Banijay and All3Media Merger: A New Era in Global Entertainment

The merger between Banijay Entertainment and All3Media, announced in early 2026, is set to create one of the world's largest independent television production groups. This strategic alliance is expected to close by fall 2026 and will combine the strengths of both companies, resulting in a content catalogue exceeding 260,000 hours across various genres. The new entity will be jointly owned by Banijay Group and RedBird IMI, each holding a 50% stake.

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Marco Bassetti, CEO of Banijay Entertainment, described the merger as a "monumental week" for the company, emphasizing the need for scale in a consolidating market. In 2025, Banijay reported revenues of €4.88 billion ($5.65 billion), a 3.4% increase from the previous year, despite a decline in production and distribution revenues. The merger aims to enhance Banijay's ability to attract talent, monetize intellectual property (IP), and invest in new technologies.

Deadline HollywoodVariety MagazineBanijay emphasises English-language ‘value’ in All3 dealThe Wrap

François Riahi, CEO of Banijay Group, highlighted that the merger would broaden geographical diversity and strengthen the company's position in English-speaking markets, particularly the UK and US. Approximately 79% of All3Media's production revenues come from English-language content, which is increasingly valuable to global streaming platforms.

Banijay emphasises English-language ‘value’ in All3 dealAnalysts say Banijay All3 merger is "bang on trend"

The leadership structure of the new entity will see Marco Bassetti as CEO and Jane Turton, currently CEO of All3Media, as Deputy CEO. Jeff Zucker, CEO of RedBird IMI, will serve as Chairman of the Board. This leadership team is expected to leverage their combined experience to navigate the evolving media landscape.

Analysts say Banijay All3 merger is "bang on trend"

Analysts suggest that the merger reflects broader trends in the media and entertainment industry, where consolidation is becoming essential for survival amid a challenging advertising market and the rise of user-generated content. The combined entity will be better positioned to negotiate with global streaming platforms and capitalize on the growing demand for English-language programming.

Analysts say Banijay All3 merger is "bang on trend"

Guy Bisson, Executive Director of Ampere Analysis, noted that the merger is a strategic response to the industry's need for scale and reach, allowing the new group to compete effectively in a rapidly changing environment.

Analysts say Banijay All3 merger is "bang on trend"

Despite the optimistic outlook, there are concerns regarding the potential impact of the merger on creative autonomy within the combined entity. Bassetti has assured stakeholders that there are "no plans" to close any labels or reduce creative output, emphasizing the importance of maintaining independent talent to foster innovation.

Banijay-All3: Marco Bassetti lays out mega-merger strategy

As the merger progresses towards completion, Banijay and All3Media will focus on integrating their operations while exploring further growth opportunities in direct-to-consumer markets and live events. The anticipated cost synergies of approximately €50 million within the first year post-merger will be aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and expanding their digital footprint.

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• “In a consolidating market, scale matters, and the new combination will only enhance our ability to attract and retain great talent, monetise our IP via digital and live, and increase our investment in creativity and new technologies.” — Marco Bassetti, CEO of Banijay Entertainment

Deadline Hollywood

• “The combination of IP, production scale and distribution power positions the group to fully exploit its catalogue, accelerate franchise revenues and drive structurally higher monetisation,” — François Riahi, CEO of Banijay Group

Banijay emphasises English-language ‘value’ in All3 deal

• “We will never touch something from the creative part of the business. Why would we do this? It would be stupid to buy a creative content and cut costs [there],” — Marco Bassetti, CEO of Banijay Entertainment

Banijay-All3: Marco Bassetti lays out mega-merger strategy

This merger represents a significant shift in the global media landscape, with Banijay and All3Media poised to redefine their roles in an increasingly competitive industry.

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