television and written by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo, A Christmas Carol) and will be directed by Tom Shankland (The Serpent, The Missing), with Stephen Smallwood (The Serpent, Patrick Melrose) as producer. The series is executive produced by Karen Wilson, Martin Haines and Emma Kingsman-Lloyd for Kudos, and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC.

     

    Connor Swindells (Sex Education, Vigil) will play David Stirling, with Jack O’Connell (Skins, The North Water) as Paddy Mayne, Alfie Allen (Jojo Rabbit, Game of Thrones) as Jock Lewes, Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk, The King) as SAS Founding member Mike Sadler, and Sofia Boutella (Modern Love, Atomic Blonde) as Eve. Dominic West (The Wire, Appropriate Adult) will play Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke.

    Commissioned by the BBC, SAS: Rogue Heroes will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.

  2. Banijay Rights Lands Double Survivor Deal in CEE

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    Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay, today announces two new adaptations of popular adventure reality show Survivor – with landmark co-production agreements confirmed across Central and South-Eastern Europe.

    United Media-owned Nova TV in Croatia and Nova S in Serbia will broadcast a first season of the world-famous format in late 2022.

    In addition, TV Markíza in Slovakia and TV Nova in the Czech Republic will air a new adaptation of the format. Acun Medya is on board as local producer for both versions.

     

    Both agreements were brokered by Samia Moktar, VP CEE & Airlines, Banijay Rights, who said: “Survivor has long been a global television hit, but these new versions prove this format continues to have fresh and broad appeal for broadcasters worldwide. We’re excited to be working with our local broadcast and production partners across the CEE region on what are set to be exceptional adaptations of this show.”

     

    Produced in 48 territories since its launch in 1997, Survivor is one of the biggest television phenomena of the past 25 years. Last year was the format’s most successful to-date, with 24 productions confirmed.

     

    The rules of Survivor are clear: contestants are divided in two tribes and fight in daily challenges for immunity and other advantages. After each immunity challenge, one team needs to see one of their own eliminated and on the way home. It is a tough competition and there is only one Survivor: the one that goes home with the title and the big award.

  3. Banijay Rights Lands First Screw Deals

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    Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay, today announces the first sales of gripping new prison drama Screw.

    Following the six-part drama’s premiere on Channel 4 in the UK on 6th January, Screw has been acquired by SVOD service BritBox in Australia and public broadcaster TVNZ in New Zealand. Both BritBox and TNVZ will launch the series later this year.

     

    Produced by STV Studios for Channel 4 and from BAFTA-nominated writer Rob Williams (The Victim, Killing Eve), Screw (6 x 60’) is a prison drama like no other, told through the embattled, inspiring officers who work at Long Marsh men’s prison.

    In charge of C-Wing is Leigh Henry (Nina Sosanya), a career officer who’d do anything for her prisoners – but she has a secret that if discovered, could cost her the job – and even her liberty. With the arrival of fiery new recruit Rose Gill (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), part of the Governor’s mission to replace long-time staff with fresh meat, Leigh must risk everything in her fight to hold onto the job that defines her.

     

    Kell Hoddinott, VP Sales, Australia and New Zealand, Banijay Rights, said: Screw is one of those rare dramas that perfectly blends the tough reality of life behind bars with dark humour in abundance. With an exceptional cast and a stellar storyline from Rob Williams, we are thrilled to secure this series in Australia and New Zealand and take it to a wider audience.”

     

    Screw was commissioned by Caroline Hollick, Channel 4 Head of Drama, and overseen by Gemma Boswell, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor. Rob Williams is Creator, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, with Karla Crome and Roanne Bardsley completing the writing team. Sarah Brown is Executive Producer for STV Studios (The Victim, Elizabeth is Missing), Brian Kaczynski is Producer (The Cry, Peaky Blinders) while Tom Vaughan (Dr Foster) and Jordan Hogg (Ackley Bridge) are directing. 

     

    Banijay Rights handles international distribution for the series.

