Banijay US in rejig as Angel City closes

Banijay Group has restructured its US production arm following the departure of the co-founders of its formats outfit Angel City Factory (ACF), C21 can reveal.

Chris Cowan

ACF’s development slate of unscripted formats has transferred to Banijay’s other US prodco, Bunim/Murray, after the exit of ACF’s Chris Cowan and Jean-Michel Michenaud.

Banijay and Cowan mutually agreed to end the three-year venture some time ago and the latter has now joined US multimedia indie BermanBraun.

“We wish Chris all the best in his future endeavours,” said Banijay’s executive VP François de Brugada.

The company was unable to clarify the circumstances of Michenaud’s departure at the time of going to press.

ACF had no existing production agreements in place when it was dissolved but some ongoing negotiations have transferred to Bunim/Murray.

The company’s more recent commissions included lifestyle series Home Takeover with Simon & Tomas for US cablenet OWN, which was based on Strix’s format Home Delivery.

In related news, Bunim/Murray this month secured a second season of NBCUniversal-owned cablenet Oxygen’s tattoo competition series Best Ink,and is also producing a 10-part reality series about the female members of Clint Eastwood’s family for E!.

Banijay launched ACF in 2009 with Rocket Science Laboratories alumni Cowan and Michenaud – who are best known for producing popular reality series such Temptation Island, Joe Millionaire and My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé – as co-CEOs.

Banijay operates 11 companies in territories such as Germany, Spain, Scandinavia and its home country, France. Banijay International sells its content globally.

In his new role at BermanBraun, Cowan will oversee its unscripted television and digital video development and production activities, including in-house content for its premium YouTube channels.

He has an existing working relationship with BermanBraun founding partners Gail Berman and Lloyd Berman, who said: “Chris is one of the best storytellers and producers we have ever worked with.”

“After nearly 20 years of running my own company, it was going to take a pretty unique opportunity for me to join someone else’s team and this was it,” Cowan said in a statement.