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: NPO

  1. Banijay Rights Triumphs with Bergerac International Deals

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    Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, today announces landmark acquisitions of major new six-part drama series Bergerac ahead of this month’s London TV Screenings.

    In deals negotiated across the Banijay Rights global sales team, Bergerac has been acquired by NPO in Netherlands, VRT in Belgium, SVT in Sweden, YLE in Finland, NRK in Norway, DR in Denmark, BBC First in Poland and TVNZ in New Zealand. ABC in Australia has also acquired the series, as previously announced.

    Produced by BlackLight TV, part of Banijay UK, Jersey-based Westward Studios and supported by Visit Jersey for U&DRAMA in the UK, the 6 x 60’ series sees Damien Molony (The Split, Brassic, Crashing) star in the iconic role of Jim Bergerac.

    Based on the original series created by Robert Banks Stewart, which starred John Nettles and ran for nine series on the BBC between 1981 and 1991, this modern re-imagining honours the iconic detective drama, but with a contemporary twist. Unlike the original hit from the 80s, the new series sees one character-led murder mystery run across all six episodes, in place of a new storyline each episode.

    Claire Jago, EVP Sales & Acquisitions EMEA, Banijay Rights said: “Bergerac is an enthralling, contemporary re-imagining of the much-loved 1980s crime drama, once again set in Jersey and featuring the iconic Triumph Roadster car. We have a fantastic new cast, writing and directing talent and are privileged to bring this drama to broadcasters and platforms around the world as we head into London TV Screenings this month.”

    Ben Bickerton, BlackLight TV, said: “We are so excited to be bringing back such an iconic title that means so much to so many people. With Toby Whithouse’s compelling scripts and Colm McCarthy’s outstanding direction, the relaunch will delight fans of the original and introduce Bergerac, and the beautiful island of Jersey, to a new audience around the world.”

    Bergerac is written by Toby Whithouse (The Red King, Being Human), alongside Brian Fillis (Trust, Sirens), Catherine Tregenna (The One That Got Away, Three Pines) and Polly Buckle (Love Rat, A Discovery of Witches). The drama also features Zoë Wanamaker (My Family, Shadow and Bone, Black Ops) as Charlie Hungerford, Philip Glenister (Steeltown Murders, Life on Mars) as Arthur Wakefield and introduces Chloé Sweet Love as Jim’s daughter, Kim.

    Viewers meet Bergerac (Molony) as a broken man, grappling with grief and alcoholism following his wife’s recent death. His mother-in-law, Charlie (Wanamaker), is concerned Jim isn’t putting his daughter Kim first and, when a woman from a wealthy Jersey family is murdered, Jim must fight through his personal struggles to become the formidable investigator he once was. With a troublesome convict resurfacing from his past, Bergerac is required to call on his sharp investigative instincts and past successes to navigate the intricate family dynamics, and watchful eyes of the police force, in order to solve the case.

    The series was commissioned by Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning for UKTV, with Helen Perry, head of drama commissioning, acting as executive producer for UKTV. Executive producers for BlackLight TV are Ben Bickerton, Philip Trethowan and Toby Whithouse. Brian Constantine is executive producer for Westward Studios. The series is directed by Colm McCarthy (The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself, Peaky Blinders) and Sean Spencer (The Lazarus Project, A Town Called Malice) and produced by Clare Alan (Resistance, Rebellion).

    Bergerac is one of several scripted highlights on Banijay Entertainment’s slate for London TV Screenings 2025, with the content powerhouse’s full line up due to be announced shortly. The Banijay Entertainment Showcase will be held on Wednesday 26th February at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly.

     

  2. Banijay Entertainment’s Banged Up Unlocks First International Deal with the Netherlands

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    Content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces SimpelZodiak, part of Banijay Benelux, has sold the BAFTA-nominated format, Banged Up, to Dutch broadcaster EO, part of NPO, marking the show’s first international deal.

    Originally created by Banijay UK’s Shine TV, the producer behind hits Hunted and The Island, Banged Up launched on Channel 4 in October 2023, becoming one of the broadcaster’s most streamed shows. Known locally in the Netherlands as Hel of Hotel(w/t), the acclaimed factual format will be aired through Dutch broadcaster EO on the streaming platform, NPO Start.

