Banijay Group, known for hit shows, considers takeover bid for ITV studios

From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-28 09:56:00

Banijay Group, known for hit shows like MasterChef and Big Brother, is reportedly considering a takeover bid for ITV or its studio arm. ITV Studios is a major production company, creating content for various platforms. Talks are at an early stage, with no guarantee of a deal.

ITV’s profits soared last year, driven by record earnings at its production arm. However, traditional TV faces challenges with advertising and viewers moving to streaming services. Analysts doubt a full ITV takeover, suggesting a deal involving production assets outside the UK may be more likely.

Banijay Group, founded in 2008 and with a market cap of £3.1bn, seeks to reduce its reliance on non-scripted shows. In 2019, it acquired Endemol Shine Group, creating a major TV producer. Challenges in funding premium drama productions in the streaming era are discussed by Banijay UK’s executive chair.

ITV shares dropped 3% amid takeover speculation. Neither ITV, Banijay, nor RedBird IMI commented on the potential deal.

Read more: Producer of Peaky Blinders and Big Brother ‘drafts bid’ for ITV