Banijay UK Productions

Banijay UK Productions Limited,[1][2] trading as Banijay UK, is a British production company. Since 2020, the company has been a subsidiary of Banijay Entertainment. Banijay UK incorporates a number of production brands, including Artists Studio, Darlow Smithson Productions, House of Tomorrow, Initial, Remarkable Entertainment (previously Brighter Pictures and Cheetah Television), Tiger Aspect, Tigress Productions, Zeppotron, and their digital divisions: Endemol Games[3] and Endemol Digital Studio.

Banijay UK Productions Limited
Banijay UK
Formerly
  • Edenspring Limited (Jan–Mar 1983)
  • Edenspring Investments Public Limited Company (1983–1987)
  • Broadcast Communications PLC (1987–1998)
  • GMG Endemol Entertainment PLC (1998–2000)
  • Endemol Entertainment UK PLC (2000–2002)
  • Endemol UK PLC (2002–2011)
  • Endemol UK Limited (2011–2018)
  • Endemol Shine UK Limited (2018–2023)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelevision production
Founded19 January 1983; 41 years ago (1983-01-19)
Founders
HeadquartersShepherd's Bush,
London
,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Number of employees
800
Parent
Divisions
Websitebanijayuk.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

After entering a joint venture with 21st Century Fox, additional companies under the new Endemol Shine UK umbrella include Dragonfly, Kudos, and Princess Productions (now defunct). The various television production brands specialize in a broad range of genres including entertainment, reality series, drama series, specialist factual, arts, live events, music entertainment, documentaries, youth shows, and comedy.[4]

In the United Kingdom, Banijay UK is mostly known for producing Big Brother from 2000 onward and also Celebrity Big Brother from 2001 onward.

History

The UK branch of Endemol originated from Peter Bazalgette's sale of his television company Bazal to the Guardian Media Group (GMG) in 1990. In September 1998, Endemol acquired a 50% stake and the division was named GMG Endemol. Endemol bought the company outright from GMG in August 2000.[5]

In April 2000, GMG Endemol Entertainment announced that they've acquired a 50% majority stake in interactive TV digital company Victoria Real.[6]

Since 2000, a series of corporate owners and public stock transactions has culminated in the joint venture of 2014 with 21st Century Fox's Shine Group to form the rebranded Endemol Shine UK, effective January 2015.[7][8]

In 2001, Endemol UK announced that they've acquired London-based television production company Brighter Pictures.[9]

In November 2009, Endemol UK announced that they extended their operations by acquiring three production companies Tiger Aspect Productions, Tigress Productions and Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP) from American-based global sports and fashion media company IMG.[10]

On July 28 2014, Endemol UK and their European-based television production and distribution company Endemol had announced that they launched a new production label with Charlie Brooker named House of Tomorrow.

On December 4 2015, Endemol Shine UK announced that they launched a new production company unit dedicated to food, factual and lifestyle formats named Sidney Street.[11]

In January 2016, Endemol Shine UK announced that they had acquired the short-form and branded content production house Electric Robin and the digital talent management firm OP Talent.[12]

On 30 June 2020, the European Commission approved Banijay's purchase of Endemol Shine UK's parent company Endemol Shine Group.[13] The purchase was completed on 3 July.[14] Endemol Shine UK retained its name until March 2023, when it rebranded under the Banijay name.

On 1 January 2024, Banijay UK announced that RDF Television, RDF West and Fizz would be absorbed into the company, with RDF shows such as Tipping Point and Dickinson's Real Deal being made by Banijay instead.[15]

On 6 June 2024, Banijay UK acquired Caryn Mandabach Productions (CMP) and renamed it Garrison Drama Limited. Caryn Mandabach, who had produced shows in the United Kingdom under the Caryn Mandabach Productions banner, will now produce shows under the Conduit Productions banner, with a first-look deal with Banijay.[16]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominee(s)Result
2017Diversity in Media AwardsTV Moment of the YearBlack MirrorSan JuniperoNominated
Diversity in Media AwardsProduction Company of the YearTiger Aspect ProductionsNominated

References