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

Tag Archive: Endemol Shine North America

  1. Banijay Entertainment Activates Banijay Launch Cycle Two

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    Content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today opens its application process for a second cycle of its award-winning global initiative, Banijay Launch. Designed to exclusively support women creators with promising unscripted formats, the program was first launched at MIPCOM ’23, with winners for its initial cycle announced in March.

    Coinciding with its second run, Banijay Launch is today set to accept this year’s “Behind the Scenes Impact Award” at the Diversify TV Awards (MIPCOM ’24), owing to its contribution to diversity and inclusion within the content community. Those around the world wishing to apply to this year’s initiative, dedicated to discovering and incubating untapped talent from all backgrounds to support the next generation of global franchise makers, can apply here.

    The winner(s) of Banijay Launch will emerge victorious from the three to five finalists in the process who are all mentored by a local creative to develop their formats, with the aim of nurturing them to screen. Supported over several months, the competition culminates with a live pitch presentation before a judging panel. The winner(s) are then given additional guidance and support as they take their ideas out to buyers.

    Sharon Levy, CEO, Endemol Shine North America and James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development, Banijay Entertainment: “It’s very difficult to nurture and navigate an idea to screen for even the most experienced creators, let alone women creators who don’t have ‘connections’ to a prodco or group. The recent study we conducted with the Geena Davis Institute really reinforced the gender imbalance in unscripted creation, and with Banijay Launch we hope to open the door to women whose ideas may not otherwise be heard and facilitate positive change for these creators while supercharging our pipeline, and the industry’s at-large. The market and creative economy relies on great ideas, and we don’t want to leave any behind… particularly from women.”

    In its first run, Banijay Launch received an extraordinary 500+ applications from 30+ territories and a diversity of backgrounds. With the finalists pitching their ideas in-person to an esteemed jury comprisingEndemol Shine North America CEO, Sharon Levy; Banijay Chief Content Officer, Development, James Townley; Banijay Chief Business Officer, Fred Balmary; Banijay Iberia CEO, Pilar Blasco; and Founder and CEO of Everywoman Studios, Abby Greensfelder, two winners were selected – Amber Kane (Australia), for variety talent concept, Double Act; and Emily Wilson (UK), for psychological dating format, Can’t Buy Love. This year, the judges will be joined by Cathy Payne, CEO, Banijay Rights, and Alexia Laroche-Joubert, CEO, Banijay France.

    The first cycle of Banijay Launch was initiated by Levy, co-led by Townley, and supported by a network of creative ambassadors across Banijay Entertainment who nurtured the finalists in developing their bold new formats from concept to pitch, with the aim of the winning ideas eventually landing on screen. The pair continue to oversee the operation, supported by a new wave of ambassadors dotted across the group’s 23-territory footprint.

    The inaugural Banijay Launch was supported by the commission of a first-of-its-kind study with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, in partnership with Everywoman Studios. The findings of the ground-breaking study, which highlighted significant gender disparity in unscripted production across Brazil, U.K., U.S., and France, were unveiled in July, with the key findings available here.

    Banijay Launch was inspired by the Propelle program, a female-focused accelerator initiative created and developed in 2020 by Everywoman Studios’ CEO, Abby Greensfelder. At Banijay Entertainment, the initiative capitalises on the infrastructure and expertise of Creative Networks, its central unscripted content department co-led by Townley and Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations.

  2. Banijay Entertainment’s Next-Gen Superbrand The Summit Scales Europe

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    Content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment today announces the expansion of its next-gen superbrand, The Summit, into three new European markets. The Netherlands, Finland and Norway are the latest territories to board the breakout hit, with EndemolShine Nederland, Banijay Finland and Mastiff Norway producing for RTL, MTV and TV 2, respectively.

    With these new commissions, The Summit is fast-becoming Banijay Entertainment’s next adventure reality blockbuster, now active in six markets, just over a year since it first premiered in Australia. Originally created by Endemol Shine Australia and 9Network, the hit format has run successfully locally for two seasons so far. Making its high-profile US debut (Endemol Shine North America) on CBS last week, there are more major international deals in the works for the format.

