Banijay UK folding North One into Optomen, restructuring Objective following All3Media merger
Banijay UK is restructuring production companies North One, Optomen and Objective Media Group as it integrates All3Media’s assets into the group.
The changes will bring North One under fellow unscripted specialist Optomen, while Objective Media Group (OMG) is being restructured in response to what Banijay UK called “market challenges.”
This comes as Banijay UK consolidates its position following parent company Banijay Entertainment’s mega-merger with All3Media, with both production and distribution groups having a major presence in the UK.
Travel Man producer North One, All3Media’s first acquisition in 2004, makes factual entertainment, sport and docs. It will now be a label managed within Optomen, which became part of All3Media in 2010.
Banijay UK said the focus and roles within the new structure will be announced in due course.
“With the market changing so significantly towards shows of scale and/or digital-first, I believe this restructuring will help North One to grow its slate,” said Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland.
“None of these changes are a reflection on the current teams and leadership, but market conditions and changing opportunities require us to look at different structures and reporting lines.”
OMG, meanwhile, will refocus on scripted comedy and drama, led by Ben Farrell, chief creative officer at Toast of London producer Objective Fiction. Farrell will continue to partner with writer Neil Forsyth and Objective Fiction’s sister label Tannadice Pictures, which has made Legends for Netflix and The Gold for the BBC.
Productions within the Objective Entertainment label, notably the reality, entertainment and quiz programmes, will be produced by genre specialists within the Banijay group.
The Only Way is Essex, Geordie Shore, Big John’s Bosh! Family and Celebs Go Dating will be produced by reality specialist Initial, maker of Big Brother. Picture Slam and Lingo will be produced by quiz and game specialist Remarkable Entertainment, maker of Pointless, Deal or No Deal and House of Games.
OMG label Coming Up Roses, focusing on lower-cost factual series and documentaries, will continue to be led by Oliver Wright as a label within Lion Television.
Holland said: “Objective Fiction and Tannadice Pictures have made some of the most distinctive, funny and grounded dramas of recent years and I am delighted that they will be driving forward this next chapter in Objective’s story.
“The decision to refocus on scripted drama and comedy will give the Objective brand a clear focus while seeing reality and quiz shows finding homes with similar genres in other group labels. While recognising the creative achievements of the team and leadership at Objective Entertainment, I believe this will be a much stronger proposition for the market.”
Banijay UK has also established Glasgow-based Banijay Scotland, which will become its Scottish production hub to back local talent and creativity.
An umbrella for existing labels Lion Television Scotland and IWC, and home for productions made in Scotland from the wider UK group, Banijay Scotland will be responsible for an extensive slate of titles.
This includes Homes Under the Hammer (Lion), Location, Location, Location (IWC), the recently rebooted Balamory (Lion), George Clarke’s Two Houses, One Home (IWC), RE/Style with Emma Willis (Lion), Operation Ouch! (OMG Scotland), Surgeons: At the Edge of Life (Dragonfly), Pointless and House of Games (Remarkable Entertainment).
Banijay Scotland will be tasked with creating a pipeline of new and returning IP from the country. Leadership roles for Banijay Scotland will be announced in due course, Banijay UK said.
Banijay UK’s Glasgow-based label The Comedy Unit, producer of comedy titles including The Chief, Scot Squad and the upcoming Rambling for BBC Scotland and iPlayer, will continue as a standalone label, working with the newly created Banijay Scotland and supported by Banijay central teams.
“This is a pivotal moment for indies based outside London, with the market demanding bigger titles that showcase talent and cultures across the UK for the broadest audiences,” Holland added.
“As the market moves away from smaller, local commissions, we want to supercharge Scottish production in the same way that Banijay has helped the Workerbee Group thrive out of the North West and Kudos Knight and MasterChef help transform the creative landscape in the West Midlands.
“With so many incredibly talented people in our Scottish businesses, bringing them together in this way will help to unlock more ambitious productions developed and made in Scotland.”