    Banged Up is a revolutionary social experiment, where celebrities live the prison experience in a recently decommissioned jail, locked up alongside some of the country’s ex-criminals. As they attempt to survive the strict prison regime, they’ll discover what life behind bars is really like, learning to cope in an extreme and emotionally challenging environment that is far beyond their comfort zone.

    Justine Huffmeijer, Managing Director of SimpelZodiak says: “The themes in Banged Up are globally relatable, addressing issues of prisons and law enforcement, and the concept of second chances. This show is startlingly eye-opening, challengingpreconceptions at every turn. Its authentic and gritty reality delivers compelling viewing, and we’re interested to see how Dutch celebrities handle prison life.”

    Lucas Green, Chief Content Officer, Operations, Banijay adds: “Banged Up sparked important conversations in the UK, and we will undoubtedly see the same success in the Netherlands. This immersive format has strong travelling potential, uncovering critical questions about the prison system. With its dramatic and authentic approach, this format offers a glimpse into what it really is like to be ‘banged up’, and we expect further adaptations for this unique and fascinating programme.”

    Banijay Benelux label, SimpelZodiak, specialises in adventure reality, and factual entertainment for linear and VOD platforms. The company is behind local versions of global hits Survivor (known locally as Expedition Robinson), MasterChef, Temptation Island, and Hunted. Other credits include The Nation’s Brightest, Your Home Made Perfect, and Ik Vertrek.

    This title will sit alongside Banijay Entertainment’s vast catalogue of hit travellers like The Summit, Good Luck Guys, and Love Triangle; superbrands MasterChef, Big Brother and Survivor, and highly-anticipated streamer launches Bear Hunt and Building a Band (w/t).

  3. Banijay Kids & Family Secures Raft of Sales for Charlie and Lola

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    Banijay Kids & Family, a global leader in children’s entertainment, behind hit shows such as Totally Spies!and Mr Bean: The Animated Series, today announces multiple international sales for preschool animation series Charlie and Lola. The deals were secured by the company’s distribution arm, Banijay Kids & Family Distribution.

    A Tiger Aspect Kids & Family property, seasons 1-3, plus two specials, have been sold to TG4 (Ireland), and relicensed by WDR (Germany). Asiana (Korea) has taken seasons 1-3; seasons 2-3 have been picked up by NRK (Norway); and seasons 1-2, plus two specials, have been relicensed by NPO (Netherlands). Last year it was confirmed Banijay Kids & Family would represent the animated series’ audio-visual, digital and merchandising rights.

    Charlie and Lola has won numerous industry accolades, including multiple Children’s BAFTAs. It combines 2D cut-out-style animation and photomontage, with a children’s voice cast, and is based on the award-winning picture book series by Lauren Child. There have been three seasons to-date, totalling 78×11’ and 2×22’ episodes, which first launched on CBeebies in 2005.

    Julia Rowlands, SVP Sales, Coproductions & Acquisitions, Banijay Kids & Family says: “Charlie and Lola is an iconic brand, and the continued international interest in it is testament to its enduring appeal for preschool audiences. We are so proud to have the show in our portfolio of premium kids titles and we are delighted audiences around the world continue to embrace the magic of its storytelling.”

    Tiger Aspect Kids & Family (a Banijay Kids & Family company) is a multi-BAFTA-winning production label, which works in live action and animation, from preschool through to family content. It has created iconic series including Mr Bean: The Animated Series, Aliens Love Underpants, Tinga Tinga Tales, Danny & Mick, Corpse Talk, and the recently announced Super Happy Magic Forest.

    Led by Benoît Di Sabatino, Banijay Kids & Family is part of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment. Its dedicated commercial and sales division, Banijay Kids & Family Distribution, is responsible for the exploitation of linear and non-linear rights for the group’s high-quality animated and live-action kids brands. As part of these efforts, it drives ancillary activity across all platforms, and through brand licensing and digital exploitation.

  4. NL Film and BNNVARA Unveil Second Season for Hit Crime Drama Anonymous for NPO

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    Banijay Benelux today confirms NL Film has landed a second series commission of tense thriller Anonymous. The series is a co-production between NL Film and BNNVARA for broadcaster NPO.

