TBI Formats: Banijay Productions Germany on Euro opportunities, reality boom & ‘Big Bounce Battle’

Big Bounce Battle

After four years away from German screens, Banijay’s physical competition format, Big Bounce Battle, returned to broadcaster RTL last month with a new six-part series (plus a ‘best of’ special). Arno Schneppenheim, managing director of Banijay Productions Germany, tells TBI why a reality boom in the country meant now was the right time to revive the show.

Originally created by Endemol Shine Nederland and known locally as Big Bounce – Die Trampolin Show, the format debuted in Germany in 2018 with its second season launching in 2019.

Banijay Productions Germany is back to produce the revived series, which challenges talented trampoline athletes aged between 10 and 55-years old to take part in a fast-paced physical game show, which tests their endurance, agility and balance.

Only the finalist, who completes the specially designed trampoline course in the fastest time, gets to take home the cash prize.

Arno Schneppenheim

Why was now the right time to bring back Big Bounce Battle?

People’s propensity for recreational activities soared after the pandemic, as we all started retrieving our freedom, and with that in mind, after a four-year break, both Banijay Productions Germany and RTL felt it was the right time to bring back Big Bounce Battle – and we are delighted at the successful launch, which was the primetime winner of the night.

How was the show updated for its return?

With any returning format, we must ensure it retains its core DNA, not only to ensure it is recognisable and easy to follow, as all good superbrands are, but also as there is a strong fanbase already out there that wants to see the show they love. However, we still need to keep the format fresh and bring an element of new to the show, so a lot of obstacles have been reinvented or redesigned, and we have redesigned the tactics course.

Big Bounce Battle is a physically demanding contest with many obstacles. What are the unique creative challenges in putting tracks like this together?

It’s always a long road from the initial idea of a new obstacle to the actual implementation. The obstacles have to be equally doable for all contestants, regardless of gender, size, age… and they must also be spectacular and safe. It has to meet a lot of requirements, and these are big challenges we are creating, that have to be stringently tested, as they always are. As ever, this is always built into the parameters of pre-production, and we are proud of the outcomes for this season.

What kind of formats are currently resonating with German audiences?

Currently, the reality genre is hugely popular in Germany, which is great news for Banijay Productions Germany as we are behind Battle Of The Reality Stars: The Game For Fame, which recently won the German Television Award, the brilliant Temptation Island and Temptation Island VIP, which continue to attract strong audiences, and Das große Promi-Büßen (The Big Celebrity Redemption). Given demand is so high, this genre therefore remains at the forefront of development, with a continued ambition to bring new IP to the region and Banijay’s portfolio at-large.

Currently, the reality genre is hugely popular in Germany… given demand is so high, this genre therefore remains at the forefront of development, with a continued ambition to bring new IP to the region and Banijay’s portfolio at-large

Documentaries are very popular, especially on streamers, as are game and competition shows like Wer stiehlt mir die Show?, Kitchen Impossible and Let’s Dance. Having strong hosts like Joko & Klaas, Tim Mälzer and Daniel Hartwich and incorporating themes such as the climate, food, and family entertainment are also really important to their success.

Do you expect the US strikes to have an impact on the international format market? For example, US networks looking abroad for non-scripted formats and tape?

I think the US broadcasters are missing an opportunity, even beyond current events, if they don’t engage more intensively with the German and wider European market. There are so many fresh ideas here that could certainly appeal to American viewers – we are just fortunate to have great fellow producers across Banijay Americas pitching new IP from the footprint out there and Banijay Rights continuing to fly the flag for us all in a sales capacity.

Where are the biggest innovations in competition and entertainment formats coming from?

If you look at it geographically, North America was far ahead for a long time. But now hit formats come from all corners of the world, however, it is more challenging to establish a new competition or entertainment format today, than it was 5, 10 or 15 years ago, both in Germany and beyond. We are still seeing some titles breaking through but the parameters of what classes as a “hit” have certainly shifted. We’re all feeling positive for MIPCOM though as there are some really strong titles emerging from Banijay from all corners of the world and we are proud to be part of such a creative powerhouse.

What’s coming up next for Banijay Productions Germany?

Besides our primetime hit Big Bounce Battle for RTL, our reality series The Big Celebrity Redemption will soon be shown on ProSieben. RTL+ will stream a new season of Temptation Island VIP, and together with VOX and RTL+, we have produced The Mallorca Broker – a new series set in Spain with real estate agent, Marcel Remus, which should appeal to a wide audience, especially fans of Selling Sunset.

We recently announced Joyn will soon be streaming another reality show from us, Party Workers, which is a local adaptation of the Banijay France format. On Sky, we have a brilliant documentary coming this autumn, about arguably the most fascinating German soccer coach, Christoph Daum. We have also begun preparations for the fifth season of Battle Of The Reality Stars, and beyond that, we’re working on various entertainment, reality and documentary formats for all providers in the German market, and we think some of these have very strong international potential too.