Banijay restructures in Asia & takes full control of Endemol Shine India

Ranveer Vs Wild With Bear Grylls

Banijay has taken full control of Endemol Shine India and is to combine it with Banijay Asia to create a new regional division that will be led by Deepak Dhar.

As part of the reorganisation, the French giant has acquired the 49% stake held in Endemol Shine India by Mumbai-based CA Media (financial details undisclosed), with execs to be appointed across the regional group to deliver “greater synergies”.

Dhar is a former CEO of Endemol Shine India, holding the role from 2005 to 2018. He subsequently launched Banijay Asia as a joint venture with the French group, while Abhishek Rege took control of Endemol Shine India.

Deepak Dhar

Rege, who had been with the company for 15 years, exited last year and was replaced as CEO by Rishi Negi, a former COO at Banijay Asia. His next role is not yet known but TBI understands he will remain with the group.

Banijay Asia ‘ boldest move yet’

Dhar now becomes founder & group CEO for Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, with a focus on leading the wider group’s content strategies, partnerships, new business and alliances.

He is set to “finesse the structure” of Banijay in Asia over the coming weeks, with group-wide roles and creative positions within the respective production labels set to be unveiled.

“The reorganisation of Banijay in Asia is our biggest and boldest move yet and aligns with our ambition to drive further growth in India and Asia at-large,” Dhar said.

“Leveraging the creative potential and possibilities of both brands, we will now strategically pursue complimentary yet independent creative portfolios to offer the most diverse, and compelling cross-genre content from all across the globe, to our Indian and Asian platforms and screens.”

Marco Bassetti, Banijay CEO, added that the move would create a “new phase” for the business in which the focus would be on “unlocking and aligning other strategic growth avenues to put Banijay in a dominating position, both in India, as well as Asia.”

Banijay Asia’s slate includes scripted adaptations of shows including The Night Manager, Call My Agent Bollywood and Hostages, as well as originals such as Dahan, Matsya Kaand and Undekhi.

It also has local remakes of shows such as The Good Wife, House and Suits on the slate, while on the unscripted front, programming includes Ranveer Vs Wild With Bear Grylls, The Kapil Sharma Show, MTV Roadies and The Voice, with Survivor and Temptation Island in the works.

Endemol Shine India is home to Bigg Boss, as well as the Indian adaptations of Fear Factor, MasterChef and Deal Or No Deal. Its scripted output includes Bombay Begums and a Hindi adaptation of The Bridge.