  4. Banijay Shines Light on New Year Portfolio

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    Banijay, the world’s largest independent home to the best creative talent and IP, today announces a stellar line-up of programmes launching in early 2022; all available to international broadcasters for adaptation or acquisition.

     

    Banijay’s Creative Networks is showcasing premium entertainment, quiz and dating with Starstruck, Limitless Win, The Language of Love and Pride and Prejudice: An Experiment in Romance; all premiering globally for the first time this year.

     

    Meanwhile, Banijay Rights has a premium slate of scripted content for distribution with Peaky Blinders, SAS: Rogue Heroes, Screw, Chloe, Riches, The Good Karma Hospital and Grantchester, all among its 2022 highlights.

     

    Elsewhere, other Banijay scripted titles coming up in 2022 include Playlist (Yellow Bird for Netflix), The Bride (Endemol Shine Italy and Rai for Rai1), The Rig (Wild Mercury for Amazon and Todo Por Lucy, a modern version of beloved comedy series I Love Lucy, licensed from ViacomCBS and developed and produced by Endemol Shine Boomdog and Elefantec Global for Amazon.

     

    James Townley, Global Head of Content Development at Banijay,  says: “It’s wonderful to start the year knowing we have such a spectacular line-up of brand new formats making their international debuts. With a mixture of entertainment, fun and jeopardy at their heart, we hope to putting smiles on everyone’s face. Continuing their popularity with viewers around the world, we look forward to pitching this new generation of formats to buyers across the globe.”

     

    Cathy Payne, CEO of Banijay Rights, says: “There is always an appetite for exceptional scripted programming and we are incredibly excited to once again be offering the market the very best content out there. These highly-anticipated series are produced by award-winning production companies, with visionary talent, both on and off-screen, ensuring these amazing dramas are rich in action and distinction.”

     

    Headlining the entertainment format slate is Starstruck from UK label Remarkable Television for ITV, which sees ordinary members of the public, teamed as trios, perform live as their favourite superstars; and from third-party producers Hello Dolly and Mitre Studios, Limitless Win, a prime-time quiz show with the world’s first-ever limitless jackpot,  launched this weekend on UK broadcaster ITV, ranking number one in its slot, across all demos.

     

    Fresh and funny relationship reality format The Language of Love, from third-party producers 2LE Media, Motion Content Group, along with Banijay Iberia’s Zeppelin, launched on UK broadcaster Channel 4 last week, with a group of Brits and a group of Spaniards pairing up at a dreamy Spanish country estate to see if they can find romance… despite not speaking each other’s language. Also in the relationship genre is Pride and Prejudice: An Experiment in Romance, from Endemol Shine North America and Banijay UK label Shine TV, a new series for Peacock, where contestants are transported to Regency-style England, with a group of eligible suitors attempting to win the heart of a heroine and her court.

     

    Banijay Rights is headlining with high-end scripted programming. BAFTA award-winning Peaky Blinders is returning for its sixth and final series this year. One of the BBC’s most successful dramas, the series has become a huge international phenomenon, thrilling millions of viewers worldwide with the story of Tommy Shelby and his notorious family’s rise to prominence and power, against the backdrop of working class, post-First World War Birmingham. Written by Steven Knight, the series from Caryn Mandabach Productions, is co-produced with Tiger Aspect Productions.

     

    Produced by Kudos, a Banijay UK company, and Nebulastar for BBC One, SAS: Rogue Heroes is generating international broadcaster interest and has already been acquired by premium US network EPIX. Written by Steven Knight, the series is a dramatised account of how the world’s greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two. Based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, SAS: Rogue Heroes stars Connor Swindells (Sex Education, Vigil), Jack O’Connell (Skins, The North Water), Alfie Allen (Jojo Rabbit, Game Of Thrones), Sofia Boutella (Modern Love, Atomic Blonde) and Dominic West (The Wire, Appropriate Adult).

