Banijay, Proper link up for development

The distribution arm of France’s Banijay Group has signed a multi-year first-look development deal with UK prodco Proper Content.

David DeHaney

Banijay Rights signed the deal with the factual prodco to develop and produce series together for the UK and international markets, with Banijay shopping them globally.

David DeHaney launched Proper Content in 2016 and serves as its creative director, having previously worked for Love Productions, BBC, Nutopia, RDF, Darlow Smithson, Victory Television, Granada Television and Maverick, amongst others.

Proper Content specialises in factual entertainment and documentary programming. The first three titles to emerge from the development deal are Suicidal: In Our Own Words (1×90’) and How You Can Help Stop Suicide (1×30’), both airing on Channel 5 in the UK tonight, and The School That Tried To End Racism (working title, 2×60’) for Channel 4.

Suicidal: In Our Own Words is a feature-length documentary about male mental health and follows the experience of six suicidal men.

How You Can Help Stop Suicide is a one-off that offers support and advice to anyone struggling with their mental health or concerned about a loved one’s state of mind.

Finally, The School That Tried to End Racism will explore a ground-breaking school’s programme that tests for unconscious racial bias in an ordinary class of 11- to 12-year-olds.

Proper Content will also air titles on the BBC in the near future but they have not yet been revealed.

“We’re really looking forward to working with David and his team at Proper Content, with some truly great projects already under their belt,” said Adam Black, senior factual acquisitions executive at Banijay Rights.

“This new relationship with another exciting UK indie again highlights our ongoing strategy to build our portfolio of outstanding third-party production partners.”

The two companies were introduced through Proper Content’s participation in this year’s IndieLab accelerator programme.