    When crime has a grip on the country and systems seem to be failing, a couple emerges to take justice into their own hands. History teacher Jurre and prosecutor Saar each relentlessly battle the criminal underworld, fighting for the safety of their family. There is one twist: they don’t know about each other. Saar fights her battle against the criminal gang ‘Cabo’ as a public prosecutor, while Jurre does it his way, as Anonymous.

     

    The debut series of the crime thriller garnered an average of 1 million viewers each episode via TV and on-demand platforms and can still be streamed via NPO Start. Banijay Rights handles international distribution.

    The cast of Anonymous includes Jeroen Spitzenberger and Anniek Pheifer portraying the complex characters of Jurre and Sarah. The ensemble also features Mies van Rooijen and Sil van der Zwan. The series is directed by Diederik van Rooijen.

    Dennis Cornelisse, Producer at NL Film, says: “In a world where justice hangs in the balance, Anonymous is a gripping thriller about a couple’s relentless pursuit fighting for what they believe is right, and a reminder that every day heroes walk among us. As a creative company, it is always brilliant to have the opportunity to delve deeper into a story with a returning series and we look forward to working with BNNVARA and NPO on the new season.”

     

    Diederik van Rooijen, Director, adds: “Anonymous is far from over. Thanks to the many loyal followers, a second season is in the works for this successful crime series. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created, and the show has been so embraced by viewers. The fight against crime has only just begun for Jurre and his family!”

    Recent hits for the Amsterdam-based production company NL Film include Golden Hour (NPO), Modern Love (Amazon Prime Video), and feature film Costa.

  5. Banijay’s Hunted Heads Into The Wild

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    Banijay today announces Dutch production label, SimpelZodiak has created a new spin-off of reality thriller Hunted. Already producing both the civilian and celebrity versions, SimpelZodiak will now bring Hunted into the wild to NPO 3.

     

    The stakes are higher than ever on Hunted into the wild as ordinary people must hide in an inhospitable landscape to evade capture. From the moment of the dramatic launch, the ‘fugitives’ are at the mercy of the wilderness as they try to remain undetected. Who can brave the heat, rain, and cold as professional hunters use their experience to track them down? Despite this new setting meaning the hunters can’t use surveillance cameras, the formidable team will stop at nothing to complete their task. Will one wrong move result in capture or will these Dutch participants be able to utilise the landscape to outsmart Marcel van de Ven and his team?

     

    Originally created by Shine TV for UK broadcaster Channel 4, Hunted has since been commissioned in 11 countries. Hunted continues its strong run in the Netherlands with the latest VIP series currently on-air and SimpelZodiak’s sixth season having achieved the best ratings to date.

     

    2021 was a successful year for the format with Endemol Shine Australia announcing they will produce an adaptation for Channel 10 and Belgium’s first season being the most-watched weekly show on Play4 that season. In the UK the format continues to be ratings hit, with the most recent series more than doubling the slot for younger viewers. In total, the number of series which aired was double that of 2020 including Italian, French and German versions for Amazon Prime Video.

     

    Justine Huffmeijer, Managing Director of SimpelZodiak says: “Hunted into the wild will have viewers on the edge of their seat as the drama surpasses anything we’ve seen before. We know how much Dutch audiences are captivated by the VIP and civilian versions so we can’t wait for audiences to see this fresh take.”

     

    Lucas Green, Head of Content Operations of Banijay adds: “Hunted is factual entertainment at its best. This new spin-off highlights the expanding potential for Hunted’s thrilling social experiment, as anonymity becomes increasingly harder in modern life. SimpelZodiak always produces high-quality programming, and we are sure this new series in the ‘escape genre’ will be no different. Having already established such a strong following for this format in the Netherlands, we know they are a safe pair of hands to further develop this new chapter of Hunted.”

     

    This new twist on the global brand adds to the award-winning Dutch production company’s burgeoning catalogue. Priding itself on creating high-quality content for both linear TV, streamers, and online platforms some of SimpelZodiak’s key credits include SAS: Who Dares Wins, Temptation Island, Your Home Made Perfect, Table for Two, and Survivor.