Banijay Group and All3Media in Advanced Merger Talks to Create European TV Production Giant

French media production company Banijay Group, widely known for owning the Big Brother franchise, is reportedly in advanced talks with RedBird IMI, owner of All3Media, to merge their television production businesses. The potential consolidation represents the latest move in the legacy television industry as producers seek greater scale and broader content libraries to compete with streaming giants.

Merger Details and Strategic Focus

The discussions between the two companies center on combining Banijay's Entertainment & Live unit with All3Media, according to sources familiar with the matter. Banijay's portfolio includes popular franchises such as MasterChef, while All3Media produces hit series including The Traitors.

If finalized, the merger would create one of Europe's largest production groups, bringing together a vast and diverse slate of popular programming across multiple genres and formats.

Financial Scale and Market Position

The financial scope of the potential deal demonstrates the significant scale both companies aim to achieve in the competitive media landscape.

The potential deal would likely include All3Media and owner RedBird IMI injecting funds into the combined entity, as they represent the smaller of the two sides in the merger discussions.

Industry Context and Competition

Both companies have actively sought potential partnerships with other producers in recent years, as legacy television and film production firms aim to build scale and power against the growing dominance of streaming platforms. The consolidation trend reflects the industry's response to competition from Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime Video.

The talks began toward the end of last year after Amsterdam-listed Banijay dropped its pursuit of Britain's ITV Studios. Sources indicate the discussions have now reached an advanced stage, though no agreement has been finalized and there remains no certainty that a deal will ultimately be completed.

Previous Negotiations and Ownership Structure

Banijay had previously explored making a binding offer to acquire All3Media in 2023 from its then joint owners, Liberty Global and Warner Bros Discovery. RedBird IMI, led by former CNN executive Jeff Zucker and backed by Emirati royal Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, acquired All3Media for £1.15 billion in 2024.

Both All3Media and Banijay have also held discussions regarding combinations with ITV's studio business. ITV has since initiated talks to sell its broadcast division to Comcast-owned Sky, a deal that would potentially leave a standalone ITV Studios unit if agreed upon.