    Meanwhile, Banijay Rights is representing prison drama Screw. Produced by STV Studios for Channel 4 and told through embattled and inspiring characters, this drama focusses on the officers at Long Marsh men’s prison. In charge of C-Wing is Leigh Henry (Nina Sosanya), a career officer who would do anything for her prisoners – but she has a secret that if discovered, could cost her the job – and even her liberty. Original psychological thriller Chloe, a mystery about obsession, deceit, identity and grief from Mam Tor Productions for BBC One and Amazon Studios, also features among Banijay Rights’ titles. From creator and writer Alice Seabright (director, Sex Education), Chloe stars some of the UK’s hottest young acting talent including Erin Doherty (The Crown), Billy Howle (The Serpent), Pippa Bennet-Warner (Gangs of London) and Jack Farthing (Poldark).

     

    Other new scripted titles include Riches, a high-stakes family drama created and written by Abby Ajayi and produced by Greenacre Films for ITV and Amazon Studios, Tiger Aspect Productions hit drama The Good Karma Hospital also returns for a fourth season for ITV and Acorn TV, while Grantchester – the popular series from Kudos for Masterpiece PBS and ITV – will air its seventh season, with Robson Green returning as DI Geordie Keating and Tom Brittney as Reverend Will Davenport.

     

    These new titles join Banijay’s 120,000-hour catalogue, which comprises flagship brands MasterChef, LEGO Masters, Big Brother, Survivor and Hunted alongside scripted finished tape hits Mr Bean, Home and Away and Archer.

     

  5. Banijay Rights gets Younger deal in the Ukraine

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    Banijay Rights today announces a new adaptation for the hit Darren Star (Sex and the City) created US series Younger, with the Ukraine the latest territory on board.

     

    Noviy (also known as Novy Channel) in the Ukraine has commissioned Art Forms Productions to produce a 24-episode season to premiere early next year. The deal was negotiated by Alexander Rubanov, VP Russia, CIS, Ukraine, Georgia, Baltics and Turkey, Banijay Rights.

     

    The commission follows recent adaptations of Younger in China and South Korea, in deals struck by Banijay Rights.

     

    Claire Jago, EVP Sales and Acquisitions, Banijay Rights, said: “Throughout its successful run in the US, Younger has built up a strong audience base with stunning characters and universal themes. We’re in no doubt this local adaptation will resonate strongly with viewers in the Ukraine.”

     

    From Sex and the City creator Darren Star, Younger stars two-time Tony® winner Sutton Foster in the role of Liza, a woman who lies about her age at her job in the highly competitive world of publishing. The series also stars Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Miriam Shor, Nico Tortorella, Peter Hermann, Molly Bernard and Charles Michael Davis and follows Liza’s personal and professional life as they become irreversibly intertwined over time, and keeping the secret proves more and more difficult.

     

    Produced by TV Land, Younger is created, executive produced and written by Darren Star, with Tony Hernandez of JAX Media executive producing. Dottie Zicklin, Eric Zicklin and Alison Brown also serve as executive producers and writers on the series. Banijay Rights distributes the series outside of the US.

     

    Having sold across 192 countries international partners include Prosieben (Germany), AXN (Asia and Hungary), Comedy Central (United Kingdom, Ireland), CTV Two (Canada), Max and Musique Canada (French speaking Canada), Hyundai Media (South Korea), Discovery (Netherlands, Poland, Turkey), SET (Russia), Fox (Italy, Balkans), Hot! (Israel), Vitaya (Belgium), Kinopokaz (Russia), Strana.Super TV (Russia), Showjet (Russia), E! (Latin America), Showmax (Africa), NEON (New Zealand), STAN (Australia), TEVA (France), Videoland (Netherlands), Turner (Germany, Italy, Spain), TV2 (Denmark), TV2 (Norway), MTV (Finland) C More (Finland, Denmark, Sweden), TV4 (Sweden), Siminn Hf (Iceland), Viacom 18 (India), HOOQ (India, Singapore), Societe Radio-Canada (French speaking Canada), IVU.ru (Russia), TV Nova (Czech Republic), iflix (Asia), Lattelecom SIA (Latvia), Viaplay (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Hello Channel (Brunei, Malaysia) and Makedonia TV (Greece).