    In The Summit, contestants embark on a high-stakes expedition through rugged terrain and stunning landscapes. Each competitor carries a life-changing cash prize in their backpack; to reach the summit, they must overcome a series of physical and moral tests, balancing trust and strategy to stay in the game, while working together to succeed and claim their reward.

    Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations, Banijay, says: “The Summit is quickly emerging as our next generation superbrand, with six versions commissioned in just over a year. The breadth of buyers taking on the format highlights its scalibility, offering viewers a prime-time co-viewing experience. With its spectacular mountain backdrop, thrilling twists, emotional tension, and strategic alliances, the show delivers unmissable adventure for audiences around the globe.”

    The Summit is among Banijay Entertainment’s format highlights at MIPCOM 2024, sitting alongside Three Are The Champions, By Land, Air and Sea, Dream Home, Origin Odyssey, Headliners, The Never Ever Mets, Deal or No Deal Island, Dessert Masters and The Fortune Hotel.  The company’s expansive portfolio includes hit travellers like Good Luck Guys, Love Triangle and The Fifty; superbrands MasterChef, Big Brother and Survivor. Highly-anticipated Netflix launches include Bear Hunt and Building a Band (w/t). Banijay Entertainment adapts LOL: Last One Laughing for Prime Video in eleven markets and Love is Blind for Netflix in three countries.

  3. FOX Decks the Halls for the Festive Return of Third Annual LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular

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    The sleigh bells are jingling, the snowflakes are falling and the LEGO® bricks are twinkling! Host Will Arnett returns alongside Brickmasters Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard as judges for the third installment of the holiday-themed event special LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular, airing this holiday season on FOX. The four episode two-night event series will coldly go where no snowman has gone before, with unpredictable twists and surprises. Special celebrity guests include Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill, Chicago P.D.), Holly Robinson Peete (Queens Court, Meet the Peetes), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace, The Other Black Girl) and Lil Rel Howery (Get Out, Harold and the Purple Crayon) pairing up with fan-favorite former contestants – Christine Blandino (Season 3), Stephen Joo (Season 3), Aaron Newman (Season 1) and Corey D. Samuels (Season 1) – to compete in jaw-dropping holiday-themed challenges for charities of their choice. In the end, one team will earn the title of LEGO Masters:Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular champions and leave with the coveted trophy. Raise a glass and make an early mistle-toast to the holiday season!

    FOX’s competition series , based on the hit British reality-competition series of the same name, brings imagination, design and creativity to life when teams of LEGO enthusiasts go head-to-head, with infinite possibilities and an unlimited supply of LEGO bricks. In the series, teams of two compete against each other in ambitious brick building challenges to be crowned the country’s most talented amateur LEGO builders. In each episode, the competing pairs who impress the judges the most progress to the next round, until the finale, during which the top teams will face off for a cash prize, the ultimate LEGO trophy, and the grand title of LEGO Masters. The fifth season is scheduled to air in the upcoming 2024-2025 season and will feature a new batch of masterful builders from across the country challenged with creating the most inventive designs to date.

    LEGO Masters is produced by Endemol Shine North America, Tuesday’s Child and Plan B Entertainment, under license from the LEGO Group. Executive producers include Arnett, Pip Wells, Sharon Levy and Michael Heyerman from Endemol Shine North America; Karen Smith and Steph Harris from Tuesday’s Child; Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner from Plan B; and Jill Wilfert and Robert May from the LEGO Group. Banijay represent the format internationally.

  4. Studio BRB Signs Development Deal with Endemol Shine North America to Develop Unscripted Social Experiment Format

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    Studio BRB are thrilled to announce a partnership with Endemol Shine North America, a Banijay Americas company, producers behind the hit series Deal or No Deal Island (NBC), MasterChef (FOX), LEGO Masters (FOX), Ripley (Netflix) and more. Together, the two companies will develop and produce an innovative unscripted social experiment show set to captivate audiences worldwide.

