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: Isabelle Dams

  1. Banijay Belgium to Make The Flemish Audience Starstruck

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    Media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay today announces Banijay Belgium will produce Starstruck for VTM. This Flemish adaptation is the fifth version of the hit studio entertainment format created by Remarkable Entertainment (part of Banijay UK).

    Three times the fun, talent, and reveals, Starstruck welcomes a trio of everyday people with exceptional talent to the stage as they team up and transform into the same iconic star. Rival groups battle it out to prove why the audience and expert judges should vote them the winning team. However, each performer must stand out as only one contestant can go through to the grand final and take their shot at winning the cash prize.

    Originally created by Remarkable Entertainment, this commission marks the fifth adaptation, having already aired in territories including the UK, where Starstruck has enjoyed two seasons on ITV and ITVX, Chile, Bulgaria and Denmark, where it repeatedly won its slot across all demographics when it aired earlier this year.

    Isabelle Dams, Managing Director of Banijay Belgium says: “With an incredible set, unbelievable transformations, and raw talent, Starstruck is the perfect show to bring multiple ages together. I am looking forward to the audience seeing the trios perform iconic songs from a range of eras and genres. ”

    Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations at Banijay adds: “Starstruck is a party of high-energy, spectacular shiny-floor entertainment. First airing in 2022, the fact it has sold to five territories is testament to the strength of the format, and its adaptability.”

    Banijay Belgium is a leading production company whose slate includes high-quality television in nearly every genre. Its non-scripted offering includes Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Hunted, and Fear Factor amongst others.

  2. Banijay Belgium Signs Up for Special Forces Training on SAS: Who Dares Wins

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    Content powerhouse, Banijay, today announces Banijay Belgium will adapt SAS: Who Dares Wins, known locally as Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint for VTM.

    In Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint, 11 famous faces will take part in demanding challenges, but only the best will pass the selection process based on the elite special forces corp. The celebrity recruits, which include singer and presenter, Koen Wauters, ex-basketball player Ann Wauters, and politician, Georges-Louis Bouchez, will head to Morocco to face challenges overseen by four ex-Special Forces operators. However, being in the Special Forces isn’t about who is the strongest or the fastest, it is about attitude and mindset. Which of these celebrities has what it takes?

    SAS: Who Dares Wins was created in 2015 by Minnow Films for Channel 4.  Banijay now holds the global distribution rights. This commission in Flanders marks the ninth adaptation of the format with successful local versions already produced in territories such as the US, the Netherlands, Denmark, where it recently won a TV Prisen for best reality, and Australia, where series one was the biggest show ever on 7Plus.

    Isabelle Dams, Managing Director, Banijay Belgium says: “The celebrities are ready to put their resilience to the test in this adventure reality format. Along with VTM, we’re looking forward to Belgian audiences becoming gripped by the journey of the famous recruits.”

    Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay adds: “Adrenaline-packed, intense, and entertaining, SAS: Who Dares Wins already has a strong fanbase around the world. It is now an established global brand, but we’re really looking forward to seeing how its rich visuals and cinematic storytelling come to life in Belgium, taking the popularity of special forces to a new level.”

    Banijay Belgium prides itself on producing innovative content in nearly every genre for both broadcasters and platforms. This includes non-scripted titles Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Hunted amongst others, as well as premium scripted GR5 and long-running drama, Familie.

  3. Banijay Belgium Brings Back Fear Factor

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    Banijay Belgium, a Banijay Benelux label, today announces it will produce an all-new season of the iconic format Fear Factor for SBS owned, Play4.

     

    With the biggest comedian in Belgium, Alex Agnew as the host, Fear Factor is set to become the reality game show of the Flanders. Heroes are created as duos face a series of terrifying, yet incredible challenges to win a cash prize. How will they get on when having to tightrope walk between skyscrapers or be submerged underwater in a cage? Will their teammates’ encouragement embolden them to confront their fears, or will they be unable to complete the phenomenal tasks? In this series stars will be created as only the bravest team will accomplish all the awe-inspiring challenges and take home the money.

     

    Originally created by EndemolShine Netherlands, Fear Factor is internationally renowned with numerous series in India and the US. Following its success, EndemolShine Netherlands created a spin-off for younger viewers, Cool Factor. This iteration was popular in Belgium airing for six seasons on Nickelodeon.

     

    Isabelle Dams, CEO of Banijay Belgium says: “Guts, adventure, and excitement are in the very DNA of Fear Factor and we have developed challenges which will amaze contestants and viewers in Belgium.  Alex Agnew is bold, loud, and ultra-cool, making him the perfect host for the show. This new commission showcases our unbounded creativity, and it is a great addition to Banijay Belgium’s 2022 slate.”