  6. Banijay Rights Secures Nordic Scripted Deal With NENT Group’s Viaplay in US

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    Banijay Rights today announces it has signed a comprehensive package deal for more than a dozen of its premium scripted titles with Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), ahead of the launch of its Viaplay streaming service in the US in late 2021.

    The agreement will give Viaplay subscribers in the US access to more than 250 hours of Banijay Rights’ critically acclaimed Nordic drama titles, including Norwegian culture-clash comedy Countrymen, which won the High School Best Series Prize and Special Interpretation Award for Cast at Canneseries last month.

    The extensive scripted deal was brokered by Matt Creasey for Banijay Rights.

    Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Acquisitions and Coproductions – World (excluding EMEA), Banijay Rights, said: “Our catalogue contains a stunning range of premium stand-out Nordic titles including Norwegian sensation Countrymen and Swedish drama A Class Apart, and we are thrilled to be working with NENT Group to ensure this package deal will become a cornerstone of Viaplay’s launch in the US.”

    Countrymen (8 x 60’) sees four men with dubious plans move to a farm in the rural Norwegian countryside where, more or less against their will, they end up as the founders of Norway’s first halal cheesemaking business. Countrymen is a production from Banijay Norwegian label Rubicon for public broadcaster NRK in coproduction with Arte France.

    The deal also includes A Class Apart (8 x 60’), a drama series from Banijay Swedish label Jarowskij. The series is set at Sweden’s top ranked boarding high school which is home to a secret society for the most affluent students, the Zebra Club. On the night of the new semester, the selected few indulge in the hazing of two new members. The following morning, one of them is found dead.

    Both A Class Apart and Countrymen will be premieres in the North American market.

     Among the other titles from the Banijay Rights catalogue included in the agreement with NENT Group are two seasons of Jarowskij thriller Black Lake (16 x 60’) and Dystopia (8 x 60’); seasons one to five of crime drama Gåsmamman (42 x 60’), from Banijay Nordics; the first two seasons of Swedish science fiction drama Real Humans (20 x 60’), from Matador Film and SVT; seasons one to six of Jarowskij TV4 series Solsidan (60 x 30’); The Councilman (10 x 30’) from Rubicon; and seasons one to nine of The Sandhamn Murders (15 x 60’ and 4 x 120’), produced by Filmlance International in coproduction  with TV4, C More, ZDF, ZDF Enterprises with Endemol Shine International, TV2 Norge, DR and YLE.

    In the US, Viaplay will also show the first two seasons of Swedish crime sensation Wallander (26 x 90’) from Banijay label Yellow Bird; and seasons one and two of Wallander UK (6 x 90’), which Yellow Bird coproduced along with Left Bank Pictures, TKBC with Masterpiece, TV4, Film i Skåne and the Copenhagen Film Fund. High-end crime drama Wisting (10 x 60’), from Cinenord and Good Company Films in coproduction with Viaplay, Degeto Film, TV3 Norway and Ripple World Pictures, also forms part of the NENT Group deal, as well as the first two seasons of The Third Eye (20 x 60’), from Banijay Nordics, and Yellow Bird’s The Truth Will Out (8 x 60’).

  7. Banijay Rights Confirms Big Brother Return in South Africa

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    Banijay Rights today confirms the return of Big Brother to Mzansi Magic in South Africa following a seven-year hiatus.

     

    Produced by Red Pepper Pictures, Big Brother Mzansi has started casting for a new season to launch on MultiChoice-owned Mzansi Magic in 2022, having last aired on the channel in 2015.

     

    Robin Pollok, VP Sales, Africa, Middle East, Greece & Israel, Banijay Rights, said: “Seven years have passed since Big Brother Mzansi last graced South African viewers’ screens and we couldn’t be happier to work with MultiChoice and Red Pepper Pictures to revive this global phenomenon, which continues to have an enduring appeal worldwide.”

     

    Nomsa Philiso, Executive Head of Programming, M-Net, added: “This year marks 20 years since the very first Big Brother on MultiChoice’s M-Net and we are excited to celebrate this milestone by commissioning a new Big Brother season, which will be housed under our Mzansi Magic stable. This is a show that has always delivered top ratings and entertainment value and our viewer and advertising partners can look forward to a stellar season of Big Brother.”