    This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Studio BRB as it expands its footprint in the unscripted television landscape. Known for their creative storytelling and high-quality productions, Studio BRB will bring its unique vision and expertise to this ambitious project, while leveraging Endemol Shine North America’s extensive experience and successful track record in producing hit reality and competition series.

    Executive Producer of Studio BRB, Jenni Baynham said: “We are incredibly excited to partner again with our friends at Endemol Shine North America on this groundbreaking project. They bring unmatched experience and creativity that can help us take our projects to the next level.”

    Pitching of the new format is set to begin later this summer. The upcoming show promises to deliver compelling content that will attract a broad audience, combining the thrill of a high stakes competition with the intrigue of a social experiment setting.

  5. NBC’s Deal or No Deal Island Renewed for Season 2

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    NBC is heading back to the island with the second-season pickup of Deal or No Deal Island. The elusive Banker will invite a new crop of players to compete in the season-long, fully immersive competition.  

    “With expert gameplay, adventure and a new layer of strategy, the reimagined Deal or No Deal Island had fans on the edge of their seats, just like the original,” said Corie Henson, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content. “A huge thanks to our crew and the biggest gamer of them all, host Joe Manganiello. Together we’re thrilled to be back with another season that will be sure to test the contestants and the Banker’s limits.” 

    “It was incredible to see how audiences immediately took to the new format of Deal or No Deal Island, welcoming Joe Manganiello and the Banker’s guests into their homes and bringing new life to the iconic IP,” said Sharon Levy, Chief Executive Officer, Endemol Shine North America. “We’re thrilled that NBC has picked up a second cycle and eagerly anticipate seeing how the Banker will physically test and mentally challenge a new season of contestants as they compete for a transformative jackpot.” 

    Deal or No Deal Island reached 30 million total viewers across linear and digital platforms this season to date. The series is averaging 5.8 million total viewers across all platforms, more than doubling its live audience. 

    The series is currently the #1 NBC unscripted show on Peacock and has the most watched unscripted NBC premiere on Peacock. 

    The season finale of Deal or No Deal Island will air on May 13 at 10 p.m. on NBC. All episodes stream next day on Peacock.  

    Produced by Endemol Shine North America, Deal or No Deal Island is an exciting competition format that has been reimagined from the original Banijay format, Deal or No Deal.  

    Executive producers are Matt Kunitz, Vittoria Cacciatore, Jeffrey Breeden, Joe Manganiello, Howie Mandel, and Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy, Michael Heyerman and Sean Loughlin. 

  6. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Picked Up to Series at ABC

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    From Endemol Shine North America and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, a part of Candle Media, a new iteration of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is set to return to ABC and stream next day on Hulu for the 2024-2025 season. CleaShearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of the global lifestyle brand The Home Edit and the duo who made America fall in love with getting organized, are on board as hosts. The most widely recognized home makeover show to ever exist returns with Shearer and Teplin’s world-renowned organizational expertise to thoughtfully design and specifically tailor each home from the inside out. Like the original series, this reimagining will showcase heartwarming stories, inspired volunteers, and mind-blowing builds for deserving families who give back to their communities.

    In each episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Shearer and Teplin will meet a deserving family in need of a new home. Leaning into their organizing expertise and unique design aesthetic, the duo will work with each family to evaluate and edit every single item they own, ultimately transforming not only their home but the way they live. Assisting them is a team of builders and contractors from homebuilder Taylor Morrison who will expertly reconfigure the home based on the family’s lifestyle and needs.

    Shearer and Teplin are  recognized authors of three New York Times’ bestselling books, creators of globally distributed home and organizational product lines, and have professional organizing services branches in cities throughout the country. Their unique blend of form and function has resonated with millions as they’ve built a social following of more than 9 million fans through a social-first content studio.

    Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is produced by Endemol Shine North America and Hello Sunshine in association with Walt Disney Television Alternative. Shyam Balséserves as showrunner and executive producer along with executive producers Sharon Levy and Michael Heyerman from Endemol Shine North America; and Reese Witherspoon, Sara Rea and Cassie Lambert Scalettar from Hello Sunshine, and Molly Sims. 

