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: Finland

  1. Banijay Assembles Two New European Deals for LEGO® MASTERS

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    Banijay today announces two new adaptations for hit travelling format LEGO Masters, with Denmark and Finland the latest countries onboard.

     

    Danish production company Metronome, a Banijay company, has been commissioned to produce the show for TV2, and Endemol Shine Finland will be bringing the competition reality format to MTV3 audiences.

     

    LEGO Masters has now been produced in eleven markets, with local versions in US, UK, Australia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and France. 2020 was the best year yet for the format with seven productions airing across eight markets.

     

    In the US, FOX has confirmed a second series, once again hosted by Will Arnett. First series of LEGO Masters recently wrapped successfully in Poland and Sweden, whilst in France the debut in December ranked as the best launch for a new series on M6.

     

    In addition, Banijay Rights has landed numerous finished tape deals for the show.  In Italy, A+E Networks has acquired LEGO Masters Australia seasons 1- 3, LEGO Masters UK seasons 1 -2, and first seasons from the US, Sweden, and Netherlands for their channel BLAZE, meanwhile, WarnerMedia has also picked up LEGO Masters Australia season 1 for its free to air channel BOING.

     

    DPG Media in Belgium has picked up LEGO Masters Australia, USA and UK and Sony has licensed LEGO Masters USA Series 1 for Russia, CIS and Baltics.

     

    In the Nordics, TV4 Sweden and TV2 Denmark, and SVOD platform Cmore, have acquired the finished tape series of LEGO Masters Australia Season 1 & 2, UK Season 1 & 2, and USA Season 1.

     

    The format was originally created by Tuesday’s Child Television and The LEGO Group, and Banijay is the exclusive format and finished tape distributor of LEGO Masters globally.

     

    Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations, Creative Networks at Banijay says; “LEGO Masters continues to gain momentum and it’s brilliant to see this format travel to eleven markets and counting. This warm-hearted competition show attracts a broad family audience by offering viewers much-needed escapism, while celebrating creativity.”

     

    LEGO Masters pits pairs of ‘brick heads’ against each other in a quest to impress with their creativity, design and flair, driven by their unparalleled passion for the possibilities that start with a single LEGO brick. Mind-blowing brilliance will be on display, delivering family entertainment loaded with fun, action, drama and humour, and the odd topple.

     

    Endemol Shine Finland produce numerous adaptions of global hits for the Finnish market including MasterChef, Big Brother, All Together Now and The Biggest Loser.

     

    Danish production company Metronome is behind Banijay’s latest dating format Alone Together as well as relationship hit Fabulous Dads. It also produces a range of long-running non-scripted series including The Island, MasterChef, Taskmaster, The Block and Ex on the Beach.

  2. Banijay Names Jacob Houlind CEO for Banijay Nordic

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    Leading content producer and distributor, Banijay, today confirms Jacob Houlind as CEO, Banijay Nordic. Set to oversee all operations across its portfolio of 24 companies, his remit spans Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the UK and U.S., following the recent expansion of Yellow Bird.

     

    Driving a multi-brand strategy, which promotes creativity, diversity and originality, Houlind will be at the forefront of managing the territory’s investment in creativity and content development. Finding, nurturing and developing talent, he will continue to build a home for the best creatives across the Nordics. And, together with Banijay and Banijay Rights, the Nordic division will continue to focus on local and innovative IP with global appeal.

     

    Bringing together a leading offering, the Banijay Nordic portfolio comprises – Norway: Mastiff, Nordisk Film & TV, Rubicon and Screen Media; Sweden: Meter, Mastiff, Jarowskij, Nordisk Film TV, Filmlance, YellowBird, STO-CPH, Factory and MAG5; Finland: Banijay Finland, EndemolShine Finland and Zodiak Finland; Denmark: Metronome, Mastiff, Nordisk Film TV, Pineapple Entertainment, Banijay Nordic Mobile and Respirator; UK: YellowBird UK and U.S.: Yellow Bird US.A creative hotbed, the business produces some of the region’s biggest hits including Survivor, The Island, Fort Boyard, MasterChef, All Against 1, Best Singer, Big Brother, Luxury Trap, Biggest Loser, 71 Degrees North, The Wall, Paradise Hotel,All Together Now, Good Morningand Evening Denmark, Good Morning and Evening Norway, Millennium, The Bridge, Wallander and Netflix’s upcoming Young Wallander, Khalifate, Beck, The Restaurant and Sandham Murders.