     

    Big Brother Mzansi hand-picks a group of strangers from all walks of life, sequesters them from the outside world, and places them inside a house outfitted wall-to-wall with cameras and microphones that capture their every move. Competing for a grand cash prize, each week the houseguests battle in a series of challenges, voting each other out until the fate of the final two are decided by a jury of fellow houseguests.

     

    The Big Brother format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Banijay Rights. In 2021, 31 productions of Big Brother aired in 21 markets, with nine VIP productions launching, including a first series run in French Canada and a high-profile comeback for Celebrity Big Brother in Australia. This year, Big Brotherlaunched for the first time in Mongolia, and seven regional productions of the format aired in India.

  8. EPIX, Banijay Rights Take SAS: Rogue Heroes to US

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    Premium network EPIX today announced it has acquired the major new six-part limited series SAS: Rogue Heroes from global distributor Banijay Rights.

    In a deal negotiated by Banijay Rights’ Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Co-Productions and Acquisitions, the acquisition marks the first international deal for SAS: Rogue Heroes.

    Produced by Kudos and Nebulastar for EPIX and BBC, SAS: Rogue Heroes is a dramatized account of how the world’s greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two. Based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, the series centers on David Stirling, an eccentric young officer, who is hospitalized after a training exercise gone wrong. Convinced that traditional commando units don’t work, Stirling creates a radical plan that flies in the face of all accepted rules of modern warfare. He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest, and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines. More rebels than soldiers, Stirling’s team is every bit as complicated, flawed, and reckless as it is brave and heroic.

     

    SAS: Rogue Heroes is developed for television and written by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo, A Christmas Carol) and will be directed by Tom Shankland (The Serpent, The Missing), with Stephen Smallwood (The Serpent, Patrick Melrose) as producer. The series is executive produced by Karen Wilson, Martin Haines and Emma Kingsman-Lloyd for Kudos, and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC.  Commissioned by the BBC, SAS: Rogue Heroes will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.

     

    Connor Swindells (Sex Education, Vigil) will play David Stirling, with Jack O’Connell (Skins, The North Water) as Paddy Mayne, Alfie Allen (Jojo Rabbit, Game of Thrones) as Jock Lewes, Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk, The King) as SAS Founding member Mike Sadler, and Sofia Boutella (Modern Love, Atomic Blonde) as Eve. Dominic West (The Wire, Appropriate Adult) will play Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke.

    “Steven Knight and Kudos have created a gripping historical drama that complements EPIX’s lineup of elevated, cinematic  storytelling,” said Michael Wright, President, EPIX & President MGM Scripted Television. “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Banijay Rights to give this series an exclusive home on EPIX for the American audience.”

     

    SAS: Rogue Heroes is a masterstroke of a series from the visionary Steven Knight, packed with a stellar cast who bring this fantastic story to life. We are thrilled that EPIX have come on board to take this fantastic drama to a wider US audience,” said Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Co-Productions and Acquisitions, Rest of the World, Banijay Rights.

     

    Martin Haines, Co-Managing Director of Kudos added: “EPIX is a perfect partner that shares our vision and ambition. We are delighted they are our US partners on this epic show.”

     

    The series will also star Amir El Masry (Industry, The One), Theo Barklem-Biggs (The First Team, Carnival Row), Corin Silva (The Bay, Emmerdale), Jacob Ifan (Bang, The Accident), Dónal Finn (Cursed, The Witcher), Jacob McCarthy (The Last Summer, A.P. Bio), César Domboy (Outlander, The Walk), Michael Schaeffer (Chernobyl, The Salisbury Poisonings) and Miles Jupp (The Great, The Durrells).

    Commissioned by the BBC, SAS: Rogue Heroes will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.

     

  9. International Distributors Combine Forces To Bring Back The London TV Screenings for 2022 In-Person Events

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    A leading group of London-based international distributors – namely All3Media International, Banijay Rights, eOne, Fremantle and ITV Studios – today announced they are working together again to bring back the highly-successful London TV Screenings from 28 February – 4 March 2022.

