Tag Archive: Owain Walbyoff

  1. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Mobile Game Launches Globally

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    Banijay Brands, the commercial arm of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, in partnership with game developer and publisher Qiiwi Games, today announces the global launch of match 3 mobile game Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

    The new game, based on Banijay’s global renovation series, is now available worldwide on iOS and Android devices. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is an ad-free, online title, combining exciting match 3 puzzles, with the narrative of the format, allowing players to create dream houses for the families of the game. The original US host, Ty Pennington, features throughout, guiding players at each stage of the renovation game, letting them show off their skills in home design, tend to gardens and much much more!

    Lex Scott, Commercial Director, Gaming & Gambling at Banijay Brands says: “Qiiwi Games has produced an engrossing and highly engaging game, reflecting the excitement and tension of the format in the gameplay. The game will cut through in a highly competitive market with the instantly recognisable Extreme Makeover: Home Edition brand, and will appeal to fans of the show and gamers alike, with its modern match 3 puzzles  and clever integration of the iconic format.”

     

    Erik Dale Rundberg, CEO at Qiiwi Games, comments: “The upcoming game brings together Qiiwi Games’ established meta gaming mechanics strategy with Banijay’s Extreme Makeover: Home Editionformat, which involves captivating narratives and a large selection of renovation and decorating options for players to manage.

    The television series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition showcases great stories, inspired volunteers and jaw-dropping home renovations for families who give back to their communities. The whole-home overhauls include interior, exterior and landscaping – all completed within a week. Created by Endemol Shine North America, part of Banijay, the format, which has been produced in 13 territories, is represented internationally by Banijay. A new version is being developed for ABC in the US by Endemol Shine North America and Hello Sunshine, with Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of the global lifestyle brand, The Home Edit, hosting. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is also active in Belgium and Romania.

  2. Banijay Brands Deploys SAS Rogue Heroes

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    Banijay Brands, the commercial arm of content powerhouse Banijay, today announces it will represent a range of commercial rights for the Kudos (a Banijay UK company) series, SAS Rogue Heroes.

    Created by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo, A Christmas Carol), SAS Rogue Heroes is produced by Kudos for the BBC with MGM+. Based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, the show centres on David Stirling, an eccentric young officer, who is hospitalised after a training exercise gone wrong. The first series became a huge hit with viewers and critics alike, attracting an audience of 9.4 million viewers on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK. Season two, which again will be a dramatised account of the origins of the SAS, has begun filming.

    Owain Walbyoff, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay says: “With breath-taking cinematography and beautifully crafted characters, SAS Rogue Heroes is a visually powerful show that lends itself perfectly to a broad range of products and activations. Banijay Brands has extensive expertise in driving the commercial performance of our shows and we are delighted to add Steven and Kudos’ brilliant creation to our portfolio.”

    Martin Haines joint Managing Director, Kudos added: “Viewers worldwide have connected deeply with Steven’s storytelling and this has opened the door for the exploration of products and experiences for audiences to enjoy beyond the screen. With our second series on the horizon there is so much more to come for SAS Rogue Heroes fans and I look forward to seeing how the brand evolves further in this way.”

    Key cast for the series includes Jack O’Connell as Paddy Mayne, Connor Swindells as David Stirling, Sofia Boutella as Eve Mansour, and Dominic West as Dudley Clarke. Gwilym Lee (The Great, Bohemian Rhapsody) joins for series two to play Bill Stirling, David Stirling’s brother and founder of the 2SAS regiment, while Con O’Neill (Happy Valley, Our Flag Means Death) will play General Montgomery.

    SAS Rogue Heroes is distributed internationally by Banijay Rights. The series was developed for television and written and executive produced by Steven Knight. Series two (6×60’) will be directed by Stephen Woolfenden (Outlander, Willow) with Stephen Smallwood (The Serpent, Patrick Melrose) as producer. The series will be executive produced by Karen Wilson, Emma Kingsman-Lloyd and Martin Haines for Kudos, and Nick Lambon for the BBC.

  3. Banijay Brands Strengthens Peaky Blinders Licensing Portfolio

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    Banijay Brands today announces new licensing deals for global hit drama Peaky Blinders, in collaboration with series owner and producer Caryn Mandabach Productions. These new partnerships build on the brand’s hugely successful portfolio, as the global hit series heads towards its dramatic conclusion, with season six launching on Netflix on the 10th of June in the U.S. and other markets.