  7. Banijay Unveils Compelling Slate Ahead of London TV Screenings

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    Media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay, today announces a compelling offering for its dedicated London TV Screenings event – Banijay @ BAFTA.

    Hitting the 2024 line-up is the highly-anticipated high-end scripted series Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light; and premium documentary Front Row. Elsewhere, the powerhouse will also be celebrating travelling formats with adventure reality, The Summit; and spin-off, Deal or No Deal Island. Packed with distinct, high-quality programming across all genres, the group’s event will span three sessions on Wednesday 28 February.

    On the scripted front, Banijay’s premium offering includes UK dramas Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light for the BBC and Masterpiece PBS, based on the final novel of Hilary Mantel’s multi award-winning trilogy; The Hardacres for Channel 5; Steven Knight’s This Town for the BBC; Welsh drama The One That Got Away (Cleddau) for S4C; and Invisible Boys for Stan. Buyers can also expect a preview of eagerly-awaited second seasons of Marie Antoinette for Canal+ and the BBC, and Rogue Heroes for the BBC and MGM+.

    Supercharging its documentary offering, Front Row takes centre stage with Anatomy of a Murder and Four Kings for Prime Video.

    To complement the scripted and documentary offering, Banijay will showcase a blend of fresh and highly-entertaining formats including adrenaline-fuelled travelling success The Summit for Nine Network; new spin-off, Deal or No Deal Island created for NBC; adventure reality format and ratings winner Shaolin Heroes for TV2; recent Channel 4 factual reality VOD hit Banged Up; innovative game show Upside Down for RTL4 and The Fortune Hotel for ITV1 and ITVX. A light will also be shone on global superbrands and prized returning formats like Survivor, Big Brother, Star Academy, and reality formats Love Triangle and The Fifty.

    Cathy Payne, CEO at Banijay Rights says: “This year’s line-up for Banijay @ BAFTA truly illuminates the breadth of our catalogue and ability to showcase outstanding content across multiple genres. From high-end dramas to acclaimed factual series, we look forward to coming together later this month to celebrate great talent, captivating storytelling and stand-out IP. We really do have something for everyone…”

    James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development and Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations at Banijay comment: “The London TV Screenings provides an incredible opportunity for Banijay to demonstrate its commitment to delivering exciting emerging IP as well as tried and tested formats and reboots, which continue to compel audiences globally. From Shaolin Heroes to The Summit, and iconic format Deal or No Deal, we are sure to enthral buyers seeking fresh, innovative, and proven formats.”

    For its scripted slate, Banijay Rights is highlighting Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, a Playground and Company Pictures co-production directed by Peter Kosminsky, and adapted for television by Peter Straughan, which follows Thomas Cromwell as he navigates the moral complexities of the Tudor court following the execution of Anne Boleyn. Another period drama from Playground in association with Screen Ireland, Red Berry Productions and Newgrange Pictures is new returnable six-part series –The Hardacres- based on CL Skelton’s novel series, The Hardacre Saga.

    Meanwhile, from Kudos and Nebulastar, and co-produced with Mercury Studios, in association with Kudos North, Stigma Films, and Nick Angel for the BBC, the much-anticipated This Town tells the story of an extended family and four young people who are drawn into the world of the ska movement and two-tone music.

    BlackLight Television (a Banijay UK company), in collaboration with Banijay Rights and Creative Wales for S4C, are delving into Welsh drama with The One That Got Away (Cleddau), which combines a gripping murder mystery with an electrifying love story.

    Crossing over to Australia, Invisible Boys from Feisty Dame Productions, Screenwest and Lotterywest, WA Regional Film Fund, Screen Australia, and Banijay Rights for Stan Originals, is a powerful drama created for television by director Nicholas Verso on the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal town of Geraldton.

    In factual, the feature-length premium documentary from Scenery and Pretty Matches, Front Row, Executive Produced by award-winning actor and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, and directed by Miriam Guttmann (Sundance Film Festival selection Seeds of Deceit), highlights the resilience of Ukrainian ballet dancers during wartime, where an unlikely friendship forms between a dancer and a front-line soldier.

