Banijay acquires Bunim-Murray

Banijay Entertainment is continuing its rapid expansion with the acquisition of US indie producer Bunim-Murray Productions.

This follows Banijay’s move into the United States last year with the launch of Angel City Factory, a production company run by Temptation Island creators Chris Cowan and Jean-Michel Michenaud.

Bunim-Murray Productions, which specialises in producing reality shows including long running MTV hit The Real World, will continue to operate under the same moniker and founder Jonathan Murray and president Gil Goldschein will stay with the company.

Founded by former Endemol France boss Stéphane Courbit, France-based Banijay has expanded rapidly since its inception. It bought a 50% stake in German producer Brainpoool TV, which makes the German entertainment show Beat Your Host, last year, as well as Nordic super-indie Nordisk Film TV.

It had already bought into several production companies in France and taken a majority stake in Spanish producer Cuarzo and Russia’s Intelegencia.