    Banijay Brands has collaborated with the leading craftsmen at Conway Stewart for a global limited-edition Peaky Blinders branded range of luxury pens, available online now. In addition, the brand builds its apparel offering, partnering with Drew Pearsons for a UK range of high-quality, Peaky Blinders inspired caps.

    Recent additions to the Peaky Blinders portfolio include Endemol Shine North America’s partnership with Bushmills Irish Whiskey, for the first official whiskey for the hit series, which is set to launch in 2022 in the U.S.; the Peaky Blinders themed Risk board game which is now available to pre-order ahead of its UK April release in GAME retail stores; the recent opening of Endemol Shine Brazil and Escape 60’s Peaky Blindersthemed escape room and the upcoming launch of Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom VR game from Maze Theory.

    Further extending the world of Peaky Blinders, brand-owner and series producer Caryn Mandabach Productions recently announced a brand-new immersive theatre show Peaky Blinders: The Rise, opening in summer 2022 at The Vanguard Theatre, Camden, and Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, a first-of-its-kind dance theatre show, running 2022/23, written and adapted for the stage by Steven Knight.

     

    Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing, Banijay Brands comments: “Peaky Blinders is a global phenomenon which translates incredibly well in the brand licensing space. It is a hot property right now, with a surge in demand from both audiences, and licensees who are keen to work with us. By collaborating with experienced and reliable partners, we are able to continue offering high-quality products and experiences for fans of the show to enjoy for years to come.”

    Susan Waddell, Managing Director, Caryn Mandabach Productions said: “We are thrilled with the response to the most recent book and game launches and even more delighted to see these new products come to market which we know our global Peaky Blinders fanbase will be delighted with.”

    The current portfolio of official Peaky Blinders products is performing strongly, with the Peaky Blinderscookbook from White Lion Publishing (Quarto Group) becoming a March 2022 bestseller in the UK, hitting number nine in the top-ten hardback nonfiction charts, and number five in the food and drink category; the limited-edition Peaky Blinders Monopoly board game which was recently released in the UK completely sold out; and the Peaky Blinders official webstore had a record-breaking month during the  airing of series six in the U.K.

    The recently aired season six was the UK’s number one drama of the year for young adults, with over 17 million views on BBC iPlayer to date. The final chapter will be released on Netflix from the 10th of June in the U.S. and other key territories. Sold to more than 180 countries, the series, distributed by Banijay Rights, is widely available internationally on Netflix. Banijay represents a range of global ancillary rights for the Peaky Blinders brand.

    The multi-award-winning gangster epic series was created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke). Peaky Blinders is owned and produced by Caryn Mandabach Productions and co-produced with Banijay’s Tiger Aspect Productions. Caryn Mandabach Productions owns the global Peaky Blinders brand.

  4. Banijay Brands Unveils Slate for Licensing Expo

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    Banijay Brands, in collaboration with Endemol Shine North America, will be attending Licensing Expo on 24-26 May in Las Vegas, showcasing its diverse portfolio of IP, including the worldwide smash-hit cookery show MasterChef; the multi-award-winning cult drama Peaky Blinders; the Netflix hit anthology series Black Mirror; internationally-loved digital animation Simon’s Cat; and British icon Mr Bean.

     

    Banijay Brands is co-sponsor of this year’s Licensing Expo opening party, which will feature a Peaky Blinders branded bar. It is also sponsoring the show badge, which incorporates a competition for attendees to win a case of MasterChef wine.

    In addition, MasterChef and Peaky Blinders have been shortlisted in the 2022 Licensing International Excellence Awards for Best Live Action Entertainment Brand, and Best Product – Appliances, Electronics or Housewares for an Entertainment Property respectively.

     

    Owain Walbyoff, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay says: “We are keenly exploring new opportunities and emerging technologies as we continue to drive consumer engagement with our brands. Banijay’s world-class portfolio provides endless opportunities for authentic products and experiences, and we look forward to forging new partnerships across multiple categories.”

