The entertainment industry has a new giant. Banijay Entertainment and All3Media officially completed their $8 billion merger on Thursday, creating one of the world's largest independent production companies and establishing London as the global headquarters for a content empire spanning 25 countries.

A New Force in Global Entertainment

The combined company controls more than 265,000 hours of content, including some of the most recognizable franchises in television: MasterChef, Big Brother, Peaky Blinders, The Traitors, Survivor, and dozens more. The newly formed Banijay Entertainment will operate as a 50-50 joint venture between Banijay Group and RedBird IMI, with Banijay Group founder and CEO Marco Bassetti leading as chief executive.

Former CNN president Jeff Zucker, who serves as chief executive of RedBird IMI, will take the role of chairman. Jane Turton, the departing CEO of All3Media, becomes deputy CEO of the combined entity. All three executives will be based in London.

The RedBird IMI Connection

RedBird IMI, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based International Media Investments and New York-based RedBird Capital Partners, has been on an acquisition tear since its formation in 2023. The firm holds stakes in the Telegraph Media Group and various sports properties, but this merger represents its largest entertainment play to date.

"The completion of this merger marks a new era in global entertainment and creates a new independent leader in that category," Zucker said in a statement. "This also marks a milestone for RedBird IMI, in only its third year, to play such a leading role on the global entertainment stage."

Scale in a Streaming World

The merger comes at a pivotal moment for content producers. As streaming giants Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and others compete fiercely for subscribers, the demand for premium content has never been higher—but neither has the pressure on producers to deliver it efficiently and at scale.

By combining Banijay's international footprint with All3Media's strength in English-language markets, particularly the UK and US, the merged company positions itself as a one-stop shop for global content buyers. The deal gives Banijay Entertainment enhanced leverage in negotiations with the streaming platforms that have come to dominate the industry.

A Decentralized Model

Unlike traditional media conglomerates that consolidate operations under a single corporate structure, Banijay Entertainment will continue to operate with what executives call a "decentralized country CEO-driven model." This approach allows individual production companies within the portfolio to maintain their creative identities while benefiting from shared infrastructure, distribution capabilities, and negotiating power.

The company's production labels span drama, comedy, factual entertainment, game shows, and reality television. Notable properties include French productions under Banijay France, British hits from studios like Lime Pictures and Studio Lambert, and American productions across multiple genres.

What Comes Next

For the global entertainment industry, the merger signals continued consolidation among independent producers seeking to compete with studio-backed content arms. Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global, and other legacy media companies have their own production divisions, while streamers increasingly invest in original content.

Banijay Entertainment's scale—now among the largest independent producers globally—gives it the firepower to compete for top creative talent, secure favorable licensing deals, and potentially pursue additional acquisitions. The company has indicated no immediate plans for additional deals, but in an industry where scale increasingly determines survival, further consolidation seems inevitable.

The merger closed on July 9, 2026, after receiving regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions. Trading of Banijay Group shares on the Euronext Paris exchange will now reflect the expanded business profile.