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: Robin Pollok

  1. Banijay Rights Strikes Double Big Brother Return in Nigeria

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    Banijay Rights today announces the return of Big Brother to M-NET in Nigeria following a two-season renewal by the network.

    Produced by Red Pepper Pictures, the eighth season of Big Brother Nigeria is set to launch later this month on MultiChoice-owned M-NET. The deal marks M-NET’s first ever two-season acquisition of Big Brother, with the ninth season set to broadcast in 2024.

    Robin Pollok, VP Sales, Africa, Middle East, Greece & Israel, Banijay Rights, who brokered the agreement with M-NET, said: “After the recent finale of Big Brother Titans, which notably featured contestants from both South Africa and Nigeria, this follows on as a fantastic double pick-up from M-NET. Big Brother is a show that’s consistently generated incredible ratings and entertainment value and we’re delighted to be working once again with our Nigerian broadcast and production partners.”

    Nomsa Philiso, CEO, General Entertainment, M-Net Channels, added: “Big Brother has earned the right to be called the most watched, and followed, show across Africa. For us at MultiChoice, it aligns with our commitment to delight and entertain our viewers across the continent. This two-year partnership with Banijay ensures continuity and an uninterrupted delivery of Big Brother, which fans and our viewers are always eager to tune in to watch.”

    To date, Banijay format Big Brother has had 66 adaptations, broadcast across 72 countries, with over 520 seasons and 35,000 episodes. 2022 marked the most successful year ever global with 33 productions airing across 26 markets.

    Big Brother Nigeria hand-picks a group of strangers from all walks of life, sequesters them from the outside world, and places them inside a house outfitted wall-to-wall with cameras and microphones that capture their every move. Competing for a grand cash prize, each week the houseguests battle in a series of challenges, voting each other out until the fate of the final two are decided by a jury of fellow houseguests.

  2. Banijay’s The Bridge Crosses Over to South Africa with KykNET

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    Media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay today announces a new adaptation of cinematic and authentic reality competition format, The Bridge, for KykNET in South Africa. A deal with Banijay Rights will see the series  produced locally by Red Pepper Pictures and marks the 11th adaptation of the hit show.

    The Bridge sees strangers join forces in a remote wild location to complete an epic challenge that will test their physical strength and mental ability. Contestants must work together to build an enormous bridge to an island, in order to get their hands on the cash prize at stake. However, just one contestant will walk away with the prize, and must decide whether to share it or walk away with everything…

    The Bridge is an original Banijay format, created by Zeppelin (Banijay Iberia), and has launched in Australia, Brazil and the UK, where it returned with a second season in 2022 and was number one in the slot for younger viewers, increasing the usual slot norm significantly. The new South African iteration follows the four new adaptations of The Bridge which aired on Prime Video in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland last year, with a version for HBO Max in Hungary launching this year

    The agreement was brokered by Robin Pollok, VP Sales Africa, Middle East, Greece & Israel, Banijay Rights, who said: “The Bridge delivers a high-stakes reality competition packed with gripping challenges, in a breathtaking location that has proven to be popular with audiences around the world. We are excited to watch this incredible show travel to new horizons and license a format with KykNet for the first time. We are certain that viewers in South Africa will be equally captivated when it makes its debut.”

  3. Banijay Rights Gets Greek Format Deals

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    Banijay Rights today announces new adaptations for two of its leading entertainment programmes with broadcasters in Greece, as NATPE Budapest International gets under way.

    Commercial network Alpha TV has commissioned Barking Well Media to produce a first season of entertainment hit All Together Now to premiere later this year.

    The deal follows the launch of hit Australian format The Hundred, which recently had its first international adaptation on Star Channel in Greece, capturing a first-episode audience share of 16%. The series is produced locally by Green Pixel.

    Both agreements were negotiated by Robin Pollok, VP Sales, Africa, Middle East, Greece & Israel, Banijay Rights, who said: “Greece has long been fertile ground for entertainment programming so it’s thrilling to secure these landmark deals with the nation’s leading broadcasters ahead of NATPE Budapest International. From a fresh take on a traditional talent competition to an innovative entertainment show, we’re looking forward to working closely with our partners in Greece in the coming months.”

    Originally created by Banijay UK-owned Remarkable TV for BBC1 in the UK and now selling to over 18 markets, All Together Now sees a range of talented vocalists – solos and groups – perform in front of ‘The 100’, an audience of great singers with big voices and even bigger opinions.