    Banijay Brands controls the brand licensing rights to some of the most high-profile and creative IP in the world across multiple genres from scripted to entertainment.

    Award-winning anthology Black Mirror explores themes of contemporary techno-paranoia. Available on Netflix globally, the series, created by Charlie Brooker, boasts a stellar fanbase with numerous industry accolades including Emmy’s, International Emmy’s, BAFTA Craft Awards and a Rose d’Or.

    Peaky Blinders is the award-winning crime drama that is sold to more than 180 countries, airing on BBC One in the U.K. and widely available internationally on Netflix. The final season will be launching in the U.S. and other international markets from 10th June. The recently aired season six was the UK’s number one drama of the year for young adults, with over 17 million views on BBC iPlayer to date. Brand-owner and series producer Caryn Mandabach Productions recently announced an immersive theatre show and a first-of-its-kind dance theatre show which will run through to 2023.

    Simon’s Cat is one of the biggest YouTube sensations of recent years. From a single free-to-air, two-minute cartoon, it has gone on to become a major global success, with not only 1.3bn views and 5.7 million subscribers on YouTube but also over 15m followers and over 1bn views across social media too.

     

    MasterChef is the most travelled food format, last year celebrating 500 seasons airing globally since its 2005 reboot. With more than 65 local versions aired in over 200 countries, the MasterChef brand is respected and recognised all around the world.

    Adventure-reality stalwart Survivor was last year ranked #1 Best Reality Show of All Time by Variety magazine. One of the most watched formats around the world, last year was its most successful to-date with 24 productions.

    The global game show phenomenon Deal or No Deal has been commissioned in 83 territories worldwide with 324 productions internationally. A ground-breaking show known all around the world, contestants play and deal for a top cash prize in a contest of nerves, luck and raw intuition.

     

    Action-packed family entertainment brand Wipeout has won the world over with its zany crashes, smashes and hilarious mud splashes. Following the success of the recent U.S. reboot, which was the No. 1 unscripted series on cable, the John Cena and Nicole Byer fronted version has been renewed for a new season. Wipeout continues to grow a substantial digital audience with over 10 million active followers worldwide across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

    Banijay is home to a raft of homes and interiors titles including the award-winning Your Home Made Perfect, Your Garden Made Perfect and the Alan Carr hosted Interior Design Masters. From the use of cutting-edge technology and VR to the competitive world of interior design, these increasingly popular brands are synonymous with innovative and stylish transformations.

     

    Mr. Bean is a globally loved animation that has been in continual distribution for over 30 years. A pioneer for Banijay, the brand recently became the company’s first activation in the Metaverse with a Mr Bean NFT drop. The brand has amassed a huge digital following across a number of platforms with over 129 million followers on Facebook, making it the biggest TV brand on the platform; nearly 50 million subscribers and 15 billion lifetime views across official YouTube channels; 8.7 million followers on Instagram; and 8.3 million likes on TikTok.

  5. MasterChef Whips Up New Deals

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    Banijay Brands today announces further growth of its hugely successful brand licensing programme for MasterChef, the world’s most successful cookery television format. The company is building on its existing partnership with leading European housewares company Arovo, plus rolling out new deals across cookware and games.

     

    Arovo’s MasterChef collection includes a broad selection of products such as ceramics, tableware, textiles, cookware, knives, utensils and small domestic appliances. The affordable kitchen and tabletop MasterChefrange will be launching in the U.S. in May alongside a brand-new US MasterChef Amazon store. And across Europe, interior design retail chain CASA have developed the Elite collection with Arovo, consisting of a series of high-quality, stylish kitchen must-haves and appliances, available exclusively in all 500+ CASA stores and at casashops.com.

     

    In addition, Banijay’s Endemol Shine North America (ESNA) has partnered with leading retail product manufacturer Creative Concepts for a unique collection of MasterChef silver-ion and 18K gold coated cookware sets which are now available online. ESNA has also furthered its partnership with Wilder Toys for a bite-sized edition of the successful MasterChef Family Cooking Game which is available at Walgreens. Elsewhere, Endemol Shine Brasil has just announced the arrival of three Spanish MasterChef wines available in the region exclusively with local wine online retailer Grande Adega.

