Banijay France Merges Scripted Operations for Enhanced Creativity
In a significant strategic move, Banijay France, part of the global independent television powerhouse Banijay, has announced the consolidation of its scripted operations. This merger combines Banijay Studios France with Shine Fiction, as revealed at the Series Mania event in Lille. The newly unified entity will operate under the Shine Fiction brand, headed by chairman Dominique Farrugia and chief operating officer Guillaume Thouret.
Focus on Premium Scripted Content
The newly established label aims to prioritize high-quality scripted series tailored for both local linear broadcasters and international streaming services. This focus aims to elevate the standard of storytelling and production in the French television landscape.
Key Titles and Upcoming Productions
With this merger, the newly formed entity will manage a portfolio of acclaimed projects. Flagship titles include Marie Antoinette, which has been successfully sold in over 140 markets through Banijay Rights and recently premiered its second season on Canal+. Additionally, the label is working on Apple TV+’s French-language culinary drama Carême, alongside other exciting upcoming productions such as:
- The Family Detective (TF1): A comedic crime series.
- Rien ne t’efface (TF1): A gripping thriller.
- Désenchantées (France TV): A coming-of-age drama.
Leadership Vision and Industry Impact
Banijay France’s CEO, Alexia Laroche-Joubert, expressed optimism about the merger, stating, “By proactively bringing together these two renowned labels under the Shine Fiction banner, we will unlock an entirely new level of creative and production expertise for our scripted business in France.” She further emphasized the commitment to enhancing their scripted offerings, asserting that with Dominique and Guillaume in leadership roles, Banijay France is well-positioned to deliver remarkable storytelling experiences to audiences both domestically and internationally.
Expanding the Scripted Content Portfolio
In addition to existing titles, Banijay France is expanding its scripted content roster with forthcoming projects such as Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight, created by Montmartre Film for Netflix. Another notable production is Montmartre, a collaboration between Authentic Productions and TF1.
Showcasing Major Titles at Series Mania
As a prominent player in the European scripted studio landscape, Banijay Entertainment continues to cultivate a vibrant array of new and returning series. Notable upcoming titles include:
- House of Guinness (Kudos/Netflix)
- The World According to Lidea Poët (Groenlandia/Netflix)
- Elixe (Topkapi/New 8)
- Rogue Heroes (Kudos/BBC One)
- Fallen (Filmlance/TV4)
- Bergerac (Blacklight TV for U and U&Drama)
- Culpa Tuya (Pokeepsie/Prime Video)
At Series Mania, audiences can look forward to the world premiere of Carême, along with festival debuts of A Life’s Worth (Yellowbird/Jarowskij/Viaplay/Arte) and Weiss & Morales (Portocabo/RTVE/ZD).