    From Workerbee comes two gripping documentaries, Anatomy of a Murder, a feature length true-crime story centring around the daughter of an Iranian family, who has spent over thirty years and millions of her fortune to try and find her mother’s killer; and Four Kings for Prime Video, exploring the history of British boxing through four men coming from the same London neighbourhood who heralded a golden era and changed the way Britain viewed its black athletes.

    Meanwhile, on the reality competition front, The Summit, a 9Network and Endemol Shine Australia original series, produced by Endemol Shine Australia, continues to climb through the ranks with a second season in the works, and a first international adaptation for CBS by Endemol Shine North America with more to come soon.

    From Endemol Shine North America, Deal or No Deal Island completely reimagines the iconic game show as an epic adventure. This new spin-off series for NBC is set on the Banker’s private island as he searches for his ultimate opponent in a high stakes competition with over $200,000,000 up for grabs.

    From Metronome is Shaolin Heroes for TV2 Denmark, where celebrities undertake the ultimate test by embarking on a transformational journey alongside world-class Shaolin Masters.

    Joining Banijay’s factual offering is Banged Up, created by Shine TV for Channel 4. In this fact-ent format social experiment, which veers into the documentary space, six male celebrity inmates are incarcerated in a UK prison environment alongside their reformed criminal cellmates. The series explores the question, ‘does prison work’?

    From EndemolShine Nederland, Upside Down sees two celebrity teams undertake all kinds of topsy turvy challenges and Q&A games unlike anything they have seen before, because everything in this innovative format, is upside down.

    Highly-anticipated reality series The Fortune Hotel from Tuesday’s Child for ITV1 and ITVX invites viewers into a luxury Caribbean resort filled with glamour, opulence and deception. Contestants are paired up and compete to win a briefcase, one holding the ultimate cash prize and another an Early Checkout Card.

  8. CBS Announces Series Order for The Summit, a New Action-Adventure Reality Competition Show

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    CBS announced today the new series order for The Summit, an action-adventure reality competition based on the hit Australian series, hosted by actor and New Zealander Manu Bennett.

    “The Summit encompasses everything our viewers love in a reality show – everyday people overcoming and conquering their fears, a fierce game of strategy and an intense physical and emotional competition,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “Set against a breathtaking mountain backdrop, this is a high-stakes, adrenaline-filled game with thrilling twists and turns that make for riveting and inspiring television.”

    “We are so excited to embark on this exhilarating adventure with our partners at CBS on a proven format that has captivated audiences internationally,” said Sharon Levy, CEO of Endemol Shine North America. “We can’t wait for viewers to come along on this epic quest with an incredible group of contestants as they learn how far they’re willing to go and what they’re willing to do to reach The Summit.”

    “I’m an avid mountain climber, but the reason I’m passionate about this series has little to do with climbing,” said Kevin Lee, executive producer of The Summit. “It’s the human drama and emotion that arise when ordinary people are pushed to their limits by intense game play that makes this series so compelling.”

    Sixteen strangers will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the treacherous New Zealand Alps in an attempt to reach the peak of a distant, towering mountain. With their backpacks containing an equal share of $1 million, the group must traverse an exhausting distance in just 14 days in order to win the cash they are carrying. But not everyone will make it, as these strangers must work together to tackle the dangerous terrain, unforgiving Antarctic winds, heart-pounding challenges and gut-wrenching eliminations on their way to the peak. Tracking them along this journey is the “Mountain’s Keeper” who will surprise the trekkers with brutal twists and force decisions that complicate an already grueling ascent. Morals and relationships will be tested when they must decide what to do if someone falls behind, because if the group fails to reach The Summit in time, all the prize money will be lost.

    Additional details including cast and the airdate will be announced in the future.

    The Summit is produced by Endemol Shine North America. Kevin Lee, Tina Nicotera and Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy and DJ Nurre are executive producers. The series is based on a format by Endemol Shine Australia and Nine.

  9. Banijay Brands and Big Sky Games Unbox New Deal or No Deal Games

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    Banijay Brands, the commercial arm of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, today announces it has partnered with Big Sky Games, to produce a Deal or No Deal card game and board game, available from the end of this year in the UK & Ireland.