     

    Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing, Banijay Brands says: MasterChef is an evergreen brand that resonates strongly with consumers all around the world, and by collaborating with teams across Banijay’s footprint we deliver a truly global licensing programme. We only work with the best partners in the business, who will uphold the integrity and quality associated with the brand, and it is wonderful to see these partnerships grow.”

     

    Created by Franc Roddam, MasterChef celebrated its 500th series globally in 2021, with 49 productions in 33 territories airing last year. An international ratings hit, the format has a number of successful iterations including Celebrity MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, Junior MasterChef, MasterChef All Stars, 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.

     

    With more than 90 licensees around the world, the MasterChef brand extends into a huge range of successful commercial activities. Millions of consumer products have sold globally, the extensive publishing range has proved lucrative, and audiences around the world can engage with MasterChef through live experiences from restaurants to cruises and tours.

     

    The MasterChef format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Banijay Rights.

  6. Mr Bean Lands in the Metaverse

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    Banijay, the largest independent content producer and distributor, today announces its first activation in the Metaverse with a Mr Bean NFT drop, in collaboration with intellectual property specialist, Metaverse architectsand leaders in the Web3 revolution; FOMO Lab.

     

    NFTs have captured the attention of millions, and now cultural icon Mr Bean is taking steps into the Metaverse with the help of FOMO Lab. Fans will be able to own Mr Bean digital assets and collectibles, inspired by the hit animated series. Available via FOMO Lab’s marketplace, The Avenue, the genesis Mr Bean NFT collection will be an assortment of 3,333 unique digital collectibles, purchasable from 25th May using cryptocurrency Ether on FOMO Lab’s NFT marketplace, TheAvenue.market.

     

    By purchasing the Mr Bean digital collectibles, holders will also have access to phygital rewards, competitions and redeemables including a signed, unpublished hand-drawn still of Mr Bean from the first animated series. Further Mr Bean NFT drops with FOMO Lab are planned throughout 2022. Keep up to date by joining the official Discord channel.

     

    Mr Bean co-creator and actor Rowan Atkinson commented: “I think that this is a great idea. Any initiative which not only draws attention to but actually enables access to the fabulous artwork associated with the Mr Bean Animation series, I welcome with open arms.”

     

    Owain Walbyoff, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay says: “Banijay has many exciting Metaverse projects to announce this year, as we continue to adopt new technologies to futureproof our brands. With his huge global following, Mr Bean is rightly taking his first steps into this space, and the combination of digital and physical rewards gives the NFT long term value for the lucky few who manage to purchase them.”

     

    Khalil Kassam, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, FOMO Lab added: “”FOMO Lab is the bridge between brands entering the Metaverse and NFT space and the Web3 Community changing the digital landscape forever, and we are delighted to partner with innovator Banijay to launch the official Mr Bean NFT collection, available via our marketplace The Avenue. We are continuously evolving our product offering, working closely with tier one brands, as well as the next generation of creators, relentlessly providing value to our community. It’s our mission to bring NFTs to a wide audience, with exclusive access to the latest and most sought-after products on the market.”

     

    One of Britain’s most famous comic creations of all time, Mr Bean, first appeared on screens in 1990, with the versatile performer Rowan Atkinson playing the hapless hero.  The show has now been in continual distribution for over 30 years, spawning a globally successful animated series voiced by Atkinson which launched in 2002. The brand attracts significant digital audiences, with over 129 million followers on Facebook, making it the biggest TV brand on the platform; nearly 50 million subscribers and 15 billion lifetime views across official YouTube channels; 8.7 million followers on Instagram; and 8.3 million likes on TikTok.

     

    FOMO Lab is spearheading the Web3 revolution, emerging as the gatekeeper of intellectual property by guiding and protecting brands as they enter the Metaverse and NFT space. FOMO Lab is the trusted partner of choice, with recent collaborations including road racing cyclist Mark Cavendish, MEFCC (Middle East and Film Comic Con), entrepreneur Roland Berger, and the heavyweight champion Tyson Fury alongside other tier one brands. The legacy NFT collection with Tyson Fury saw FOMO Lab achieving the highest bid in NFT boxing history, selling the 1-of-1 NFT for $987,000.