    If any of ‘The 100’ like what they hear, they can stand up, join in and sing along. The greater the number that participate, the higher the act’s score. At the end of the series, one act will walk away with a major cash prize. The question is, who can get ‘The 100’ on their feet and singing along?

    The Hundred, which aired its second season on Nine Network in Australia in February, was originally created by Screentime Australia/Endemol Shine Australia and aims to find out who Australians really are. Featuring 100 everyday Australians from all over the country who are handpicked to represent their nation, ‘The Hundred’ is standing by to be polled live and give us the stories behind the stat. Each week, comedians and celebrities battle it out to prove who really knows Australia best, challenging ‘The Hundred’ and unpacking the facts along the way.

  4. Banijay Rights rekindles MasterChef South Africa

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    Banijay Rights today confirms the return of global cookery hit, MasterChef, to M-Net in South Africa following a seven-year hiatus.

     

    Produced by Homebrew Films, MasterChef South Africa has started casting for a new season that will launch on M-Net in February 2022, having last aired on the channel in 2015.

     

    MasterChef South Africa returns to inspire and shape the next generation of food stars. Season four will be filmed at the foot of Table Mountain, in a dynamic new location that celebrates both the heritage and the most innovative of South Africa’s diverse culinary offering. Here, 20 amateur cooks will be pushed beyond the boundaries of their skill set in a transformative journey, encouraged and guided by three accomplished judges and guest chefs that have all left their mark on the culinary landscape of this unique country at the tip of the African continent.

     

    Robin Pollok, VP Sales, Africa, Middle East, Greece & Israel, Banijay Rights, said: “It will be seven years off air by the time MasterChef South Africa season four airs next February, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with M-Net and Homebrew Films to bring this global phenomenon back to South African audiences. This is yet another example of the ever-lasting appeal of the MasterChef format that continues to deliver creativity and culinary excellence to viewers worldwide.”

     

    Jan du Plessis, Director of M-Net Channels, said: “Within the current landscape of the COVID-19 virus, we wanted to give our audience something familiar and comforting that felt like home. MasterChef SA was the perfect choice as both the local and International versions have proven that the format is a firm favourite with our viewers. It’s heart-warming and welcoming content.”

     

    MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format, produced across 64 markets. The life-changing show has broadcast more than 10,000 episodes to-date and recently aired its milestone 500th season globally since its reboot in 2005. Created by Franc Roddam, the show is a super brand known and enjoyed around the world.

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

    The recommission of MasterChef South Africa comes off the back of another cookery re-boot, with My Kitchen Rules South Africa returning for a third season in September 2021 after three years off air.

  5. Banijay Rights sets new EMEA sales structure

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    Banijay Rights today confirms its new sales structure in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

     

    The revised team follows the recent promotion of Claire Jago to EVP, EMEA Sales and Sales and Acquisitions – a role that sees her take responsibly for all Banijay Rights sales activity in the region, representing its 100,000+hour-strong catalogue.

     

    Elliott Chalkley assumes Jago’s previous role of SVP Nordics, while Marion Vergnaud has been promoted to SVP Italy Iberia & Malta – Chalkley’s former position that now comprises the additional territory of Malta.

     

    Vergnaud’s previous role of VP Greece, Turkey & Baltics has been divided among three sales executives, who all take on new territories in addition to their current responsibilities. Veronique Verges is confirmed as SVP German Territories, Poland, Hungary & Romania while Robin Pollok is VP Middle East, Africa, Israel, Greece & Cyprus and Moscow-based Alexander Rubanov is VP Russia, CIS, Ukraine, Baltics & Turkey.

     

    The remainder of the EMEA sales business will continue to be covered by Chris Stewart (SVP UK & Ireland), Alex Le Merle (SVP Benelux), Isabelle Queme (SVP French-Speaking EMEA) and Samia Moktar (VP CEE & Airlines).

     

    Meanwhile, Andrew Dickens joins Banijay Rights as VP, Press, and will take responsibility for the division’s press strategy. Dickens joins from TV industry PR consultancy Boom! PR, where he was Account Director. He previously held Senior Press Officer roles at the UK Government and prior to this, was Chief Reporter at TV industry publication C21 Media.

     

    Spearheaded by CEO Cathy Payne, Banijay Rights commands a catalogue of more than 100,000 hours, comprising some of the biggest brands on the planet, such as Survivor, MasterChef, Temptation Island, Mr Bean and Grantchester.