    Following an inaugural virtual event earlier this year, the major distributors will band together for a second year in a row to offer partners a series of in-person events from the individual companies in Spring 2022, packed with exclusive content, bespoke sessions and chances to connect with world-class programme-makers.

    A London TV Screenings spokesperson said: “The London TV Screenings are back having already carved out a significant reputation as a key destination for buyers worldwide.

    “It makes perfect sense that we can work collaboratively to curate quality shows and avoid in-person screening conflicts to showcase all the latest scripted, non-scripted and formats programmes.

    “We very much expect more distributors to join too and look forward to coming together to present the very best these distributors have to offer at a number of venues, in the heart of the capital, and to a wider digital audience. We’ve no doubt this evolving London TV Screenings week will provide an unforgettable experience for buyers across the globe.”

     

     

  10. PRO TV announces the return of the world wide phenomen: Survivor!

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    The reality competition that conquered audiences all around the world is soon returning in Romania! Survivor, the format that proved that nothing is impossible in which the contestants can learn how to secure shelter, food, and water on their own when on an isolated island, turned rapidly after its launch into a real phenomenon.

    Banijay distributes the format globally. Produced in more than 40 territories, the title is a global hit and super brand, standing as one of the most-watched formats worldwide. Recently Globo relaunched Survivor (No Limite) in Brazil after 12 years off air in the region. More than 10 million viewers tuned in to the 40th season last year on CBS in the U.S., the latest Australian adaptation was seen by nearly 40% of the population, and the most recent French version, Koh Lanta, ended as number one in its slot.

     

    PRO TV is glad to announce the conclusion of the negotiations with Acun Media, the company that has produced this format, for several markets, amongst which Turkey, Greece, Mexico and prior seasons in Romania. Soon, all the fans around Romania will have the opportunity to live, once again, the uniqueness of the format that kept them stuck in front of their televisions sets.

     

    First launching in 1997 in Sweden, Survivor is the perfect place for contestants that want to prove they can overcome any challenge and to learn how to live far away from home, with almost zero resources, while also trying to find the perfect strategies in order to stay as much as possible in the competition.

     

    The rules of Survivor are clear: contestants are divided in two tribes and fight in daily challenges for immunity and other advantages. After each immunity challenge, one team needs to see one of their own eliminated and on the way home. It is a tough competition and there is only one Survivor: the one that goes home with the title and the big award.

     

    Antonii Mangov, Programming Director declares: ”We are glad to announce that in 2022 we will add this amazing format to our portfolio of programs on PRO TV! Survivor is already an established and successful show in Romania, but we’ll add to it the signature PROTV touch, which is a guarantee for highest quality reality and entertainment”.

     

    One of the first news is the fact that Daniel Pavel, the well-known host, will be the one that will be near the contestants and those at home during the season. More details will be announced during the following period, but do not miss the opportunity to enroll in the best reality formats in the world, only on PRO TV, at survivor.protv.ro.

     

     

  11. Banijay Rights Builds Milestone South Korean Deal for LEGO® Masters

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    Banijay Rights today announces a new adaptation for competition reality format LEGO Masters, with South Korea the latest country onboard.

    Leading South Korean network MBC will broadcast and co-produce the format’s Korean debut with LA- and Seoul-based production company B&C CONTENT, and this landmark deal will see LEGO Masters set to become the only non-Korean unscripted format to air on free-to-air television in the country.

     

    Production is currently underway for the hit entertainment format, which sees pairs compete against each other to wow judges with awesome inspiring designs and brick builds.

     

    LEGO Masters is a huge global hit with a 100% renewal rate, with this order now the second to come from Asia in three months, following a recent commission from Shenzhen TV in China.

     

    TVNZ 2 in New Zealand, Atresmedia in Spain and TV 2 in Norway have also recently commissioned adaptations of the format, which has been ordered by a total of 16 international broadcasters across Europe, the US, Australia and Asia. Originally created by Tuesday’s Child Television and the LEGO Group, Banijay globally distributes the format and finished tape for the show.