     

    FOMO Lab is creating an entire product suite which includes a multi-chain NFT marketplace, a staking ecosystem, FOMO Lab Launchpad, a revolutionary Metaverse platform with a ground-breaking mobile social application for NFT collectors, and many more products. The Avenue provides its holders with full control over their digital assets with over 3,000 users signed up, alongside an average visitor count exceeding 30,000 monthly. FOMO Lab is truly bringing NFTs to the masses, ensuring that NFT utility, Web3 and Metaverse applications are here to stay.

     

    Mr Bean: The Animated Series is produced by Tiger Aspect Kids and Family, part of Banijay Kids and Family.

  7. The Official Peaky Blinders Cookbook

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    In 2019, the first episode of Peaky Blinders series five launched in the UK to 6.2 million viewers.

    As the show is set to air its sixth and final series in 2022, here comes the first official cookbook, giving you everything you need to eat like the Shelby family and immerse yourselves in the culinary experiences of the Peaky Blinders.

    Filled with 50 delicious and evocative recipes, the book takes inspiration from the iconic locations the infamous gang inhabits, from the bar at The Garrison, to the glamour of the Eden Club and the extravagance of Arrow House.

    From hearty family fare, to snacks, sandwiches and bar food, as well as lavish canapes, lunches and dinners, the book includes dishes such as Warming vegetable & barley soup with Alfie Solomons’ soda bread,Grilled Oysters with parmesan crumb, Roast Rabbit with bacon & mushrooms in a whiskey sauce,flavourful Glazed celeriac steaks with breadcrumbs & herbs, a delicious Steak and ale pie, with a tasty mash, Butter and sage roast chicken with mushrooms & tarragon cream sauce, and Sloe Gin jelly with blackberries and cream.

    Combining stills from the series, with recipes and specially commissioned photography, this lavishly illustrated cookbook is a must have for both Peaky fans and keen cooks, and will take readers on a unique journey into the world of the Shelby’s.

  8. Universal Music Publishing Group signs Banijay to Exclusive Global Publishing and Production Music Agreement

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    Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), a leading global music publisher, and Banijay, the world’s largest independent content creation and distribution group, today announced an exclusive global publishing and production music agreement. Under the terms of the deal, UMPG will work with Banijay Brands (Banijay’s extensive brand and commercial arm), which has a portfolio spanning some of the world’s most recognizable shows, including Peaky Blinders, Survivor, Temptation Island, Lego Mastersand Hunted.

    As part of the agreement, Universal Production Music will represent Banijay’s existing global catalogue spanning 30,000-tracks across some of the world’s most popular shows.

    Mike McCormack, UMPG UK Managing Director, said: “This new partnership with one of the leading, most ambitious and creative new media companies in the world is an extremely important one for UMPG, not only in UK but globally. We look forward to a mutually successful collaboration.”

    Antonia Gilham, Global Director, Music & Secondary Rights, Banijay adds: “Combining our extensive and ever-evolving portfolio of standout brands with Universal’s music excellence makes perfect sense. In a world where IP is king, exploring new avenues for exploitation is key and through this collaboration, we have no doubt there is room to further innovate our revenue streams to bring additional value to our creative home.”

    Jane Carter, Universal Production Music UK Manging Director and Vice President of Global Repertoire, said: “We are extremely proud to be in a production music partnership with Banijay. With Universal Music global offices and expert teams working alongside Banijay productions, we looking forward to supporting their portfolio and working collectively on ground-breaking new initiatives.”

    With more than 120 production entities across 22 territories worldwide, Banijay has an impressive catalogue of over 110,000 hours of content – for which Banijay Brands manages much of its brand and commercial exploitation, including music. This new partnership with UMPG, led by Gilham for Banijay, will focus on maximising music-related revenues and expanding creative and commercial opportunities worldwide.

    This partnership with Banijay, further reinforces UMPG’s unique position as the publisher of choice for the world’s leading film, TV and production companies, studios, content platforms and networks. UMPG is currently home to some of the most iconic and universally recognized themes from broadcast, stage and screen, and will now be joined by those from Banijay’s most successful show brands.

    About Banijay

    Banijay stands as the largest international content producer and distributor; home to over 120 production companies across 22 territories, and a multi-genre catalogue boasting over 88,000 hours of original standout programming.

