Banijay UK Productions Limited,[1][2]trading asBanijay 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.
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]
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 had 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.
In May 2014, Endemol UK and their parent company Endemol along with its owner Apollo Global Management announced that they're intending to merge Endemol UK's Dutch-based global entertainment production, distribution and parent company Endemol with 21st Century Fox's British-based global production and distribution company Shine Group and Apollo's CORE Media Group to create one global production and distribution company under one group with Endemol's own UK companies will combine with Shine Group's UK production labels.[11][12]
Five months later in October of that same year, Endemol UK's owner Apollo announced that they've finalized an agreement with 21st Century Fox to merge Endemol UK's Dutch-based global entertainment production, distribution and parent company Endemol with British entertainment production and distribution company Shine Group to create a global production and distribution company with Endemol UK being part of the merged company.[13][14][15]
In March 2015 after the completion of the merger between Endemol and Shine Group to form Endemol Shine Group, Endemol Shine UK and their parent company Endemol Shine Group announced that they launched its first scripted production label after the merger named Bandit Television.[16]
In August 2015, Endemol Shine UK had announced that they had brought a controlling stake in London-based animation production outfit Simon's Cat Ltd with the animation company being fully interrogated into their Endemol Beyond division.[17]
On December 4 2015, Endemol Shine UK announced that they launched a new production company unit dedicated to food, factual and lifestyle formats with creative director of Masterchef UK Karen Ross named Sidney Street.[18]
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.[19]
In May 2017, Endemol Shine UK and their parent company Endemol Shine Group had announced that they're shutting down their production label Princess Productions at the end of 2017 after 20 years with its shows such as Sunday Brunch will move to other Endemol Shine labels.[20]
In July 2017, Endemol Shine UK announced that they've striked a deal with Sharp Jack Media founders and former ITV Studios creative executives Elliot Johnson and Amanda Wilson by launching a new London-based entertainment and factual production company named Sharp Jack TV and placing it as their label with their founders becoming joint MDs along with Sharp Jack Media's existing IP and developments becoming part of the group.[21]
On 30 June 2020, the European Commission approved Banijay's purchase of Endemol Shine UK's parent company Endemol Shine Group.[22] The purchase was completed on 3 July.[23] 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 being made by Remarkable Entertainment instead.[24]
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.[25]