     

    The integration process is now in progress and is expected to be complete by the fall. Karin Stjärne will subsequently leave the business on 31 August 2020 having been CEO of Endemol Shine Nordics since 2017. While in role, she built a successful operation, increased international format sales, secured a number of new titles including Family Food Fight, The Wall, The Heist and Lego Masters, and drove a number of returners such as Biggest Loser and Big Brother. Widening the footprint of MasterChef both in number of episodes, spin-off series and new productions across the Nordics, she also helped Norwegian label Rubicon thrive, supporting the sale of the first original Norwegian drama, Beforeigners, to HBO Nordic.

     

    Marco Bassetti, CEO, Banijay comments: “Jacob has long been a part of Banijay’s journey. An entrepreneur with a strong creative eye, he is an admirable leader, commercially astute and the best pair of hands to oversee what will be an even more significant region for us moving forwards. With scale, an immense portfolio of IP and some of the best talent in the business, we are excited to see what he and the team have in store for the future. In the meantime, I’d like to thank Karin for her efforts over the years in building up the EndemolShine Nordics portfolio and production offering.”

     

    Jacob Houlind comments:“Banijay Nordic has long been the home of some of the region’s strongest talent and I am honoured to be welcoming a host of new creative entrepreneurs into the fold. Combining the strengths of both groups and continuing a multi-brand strategy with a strong focus on creativity, I hope Banijay Nordic will long-continue to be a renowned home for the best creatives in the region – on and off-screen, and a home for IP that travels the world. A special thanks goes to Karin who has built a strong operation in EndemolShine Nordics and successfully put new and successful scripted, as well as non-scripted titles on the Nordic map.”

     

    Houlind has been Group CEO and co-owner of Nordisk Film TV since February 2006, selling the company to Banijay in 2009. He later took up the position of Group CEO of Banijay Nordic, as a result of the merger of former Nordisk Film TV in the Nordics and Zodiak Media.

  3. Temptation Island to Return to Finland This Autumn

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    Nelonen and Banijay Finland, a Banijay Group company, today announce Temptation Island is set to return for an eighth season this autumn. The latest 22×60’ Finnish run emerges as Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease in the territory.

     

    The local version, based on the Banijay-owned hit reality format, will follow the journey of unmarried couples at a crossroads in their relationship. Together, they will travel to a secluded location in Finland, where they separate and join a group of eligible singletons. Will they embrace the ‘single life’? Address some difficult realisations about themselves and their relationship? Or will it reinforce their feelings for one another?

     

    Temptation Island, which has already enjoyed stellar ratings in previous seasons, offers escapism, entertainment and familiarity in a time of great uncertainty. With safety remaining of utmost importance to Banijay Finland, production will be executed in line with all current restrictions, legal and governmental guidelines.

     

    Tatu Ferchen, CEO of Banijay Finland commented:“We are incredibly proud to be in a position to get productions up and running again in Finland. While a number of restrictions remain in place, we will take all the necessary measures to provide a safe environment for our cast and crew. Temptation Island provides the perfect balance of escapism, drama and entertainment and as a proven staple of schedules worldwide, could be the distraction audiences need at the end of these dark few months.”

     

    This latest commission follows a raft of successful global adaptations of the format including Spain, where the first season on Cuatro and Telecinco closed with 3.6 million viewers.  To date, the show, which is distributed by Banijay Rights, has enjoyed 19 versions globally.

  4. Impressive Wins for Denmark and Finland

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    Congratulations to our Nordic companies who have been recognised for nine awards across Denmark and Finland at this year’s prestigious TV Prisen Awards and Kultainen Venla Awards.

     

    Pineapple Entertainment picked up four awards including Best Character Driven Series, which went to Diamond Family; Zulu Awards 2019 won Best Event; Factual Creation went to Tinder Grannies, and Martin Brygmann won Entertainment Host of the Year!

     

    The TV Prisen Awards also recognised Mastiff Denmark which took home Best Lifestyle Programme for Portrait Artist of The Year, Best Singer won Best Entertainment and Best Factual Entertainment went to Different Like Me.

     

     

    Peter Hansen, CCO of Banijay Nordic said, “In a time where viewers are searching for ‘a spark of joy’, we are very happy that the Banijay companies Pineapple Entertainment and Mastiff in Denmark managed to harvest an unbelievable seven awards at the Copenhagen Tv Festival this Saturday. Original shows as well as new takes on international formats convinced the jury to place their votes on these seven Banijay shows. The future belongs to warm-hearted innovations”

     

    There was also reason to celebrate in Finland as Banijay Finland won Best Reality Competition for Dancing With The Stars and Director of the year (Entertainment & Events) went to Jan-Aslak Leino at the Kultainen Venla awards.

     

    Congratulations to everyone involved in these hit shows!