    A collective of creative entrepreneurs, the group represents some of the biggest global brands including Survivor, Big Brother, Peaky Blinders, Temptation Island, MasterChef, Wallander, The Kardashians, Mr Bean, The Wall, Hunted, Black Mirror, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Deal or No Deal among others. Imagining and delivering high-quality multi-genre IP that was born locally and travels globally, the business offers the best stories told the best way.

    Built on independence, creative freedom, entrepreneurialism and commercial acumen, the company, launched in 2008, operates under the direction of Chief Executive Officer, Marco Bassetti.

    About Universal Music Publishing Group

    Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is a leading global music publisher with 51 offices in 41 countries. Headquartered in Los Angeles, UMPG represents music across every genre from some of the world’s most important songwriters and catalogs. These include ABBA, Adele, Alabama Shakes, Alex Da Kid, Axwell & Ingrosso, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Bastille, Beach Boys, Beastie Boys, Bee Gees, Louis Bell, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Jeff Bhasker, Justin Bieber, Benny Blanco, Chris Brown, Tommy Brown, Mariah Carey, Brandi Carlile, Michael Chabon, Kenny Chesney, Desmond Child, The Clash, Coldplay, Luke Combs, DaBaby, Jason Derulo, Alexandre Desplat, Neil Diamond, Disclosure, Dua Lipa, Bob Dylan, Billie Eilish, Danny Elfman, Eminem, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Florence + the Machine, Future, Martin Garrix, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Al Green, Josh Groban, Halsey, Emile Haynie, Jimi Hendrix, Don Henley, H.E.R., Sam Hunt, Imagine Dragons, Carly Rae Jepsen, Tobias Jesso Jr., Billy Joel, Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Linkin Park, Logic, Demi Lovato, the Mamas & the Papas, Steve Mac, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews, Megan Thee Stallion, Shawn Mendes, Metallica, Metro Boomin, Julia Michaels, Miguel, Nicki Minaj, Maren Morris, Mumford & Sons, Nas, Randy Newman, New Order, Ne-Yo, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Quavo, Otis Redding, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rex Orange County, Rosalía, Carole Bayer Sager, Gustavo Santaolalla, Schoolboy Q, Sex Pistols, Carly Simon, Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen, Stax (East Memphis Music), Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, SZA, Shania Twain, Justin Timberlake, U2, Keith Urban, Jack White, Zedd and many more.

  9. Banijay Brands Strengthens Portfolio with Banijay Kids and Family

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    Banijay Brands today announces it has secured the brand licensing rights to the Banijay Kids and Family catalogue. The newly launched Banijay Kids and Family brand incorporates Zodiak Kids and Family (Totally Spies!, Lolirock, The Ranch, Yellow Yeti, Mumfie, Silverpoint), Monello Productions (Street Football, When I Was Your Age, Marblegen, Hello Kitty) and Tiger Aspect Kids and Family (Mr Bean, Charlie and Lola).

     

    Banijay Kids and Family is a global leader in childrens entertainment, producing a wide range of animation and live action series, digital content, and entertainment formats for children worldwide under three production labels: Zodiak Kids and Family, Monello Productions and Tiger Aspect Kids and Family. Banijay Brands already represents Tiger Aspect Kids and Family IP such as Mr Bean. The new partnership will enable the infant-skewing collective to further leverage the global infrastructure of Banijay Brands and deliver extensive brand licensing programmes for titles such as Street Football, Totally Spies!, Lolirock, Silverpoint, When I Was Your Age, Mister Maker and the upcoming The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti, and Mumfie.

     

    Banijay Brands will also work with local commercial teams to explore a number of regionally-led opportunities.

     

    Benoît Di Sabatino, CEO, Banijay Kids and Family, says: “It’s a big achievement for Banijay to announce at the same time the creation of our new brand Banijay Kids and Family and the launch of our licencing strategy with Banijay Brands. We are confident that our evergreen IPs as well as our creations will be in good hands with such a professional team like Banijay Brands.”

     

    Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing, Banijay Brands added: “Banijay Kids and Family has a strong and relatable kids content slate, which, when partnered with the experienced team at Banijay Brands, should trigger a lucrative position in the the childrens licensing space. Recognising the already huge interest from the market, we will be working across a number of categories including experiential, publishing, gaming and products to ensure the relevant and successful exploitation of the business’ IP moving forwards.”