    With the return of the show in the UK, the company will release an updated version, voiced by new UK host Stephen Mulhern, alongside a travel card game. Distributed by Asmodee, the games will be available online and instore across the UK and Ireland. The return of the hugely popular show in the UK will be produced by Banijay UK’s Remarkable Entertainment for ITV and ITVX.

    Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing at Banijay Brands says: “Through this trusted partnership we are set to deliver more exciting additions to our Deal or No Deal consumer offering. With the return of the global format to the UK market, these games will give people of all ages the opportunity to experience the excitement of the iconic game show at-home or on the move.”

    The Banijay-owned format, Deal or No Deal, has been commissioned in over 80 territories with more than 350 productions to date. It first launched in the Netherlands in 2002 and continues to draw huge audiences, with the first episode of EndemolShine Nederland’s 43rd season, which aired earlier this year, the most-watched entertainment show of the evening. It was recently announced that the iconic format is back in a new spin-off, Deal or No Deal Island, created by Endemol Shine North America for NBC, set on the Banker’s private island where they make the rules and there are twists behind every palm tree.

    Deal or No Deal has a strong commercial portfolio which allows consumers to connect with the brand across multiple categories means, including scratch and digital lottery games across 24 territories with Scientific Gaming, and slot games with Gaming Arts.

  10. NBC Revs Up to Launch Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge

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    NBC gets the show on the road with a series order of “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge,” an epic car makeover competition series based on one of the world’s most popular toys.

    Hosted by Rutledge Wood (“Top Gear US,” “Floor Is Lava”), who will also serve as one of the show’s judges, the 10-episode series will give Hot Wheels® superfans the opportunity of a lifetime – turning a nostalgic car from their past into the life-sized Hot Wheels of their dreams. The season-finale winning creation will spin its wheels by launching as an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.

    “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge” is an original format developed and produced by Endemol Shine North America in association with Workerbee under license from Mattel Inc. Executive producers are showrunner Tim Warren, along with Andy Thomas, Sharon Levy, DJ Nurre and Michael Heyerman from Endemol Shine North America; Rick Murray and Chris Hale from Workerbee (a Banijay UK Company); and Fred Soulie and Phil Breman from Mattel Television.

    “Everyone remembers their first car, the life experiences they had and the friends who came along for the ride. Hot Wheels is a legendary brand that has created a space for imaginations to run free,” said Corie Henson, EVP, Unscripted Programming, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “Our prolific partners at Endemol Shine North America and Mattel have created larger-than-life family viewing with edge and humor all led by car enthusiast Rutledge Wood, whose creativity, credibility and passion for Hot Wheels makes him the perfect person to drive this wild competition.”

    Each episode will invite two passionate car fans and Hot Wheels lovers into the Chrome Zone, where they will each face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels showstopper, inspired by personal stories and pop culture touchstones. Working alongside a team of automotive magicians known as “The Car Pool,” the two Superfans will create their designs in high-tech, decked-out garages. Raising the stakes of the competition is the Inspirationator 5000, a larger-than-life vending machine that will rev up in each episode to present the Superfans with a twist in the road.

    Riding shotgun will be a rotating panel of celebrity guest judges joining resident experts Hertrech (“Hert”) Eugene Jr., an influencer in car culture and the drift scene, and Dalal Elsheikh, designer for the Ford Motor Company and Hot Wheels Brand Ambassador. Wood, Eugene and Elsheikh, along with the celebrity guests, will review the transformations and crown a winner. The winner of each episode will take home $25,000 and the chance to get into the finale, where three lucky finalists will transform another car in hopes of winning a legendary prize – an additional $50,000 and the honor of having their design made into an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.

    More than 16 Hot Wheels cars are sold per second across the globe, and this all-new “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge” die-cast car will join the ranks of the 8 billion+ Hot Wheels that have been produced to date.

  11. Sharon Levy Named Chief Executive Officer, Endemol Shine North America

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    Sharon Levy has been elevated to Chief Executive Officer of Endemol Shine North America, the Banijay-owned studio behind the Emmy Award- nominated LEGO Masters, MasterChef, Wipeout, and the highly-anticipated Ripley, it was announced today by Ben Samek, Chief Executive Officer, Banijay Americas.

