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: Metronome

  1. 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.

  2. Banijay’s The Bridge Crosses Four Nordic Countries with Prime Video

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    Banijay today announces four new adaptations of reality hit The Bridge, with Meter Television, Mastiff Norway, Metronome and Endemol Shine Finland producing local versions for Prime Video in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Premiering on 4th November, The Bridge is the first Nordic reality show for the streaming service and brings the total adaptations of the Banijay format to ten countries.

    The Bridge is a grand and iconic reality competition where strangers meet in a harsh-but beautiful location; using a few basic tools and their bare hands must build a 220-metre bridge to an island holding a life-changing cash prize. Once there, a vote is held to decide who gets the prize, with the chosen participant deciding whether to share it. Each local Nordic version will consist of six, 40-minute episodes, with the first three launching on the premiere date, and the remaining three airing weekly.

    Karoline Spodsberg, Chief Operating Officer, Banijay Nordic says: “We know local content is extremely important to Prime Video and this collaboration has enabled production of four unique adaptations of iconic Banijay format The Bridge. Strategically this mirrors our own strong belief in a bespoke country-by-country approach to creating premium content for the four Nordic countries. Working with Prime Video has been a very positive experience for our labels Meter, Metronome, Mastiff Norway, and Endemol Shine Finland, all collaborating with dedication and passion to deliver an incredible series.”

    Madelene Hansson, CEO of Meter Television says: “We’re extremely proud to have led the pan-Nordic collaboration and production of The Bridge. Set in the beautiful, but austere, Nordic wilderness, this premium series is packed with emotional reality moments as the contestants do everything possible to meet the challenge. This collaboration with Prime Video is not only the first non-scripted reality commission for the streaming service in the Nordics, but also a first for us here at Meter, and we loved sharing our expertise with colleagues in other countries as well, of course, Prime Video.”

    “After the success of our global Originals like The Boys and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, we’re delighted to be bringing our Nordic customers our first local Original unscripted series, The Bridge,” said Martin Backlund, head of content, UK & Nordics, Prime Video. “We know our customers in the Nordics love reality series, so that’s why we’re bringing four local versions of The Bridge to viewers, showing our commitment to invest in Prime Video content to customers across the Nordics.”

    The Bridge is an original Banijay format, created in Spain by Zeppelin, part of Banijay Iberia. The format has been adapted in ten markets and recently experienced a resurgence, with a first-series adaption in the UK in 2021, and subsequent second season this year, as well as a debut in Australia.

  3. Banijay’s MasterChef Cooks Up Brand-New Iteration MasterChef: Young Talent

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    Banijay today announces that Viaplay Group has ordered first seasons of MasterChef: Young Talent in Denmark (MasterChef, De Unge Talenter) and Norway (MasterChef, Unge Talenter), produced by Banijay companies Metronome (Denmark) and Nordisk Banijay (Norway).

    The new iteration of the hit culinary format showcases promising chefs aged 13 – 18, who will have their culinary skills honed throughout the competition in a celebration of talent and regional gastronomic excellence. Each week under the eye of expert judges, the contestants will be faced with several tasks, and must produce exceptional food. The series culminates in one chef being crowned the MasterChef: Young Talent winner.

    This follows the news that Viaplay are bringing Celebrity MasterChef to the Netherlands for the first time this autumn, produced by SimpelZodiak, a Banijay Benelux company.

    Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay: “This exciting spin-off will showcase a new demographic of talent and equip a future generation of chefs with the best tools and experiences. It is the perfect example of MasterChef’s constant evolution as a format, and with Metronome and Nordisk Banijay building on their successful credits, audiences are set for some fantastic new MasterChef moments.”

     

    Kenneth Kristensen, SVP Non Scripted Content at Viaplay Group says: “MasterChef is an incredibly popular format for both young and old, and we are very proud to have the format on Viaplay. We were convinced that there are also many talented young people who can impress and surprise in the kitchen, and this assumption has been more than true. We are looking forward to showing our viewers MasterChef: Young Talent on Viaplay as the young talented chefs have excelled beyond all expectations. It’s always exciting to develop current formats, and here’s a super great example of a completely obvious spinoff.”