     

    Mumfie is an upcoming new animated series of the heritage property (78 x 7’), directed by the French director Daniel Dubuis, is a co-production between Zodiak Kids Studio France and Italian animation studio Animoka alongside France Télévisions and Rai (Italy). Zodiak Kids recently announced it has secured a pre-sale from KiKA German.

    Street Football is the popular animated series combining the action of matches with insights into the hardships of life is co-produced by Zodiak Kids and Monello Productions for France 3 and Rai 2

    The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti is a co-production between Zodiak Kids Studio France, and Gigglebug Entertainment. An original animated comedy series for kids aged 6+ and their families, it has been co-commissioned by Disney Channel Europe, Middle East & Africa and Nordic broadcasters YLE, DR, NRK, and SVT.

    Silverpoint is a 13 x 22’ sci-fi mystery adventure series about kids at summer camp. Co-produced by Zodiak Kids, CBBC and ZDF Enterprises, the series is created by Lee Walters, Lead Writer, and Executive Producer Steven Andrew, Creative Director, Zodiak Kids.

    When I Was Your Age is produced for RAI and France Télévisions by Monello Productions. The animated series features 10-year-old Paul who he has a special gift – as soon as someone says “When I was your age”, Paul is thrown back into the days when the person he is talking to was 10 years old

    Mister Maker is the popular ultimate interactive arts and crafts show for younger kids. Broadcast in over 200 territories, the series is a Zodiak Kids Studios for CBeebies.

    Totally Spies! is the hit franchise that has been broadcasting for over 15 years, produced by Zodiak Kids for TF1 and Disney France.

    Lolirock is a Zodiak Kids production for Disney France and France Télévisions, featuring five princesses with magical singing voices that fight harm with crystal charm!

  10. Banijay Brands Announces MasterChef Condiments Range

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    Banijay Brands today announces a partnership with premium brand and food manufacturer, Baxters, to develop a range of branded products for the world’s most successful cookery format, MasterChef.

     

    The deal which covers the UK & Eire, the Nordics, Benelux, Germany, Czech Republic and Middle East, will offer a broad selection of high-quality MasterChef food products, available at retail later this year. The range includes marinades, dressings and modern table sauces.

     

    Partnering with previous MasterChef UK champions, Ping Coombes, Thomas Frake and Saliha Mahmood Ahmed, the MasterChef condiments range will feature these champions on the packaging. They will vouch for their ‘Champions Choice’ of products, and create bespoke recipes and tips on how to best use these.

     

    Grown over 150 years and four generations, Baxters is an iconic brand that sits on shelves around the world. The collaboration with Banijay Brands has produced an exciting array of products that stay true to the ethos of MasterChef, giving home cooks the ingredients to transform their dishes from ordinary to extraordinary.

     

    Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing at Banijay Brands, comments: “With food being such an integral element of MasterChef, it was extremely important for us to find the right partner; with the experience, retail presence, and most of all, passion, for the brand. We’ve found all of these elements in Baxters Food Group, and we are confident that together we will bring a product range to consumers that will surprise and delight everyone.”

     

    Matthew Bowler-Jones, European Sales Director at Baxters Food Group, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with Banijay Brands to launch this innovative new range of condiments. Combining both companies’ passion and strength in food and flavour is sure to be a recipe for success.”

     

    Created by Franc Roddam, MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format with 63 local adaptations, broadcast in over 200 countries and watched by more than 300 million people globally.MasterChef has a digital footprint of more than 34 million fans totalling in excess of 4 billion views across YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

     

    The MasterChef brand extends into huge range of commercial activities across consumer products, experiential, publishing, and digital.

     

    The MasterChef format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Banijay Rights.

  11. Banijay Strengthens Commercial with Launch of Banijay Brands

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    Banijay today announces the launch of Banijay Brands, a division dedicated to all areas of commercial activity.

     

    Led by newly-appointed Chief Commercial Officer, Owain Walbyoff, Banijay Brands will encompass brand licensing, merchandising, gaming, gambling and music. The operation will represent an extensive and diverse portfolio covering entertainment, scripted, animation, game shows and kids, which offer a wide range of commercial opportunities.

