Super indie production company Banijay has unveiled a push into “sportainment” with the launch of a new sports division.
Banijay Sports will focus on entertainment, documentary and digital content with a sports angle as well as pursuing new partnerships, content investment and M&a in the field.
The new division will not pursue broadcast or streaming rights.
Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti revealed plans for the new division at U.K. TV conference Content London on Tuesday afternoon.
The official push into sports will build on Banijay’s existing content, which includes a number of documentaries from Banijay-owned Workerbee such as “That Peter Crouch Film,” about U.K. soccer star Crouch is available on Amazon Prime Video, “Tyson Bruno,” made in association with Sky Studios for Sky, charts the rivalry between boxing legends Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno while “Human Playground,” which is narrated by Idris Elba, was produced by Scenery and Workerbee for Netflix.
Banijay Sports will focus on entertainment, documentary and digital content with a sports angle as well as pursuing new partnerships, content investment and M&a in the field.
The new division will not pursue broadcast or streaming rights.
Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti revealed plans for the new division at U.K. TV conference Content London on Tuesday afternoon.
The official push into sports will build on Banijay’s existing content, which includes a number of documentaries from Banijay-owned Workerbee such as “That Peter Crouch Film,” about U.K. soccer star Crouch is available on Amazon Prime Video, “Tyson Bruno,” made in association with Sky Studios for Sky, charts the rivalry between boxing legends Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno while “Human Playground,” which is narrated by Idris Elba, was produced by Scenery and Workerbee for Netflix.
- 11/28/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Banijay is pushing into the sports game, while CEO Marco Bassetti has criticized private equity firms for “raising expectation into the market.”
Bassetti announced at Content London this afternoon that the Big Brother powerhouse will broaden efforts in sports partnerships, content investments and M&a. It will focus on docs, digital and “sportainment” via the Banijay Sports division, while not venturing into broadcast and streaming rights.
Bassetti pointed to the likes of Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV+’s recent move into sports shows. “They don’t just want [sports] matches they need to do more,” he added. “Leagues and tournaments need a lot of content but we are also thinking about the guys who buy the shows.”
Bassetti said the move represents his desire to transform Banijay from production companies to a “media powerhouse” and the “biggest European studio.”
“That means we have to diversify but also expand our business,” he added.
Bassetti announced at Content London this afternoon that the Big Brother powerhouse will broaden efforts in sports partnerships, content investments and M&a. It will focus on docs, digital and “sportainment” via the Banijay Sports division, while not venturing into broadcast and streaming rights.
Bassetti pointed to the likes of Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV+’s recent move into sports shows. “They don’t just want [sports] matches they need to do more,” he added. “Leagues and tournaments need a lot of content but we are also thinking about the guys who buy the shows.”
Bassetti said the move represents his desire to transform Banijay from production companies to a “media powerhouse” and the “biggest European studio.”
“That means we have to diversify but also expand our business,” he added.
- 11/28/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
U.K. pay-tv operator Sky has ordered a slate of nine original documentaries and factual shows ahead of the launch of its new factual channels Sky Documentaries and Sky Nature on May 27.
The feature-length documentaries and series include biographies of Stephen Hawking, which had extensive access to his friends and family, and Tina Turner, with exclusive access to the star herself, alongside a look at Hollywood star Steve McQueen. Two sports documentaries include “The United Way” about Manchester United, led by soccer player Eric Cantona, and “Tyson Bruno,” a feature-length film charting the highs and lows of two of boxing’s best-known fighters.
“Lancaster” tells the story of the Lancaster Bomber, synonymous with epic film “The Dam Busters,” and the servicemen who flew them. From the world of music there is “The Go-Go’s,” which looks at the pioneering female punk band, and “Look Away,” a documentary that looks at the dark side of rock,...
The feature-length documentaries and series include biographies of Stephen Hawking, which had extensive access to his friends and family, and Tina Turner, with exclusive access to the star herself, alongside a look at Hollywood star Steve McQueen. Two sports documentaries include “The United Way” about Manchester United, led by soccer player Eric Cantona, and “Tyson Bruno,” a feature-length film charting the highs and lows of two of boxing’s best-known fighters.
“Lancaster” tells the story of the Lancaster Bomber, synonymous with epic film “The Dam Busters,” and the servicemen who flew them. From the world of music there is “The Go-Go’s,” which looks at the pioneering female punk band, and “Look Away,” a documentary that looks at the dark side of rock,...
- 5/21/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Sky has unveiled a slate of nine documentaries that will populate the Comcast-owned broadcaster’s new UK channels: Sky Documentaries and Sky Nature.
The channels launch on May 27 and will be the beneficiaries of a £30M ($37M) a year factual content funding boost that has now converted into commissions on Professor Stephen Hawking, Mike Tyson, Steve McQueen and Manchester United.
Below is the slate in full:
Hawking (Sky Documentaries)
BAFTA-winning Atlantic Productions will open up Hawking’s private family archive to reveal the late professor’s human side in a 90-minute documentary. It is made in association with Sky Studios.
Tyson Bruno (Sky Documentaries)
Endemol Shine UK’s Workerbee, in association with Sky Studios, will chart the rivalry between Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno, as well as reuniting the boxers.
McQueen: The Lost Movie (Sky Documentaries)
The 90-minute documentary tells the story of a movie McQueen started production on in the mid-1960s,...
The channels launch on May 27 and will be the beneficiaries of a £30M ($37M) a year factual content funding boost that has now converted into commissions on Professor Stephen Hawking, Mike Tyson, Steve McQueen and Manchester United.
Below is the slate in full:
Hawking (Sky Documentaries)
BAFTA-winning Atlantic Productions will open up Hawking’s private family archive to reveal the late professor’s human side in a 90-minute documentary. It is made in association with Sky Studios.
Tyson Bruno (Sky Documentaries)
Endemol Shine UK’s Workerbee, in association with Sky Studios, will chart the rivalry between Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno, as well as reuniting the boxers.
McQueen: The Lost Movie (Sky Documentaries)
The 90-minute documentary tells the story of a movie McQueen started production on in the mid-1960s,...
- 5/21/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
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