    In her new role, Levy, who has served as Chief Content Officer, Endemol Shine North America, since 2021, will manage all aspects of the business and its growth. Named as one of the “Most Powerful Producers in Unscripted TV” by The Hollywood Reporter, she will also continue to lead all of the studio’s unscripted and scripted programming efforts from the company’s North Hollywood headquarters.

    “Sharon is one of the most strategic executives in the business, someone whose creative vision is matched only by her market savvy,” said Samek. “Over the past five years, she has already positioned Endemol Shine North America as a major industry player and unleashed the creativity of her group. I look forward to supporting her as she leads her talented team to new heights.”

    “I’m very excited to take on the CEO role for the new Endemol Shine North America as we chart its course forward during an extraordinary time for the industry,” said Levy. “I am thankful to Ben for believing in me and my exceptional team and giving us the responsibility and opportunity to redefine ESNA. With Endemol Shine North America now operating solely as a production studio, we’ll move more nimbly and be better positioned to meet the challenges of the moment. It’s a new era at ESNA, and we look forward to working with partners, old and new, to create great television.”

    With Levy now in place as CEO, Endemol Shine North America, which previously operated as the holding company on behalf of Banijay Americas, will operate as an independent production studio alongside the nine other Banijay-owned studios. In announcing these moves, his first since being named CEO, Banijay Americas, Samek completes the restructure of Banijay’s businesses across the Americas, establishing the new Endemol Shine North America studio alongside fellow U.S.-based Bunim/Murray Productions, Truly Original, 51 Minds Entertainment, Authentic Entertainment and Stephen David Entertainment; Mexico-based Endemol Shine Boomdog and Banijay Mexico and U.S. Hispanic; and Brazil-based Endemol Shine Brasil and A Fábrica.

    “Historically, Endemol Shine North America served a dual role as the parent company to our subsidiaries and as its own production label,” said Samek. “Reconstituting ESNA as a pure production studio that lives alongside the nine other studios that form Banijay Americas, each with its own leadership and goals, will afford us the opportunity to work more collaboratively and efficiently and represent ourselves more clearly to our industry partners.”

    Since joining Endemol Shine North America in 2017 as President, Unscripted and Scripted TV, Levy, an award-winning producer and executive, has successfully reconfigured the studio’s Los Angeles-based programming team to work more closely with Banijay’s myriad global production companies and created an original development slate that features projects from co-owned labels worldwide with marquis talent highlighted by Will Arnett, John Cena, Nicole Byer, Keke Palmer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, John Cusack, Steve Zaillian, Gillian Flynn, and more.

    During her tenure with Endemol Shine North America, Levy has launched and overseen numerous hits including FOX’s wildly-successful and Emmy Award-nominated LEGO Masters (hosted by Will Arnett), TBS’ revamped Wipeout (with John Cena and Nicole Byer), Foodtastic (Disney+), The Courtship (USA/Peacock), a new version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for HGTV, and the highly-anticipated Showtime original series, Ripley. Levy also leads Endemol Shine’s top-rated food competition franchises, MasterChef and MasterChef Junior.

    Prior to joining Endemol Shine, Levy served as Executive Vice President of Original Series for Spike TV where she oversaw the acquisition, creation, and production of unscripted series, scripted series, and documentaries, successfully transforming the network’s brand identity with hits such as Ink Master, Bar Rescue, Auction Hunters, and Deadliest Warrior.

    Last year, Levy helped orchestrate a new partnership between Endemol Shine North America and EveryWoman Studios to expand the Propelle Program, an initiative designed to give up-and- coming female creators more opportunities in unscripted TV. As part of this initiative, Endemol Shine North America underwrote a new format category within the Propelle Program, pairing female creators with industry mentors to help develop the next batch of unscripted hit series.

  12. Endemol Shine North America’s Senior Vice President Tamaya Petteway to Lead Studio’s Licensing Team Again

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    Endemol Shine North America’s Senior Vice President Tamaya Petteway has added oversight of the studio’s licensing team for a second time and industry veteran Chris Lucero has joined the Banijay-owned studio as Director of Licensing Partnerships.