    Daryl Kho, SVP Asia – Formats, Banijay Rights, said: LEGO Masters is already a global phenomenon, providing upbeat and inclusive viewing to audiences worldwide, so taking this show to South Korea is a thrilling moment for Banijay Rights. This is a landmark deal – the only unscripted format originating from outside South Korea to air on its free-to-air TV channels – and I can’t wait to see the creative builds the Korean contestants will dream up with their LEGO bricks.”

    Younghye Kim, Format & Acquisition Manager, MBC said: “We are truly excited to have this stunning show made into a Korean version very soon. The global success of LEGO Masters inspired us to take the show, as we have the utmost confidence that our version of LEGO Masters will be widely loved in Korea and in the global marketplace. Please stay tuned to see how MBC, the leading entertainment creator in the country, will enrich the show with a distinct, local flavour.”

    Chris S. Lee, CEO of B&C CONTENT, said: “The timing couldn’t be better for us to create an inspiring and wildly entertaining ‘Korean’ take on the successful LEGO Masters format for a global audience, during a time when demand is massive for Korean stories and content. We are so proud to be working with such phenomenal creative partners like MBC, Banijay Rights and the LEGO Group to launch another exciting milestone for world-class Korean unscripted content.

     

    Jill Wilfert, Head of Global Entertainment, The LEGO Group, added: “There is an awesome community of passionate fans and really talented LEGO builders in Korea and we are so pleased to be able to showcase their creativity and imagination with a local production of LEGO Masters. We are sure families and fans alike will be amazed and inspired.”

     

    Successful productions of LEGO Masters broadcasting so far this year include the US, which proved a major success for FOX as the #1 show among younger viewers (P18-34) and teens, and its second-most streamed entertainment series. The series three finale of LEGO Masters Australia in April dominated the ratings, broadcasting as the number one show of the day in all key demos. The format also had a spectacular debut run in Denmark in April, pulling in a 50.6% share for 15–34-year-olds across the season.

  12. Banijay Rights boards Lifetime and A&E documentary event JANET.

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    Banijay Rights today announces it has acquired global distribution rights to JANET., Lifetime and A&E’s two-night, four-hour documentary event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Janet Jackson’s first album.

     

    With full unprecedented access to the music icon and no subject off limits, JANET. is an intimate, honest and unfiltered look at the singer’s untold story.

     

    Banijay-owned, UK-based Workerbee has been filming the incredible documentary for five years and has been granted exclusive access to archival footage and Janet’s never-before-seen home videos, along with star-studded interviews.

     

    Executive produced by Janet Jackson, Randy Jackson and Academy Award-winner Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland, Whitney), JANET. will air in early 2022 on Lifetime and A&E, two of the flagship channels of the A+E Networks portfolio, with Banijay Rights securing international distribution rights to the series.

     

    Cathy Payne, CEO, Banijay Rights, said: It’s easy to run out of superlatives to describe Janet Jackson – a truly global superstar with a startling career and fascinating life. This ground-breaking documentary series gives a deep insight into her world, and we are excited to take this project out to the international market.”

     

    JANET. is produced for Lifetime and A&E by Workerbee and AEC (Associated Entertainment Corporation). Executive Producer for Workerbee is Rick Murray, with Ben Hirsch as Director. Brie Miranda Bryant serves as Executive Producer for A+E networks.

     

    With no stone left unturned, JANET. lifts the lid on her private life for the very first time and reveals the most intimate moments of the star ever caught on camera, charting her immense successes but also incredibly tragedies.

     

    The event series joins Janet as her family is going through another extremely difficult time, mourning the loss of her father Joseph, the pivotal figure in the Jackson dynasty. The documentary details Janet’s return to the world stage following a sudden break from music. Speaking like never before, Janet also discusses everything including her Superbowl appearance with Justin Timberlake in 2004, the death of her brother Michael and becoming a mother later in life. And with her own romantic relationship having broken down, she starts to look back at her own life and reflect on her fight to the top.