     

    Following the recent acquisition, Jane Smith, Group Director, Brand Licensing will lead the licensing area, overseeing key brands from the world’s largest international content catalogue, comprising of 88,000+ hours of original programming. She will also work with the network of teams in local markets to further expand the business.

     

    Smith joined Endemol Shine in 2018, where she has substantially driven the growth of properties such as MasterChef, Peaky Blinders and Simon’s Cat within licensing and merchandising.

     

    Banijay Brands will launch at next month’s Festival of Licensing with senior executives available for meetings at the virtual conference.

     

    Owain Walbyoff, Chief Commercial Officer at Banijay Brands comments;“Without a doubt we are a market leader in this space, and I look forward to seeing how we bolster the IP even further. Jane is a highly-experienced, strategic executive with vast industry knowledge, and with some of the world’s biggest brands in our portfolio, the possibilities are endless.”

     

    Jane Smith, Group Director, Brand Licensing of Banijay Brands comments;“Banijay Brands represents an incredibly compelling catalogue of globally-renowned, cross-genre brands, which we will be bringing to the Festival of Licensing. By partnering with the very best licensees in the business, we aim to create innovative and impressive products that our audiences and fans will love.”

     

    The Banijay Brands portfolio includes MasterChef, Temptation Island, Peaky Blinders, Survivor, Deal or No Deal, The Inbetweeners, Big Brother, Mister Maker, Operation Triunfo, Eat Well for Less, Simon’s Cat, Mr Bean, Don’t, Sunday Brunch, Tipping Point, The Biggest Loser, Ready Steady Cook, Black Mirror, Miss France, Maddie’s Do You Know?, Wipeout and Crystal Maze.

  12. Banijay Recruits Chief Commercial Officer

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    Banijay today announces the appointment of Owain Walbyoff as Chief Commercial Officer. Based in London, his newly devised role spans licensing, merchandising, gaming, gambling and music, and will commence on 1 September.

     

    Walbyoff has spent almost 20 years working across sales and management in the licensing, media and technology space. In his most recent role in thetechnology industry, he oversaw licensing, R&D partnerships, and marketing activity, working with brands like LVMH, and Formula 1.

     

    Elsewhere, in 2018, Walbyoff provided consultancy to ITV, helping with strategy and business development across its gaming, gambling, and app portfolio. He also worked with the licensing team there on its vast IP offering.  Prior to this, he was Managing Director for Endemol Shine Group’s global licensing business. There he took care of sales and operations for gaming, gambling, licensing and merchandising across its 20-country-strong footprint. Marrying TV sponsors to branded commercial products, he directed record multi-territory licensing deals for brands like Deal or No Deal.

     

    Reporting to Banijay’s COO, Peter Langenberg, Walbyoff will devise and execute the group’s overarching licensing strategy to drive market penetration and revenue growth. Tasked with maximising monetisation opportunities across the business’ extensive and high-profile IP portfolio, he will manage all teams across merchandising, brand licensing, gaming and gambling and music.

     

    Peter Langenberg comments: “Owain has an incredibly strong track-record in the commercial space. With a CV spanning multiple genres and industries, he brings a wealth of knowledge across all disciplines and, having inked a number of stand-out deals in his career, we have no doubt he will be invaluable in strengthening our IP monetisation efforts moving forwards. As we build one of the world’s largest content catalogues, we were after a strong entrepreneurial and commercial mind to lead in this area and in him, we have found just that.”

    Owain Walbyoff comments: “In some ways, it feels like a return and in others, a new, exciting adventure. With an abundance of world-renowned, commercially viable assets, a healthy pipeline of new IP and the most talented combined team, I feel privileged to be leading this department through its next phase. Historically, this portfolio has already performed incredibly, so let’s see where we can take it to next.”

     

    The Banijay portfolio which Walbyoff will now represent comprises Masterchef, Deal or No Deal, Peaky Blinders, Temptation Island, Survivor, Tipping Point, Big Brother, Operation Triunfo, Simon’s Cat, Mr Bean, The Biggest Loser, Ready Steady Cook, Black Mirror, Miss France, Eat Well for Less and Crystal Maze.