     

    Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay comments: “Fear Factor is a classic format where learning to overcome fears and take on unbelievable challenges is as relevant today as when it first aired. We are seeing a strong resurgence of the show globally and we’re excited to see Banijay Belgium take the show to the next level with its local flare added to this reboot.”

     

    Banijay Belgium produces premium content in numerous genres, from factual to comedy and even feature films. Working closely with national and international broadcasters’ credits include Familie, Hunted, Extreme Make-over Home Edition and GR5.

  4. Zodiak Belgium Bolsters Leadership Team

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    Zodiak Belgium, a Banijay Group company today confirms the appointment of Dirk Ver Hoeye, its new CFO. Starting on 1 October with new MD, Isabelle Dams, he will be tasked with overseeing all financial operations for the business.

     

    Ver Hoeye joins Zodiak Belgium following a 17-year stint at DEDSIT as CEO, where he was responsible for overseeing finance, legal, budget management and the leadership of the production team.

     

    This latest appointment further strengthens the new Zodiak Belgium leadership team, which sees Dams take her position as MD. Together, the pair, who report to Banijay Group COO, Peter Langenberg, will focus on building a diverse, high-quality slate of content with both local and global appeal.

     

    Isabelle Dams says on the appointment: “It’s great to have Dirk by my side in this new adventure. It’s fair to say content continues as king, and with this in mind, we’re both confident that there is a strong journey ahead for Zodiak Belgium. In our new roles, we’re committed to establishing a slate that builds on the company’s previous successes whilst bringing fresh, must-see, entertaining content down the line.”

     

    Dirk Ver Hoeye adds: “I’m looking forward to starting at Zodiak Belgium and working with the team to continue the brand’s success to date. My experience, with Isabelle’s, can hopefully help with the challenge of being able to further develop the business. TV production is team work and that’s what I love about this industry.”

     

    The pair join the business following a strong start to the fall season, with outstanding results recorded for its four daily shows. In their first outings this autumn, VTM’s scripted reality title, De Buurtpolitie, scored a 33% share, VTM’s soap opera, Familie, scooped a 31% share, Vier’s reality show, Huizenjagers, drew a 14% share and finally, RTBF gameshow, Les Associés, attracted an 11% share. The company is also poised for VTM’s fall launches of De Buurtpolitie: Het Circus, the third film in the Buurtpolitie film series, based on the smash hit structured reality series, and Andy op Patrouille, a new factual entertainment series.

     

  5. Zodiak Belgium Names New MD

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    Zodiak Belgium, a Banijay Group company, today announces the appointment of Isabelle Dams as its new MD. Joining in autumn from SBS Belgium, she will take responsibility for all of the business’ operations, overseeing all production and working closely with the MDs across the footprint worldwide to share and trade IP.

     

    At SBS Belgium, Dams led both Channel 5 as Netmanager and the company’s in-house production company, for which she drove production across the network’s Channels – 4 and 5. She had joined the business in 2010 as Content Manager, having previously been a showrunner, reporter and editor-in-chief on some of the country’s leading shows including Jambers Magazine, De Heren maken de Man and Beautiful en De Nieuwe Mama at De Televisiefabriek, which was eventually acquired by Eyeworks Entertainment.

     

    In her new role at Zodiak Belgium, Dams will report to Banijay Group COO, Peter Langenberg, and is charged with driving the business to new heights via the development and production of original content, with local and global appeal.

     

    Peter Langenberg, COO, Banijay Group comments: “With a combined editorial and commissioning background, Isabelle boasts the perfect credentials to drive the growth of Zodiak Belgium. Familiar with the business’ content and the team, we are confident this will be a seamless transition that will, over the next year, lead to the emergence of a fresh and ambitious slate for the future.”

     

    Isabelle Dams adds: “As a well-established brand in the market, Zodiak Belgium provides such a fantastic opportunity and challenge. Pushing heartfelt, entertaining, fascinating, lighthearted and exciting content every day, it instantly felt like a natural home for me and in a rapidly changing content landscape, I look forward to partnering with the team in driving must-see-content for a broad audience.”

     

    Zodiak Belgium’s current series include daily soap Familie for VTM and real estate titles Huizenjagers and Blind Gekocht for SBS 4. It is also responsible for the local production of global hit format, Survivor (Expeditie Robinson), diplomatic fly-on-the-wall show De Ambassade (The Embassy), and business reality title Leeuwenkuil (Dragon’s Den), for SBS 4, long-running Rijker dan je denkt? (Antiques Roadshow), music show Liefde Voor Muziek (The Best Singers), and police-themed scripted reality series De Buurtpolitie for VTM, and quiz show Les Associés for RTBF.