    MasterChef: Young Talent is the latest spin-off from the world’s most successful cookery television format which also includes Celebrity MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, Junior MasterChef, MasterChef All Stars, MasterChef Senior and the recently announced Young MasterChef (w/t) with BBC Three in the UK, which will be dedicated to up-and-coming young food talent between the ages of 18 and 25. Created by Franc Roddam, the show is produced in over 60 territories and celebrated its 500th series globally in 2021, with 49 productions airing in 33 territories last year. An international ratings hit, the current season of MasterChef in Denmark has seen strong ratings, with its debut exceeding the slot average by 110%+. Elsewhere, the recent finale of Argentina’s first ever Celebrity MasterChef peaked at an incredible 82.3% audience share.

    Nordisk Banijay, led by Erlend Hernø Røeggen, is well-known for producing top entertainment shows in the market. MasterChef: Young Talent will sit alongside 71 Degrees North, All Against 1 and Strictly Come Dancingin its slate.

    Headed up by Tina Christensen, Metronome boasts a strong portfolio producing both internationally known formats such as, LEGO® Masters, Hunted, The Block, Ex on the Beach and All Against 1. As well as creating its hit own IP such as Alone Together and Surviving the Wilderness.

  4. Danish Celebrities to Become Shaolin Heroes in Epic New Adventure Reality Series

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    Banijay, the world’s largest independent home to the best creative talent and IP, today announces a new premium adventure series from Danish label Metronome, focusing on the Shaolin Warrior Monk community in China.

    Shaolin Heroes will test celebrities like never before as they embark on a life-changing journey to master the ancient martial art of the Shaolin Warrior Monks in China. At a much-revered temple, the famous faces will receive the toughest, and most elite training possible. The challenge is not only physical, the celebrities will have to learn the Shaolin philosophy confront their deepest fears, and develop as a person to manifest a happier life.  Who will have the willpower and heart to become a true Shaolin Hero?

    Peter Hansen, Chief Creative Officer at Banijay Nordic,  says: “At Banijay we pride ourselves on being a thriving home for world-class content built for contemporary audiences. I have always loved karate, and together with Henrik Rasmussen, the Head of Programmes at Metronome, we developed the idea of celebrities being trained by real-life Grandmasters into an ambitious new adventure reality format, and this show is set to be a high-end offering for Danish audiences. This is a bold and original concept, and testament to broadcasters in the Nordics who are creatively open and willing to take significant risks, commissioning new and innovative ideas.”

    Tina Chistensen, Managing Director at Metronome, says:  “I’m really proud of the in-house development team here at Metronome, with a strategic focus they have created yet another original local format with the potential to travel. Over a number of years, Metronome has established itself as leading reality producer, and this, along with the confidence, resources and creative backing of Banijay, we have been able to pursue big format ideas with international appeal. With epic cinematic production values, we look forward to producing this authentic adventure reality series for TV 2 Denmark.”

    James Townley, Global Head of Content Development at Banijay, says: “This exciting, brand new show taps into the inspirational values and philosophy behind Shaolin Kung Fu, with celebrities walking an ancient path of the world’s finest warrior monks. As we continue to innovate and create new IP, this impressive and original format utilises our expertise with big adventure and reality superbrands to build the next generation of hits.”

    Dorthe Thirstrup, Channel Controller at TV 2, says: “At TV 2 we are looking forward to sharing Shaolin Heroes with the Danes. In addition to offering tremendous production values, we also believe that the programme can inspire us all to cut off unnecessary noise, find peace and our inner strength. The pandemic has challenged our daily lives in many ways, but I also think it has made many people reflect on what is important. Although we may not all be, or should be, Shaolin Monks, I am convinced that the special universe will set the viewers’ thoughts in motion.”

    Danish production company Metronome is behind Banijay’s 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.

    This format will join Banijay’s catalogue of over 4000 formats, beside flagship brands Survivor, Hunted, MasterChef, LEGO Masters and Big Brother.

  5. 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.