    Petteway, who has been with Endemol Shine North America since 2015 and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Brand and Digital Partnerships, has taken on oversight of the studio’s licensing department for a second time. Petteway, who formerly led the company’s licensing initiatives from April 2016-August 2019, will now lead the newly named Brand Partnerships, Licensing and Digital team for the studio.

    Lucero joins Endemol Shine North America after serving in top roles with NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Television, Games Workshop and most recently at Rover Brand Management. In his new role, Lucero will oversee day-to-day licensing partnerships for the studio, which is behind such hits as MasterChef, Wipeout, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Deal Or No Deal and many others.

    “Having previously led our licensing division, I’m thrilled to return to the business and build upon our team’s proven success, while continuing to lead our brand partnerships and digital initiatives here at Endemol Shine North America,” says Petteway. “And I’m delighted to have Chris join our ranks, as he brings with him a wealth of TV licensing knowledge, experience, passion, and excitement. He will clearly be a valuable member of our multi-talented group, helping us further expand our U.S. and global licensing efforts that are centered around our dynamic slate of scripted and unscripted TV properties.”

    Petteway is now responsible for creating and expanding both licensing and brand partnership efforts for Endemol Shine North America’s roster of hit programs. During her eight years with the studio, she has created numerous brand partnerships across the studio’s top series, including integrating major consumer brands into MasterChef and MasterChef Junior (FOX), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (HGTV), MasterChef Latinos (Estrella), LEGO Masters (FOX), Wipeout (TBS), The Courtship (Peacock/NBCUniversal) and Foodtastic (Disney+).

    Brand partners have included Samsung, General Mills, Blue Apron, T-Mobile, Kellogg’s, State Farm, Lexus, Mazola, Blue Diamond, Whirlpool, Burlington, Wayfair, Best Buy, Amazon, Microsoft and many more.

    On the licensing side, Petteway has developed numerous successful partnerships during her tenure, helping make MasterChef and MasterChef Junior two of the most successful brands in the industry—launching such initiatives as the MasterChef Junior Live Tour with TCG Entertainment, MasterChef Wines, Camp MasterChef with Campus Cerdanya, Cooking with MasterChef interactive online cooking classes with Bluprint.com, MasterChef Cruises (with Holland America), MasterChef Junior cooking sets with Wicked Cool Toys, MasterChef Table with Grubhub and numerous best-selling MasterChef and MasterChef Junior cookbooks.

    Petteway also led the launch of series-inspired products developed for the Emmy Award-winning scripted series Black Mirror (Netflix), including the first-ever social board game ‘Nosedive,’ an exclusive apparel line for Target, and ‘binge-themed’ subscription boxes with Loot Crate.

    Prior to joining Endemol Shine North America, Petteway was Vice President, Partnership Marketing and Development at Universal Music Group. Before joining Universal Music Group, Petteway spent eight years at CORE Media’s 19 Entertainment, including as Vice President, Brand Partnerships.

    Lucero joins Endemol Shine North America from Rover Brand Management, where he led the boutique licensing and merchandising consultancy firm as its principal, working with both established and emerging brands. Prior to Rover, Lucero led licensing and brand management in North America for UK-based Games Workshop, the world’s largest tabletop war gaming company.

    Previously, Lucero was Vice President, Global Licensing, Sony Pictures Television, where he represented the studio’s current and catalog television-based intellectual properties. While at Sony, Lucero spearheaded both the domestic and international growth of the studio’s Franchise Licensing business, representing over 50 current and classic television series, including Outlander, Preacher, Shark Tank, Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad and more.

    Before that, Lucero was at NBCUniversal, where he was Director of Global Licensing for the NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group. He led both the worldwide growth of NBC Universal’s TV Consumer Products Group business for the NBCU entities: Syfy, USA, The Weather Channel, CNBC, NBC News, and NBC’s vast catalog of television titles.

    Lucero holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from California State University, Long Beach, a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in Film and Television and a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law.