Banijay Group’s entertainment and live units saw adjusted half-year earnings rise 5.7% to €207.5M ($236M), with sales also up and a YouTube push in the crosshairs.
Revenues at Banijay Entertainment and Banijay Live came in at a combined €1.43B, up 3% year-on-year, with the production-distribution wing contributing €1.1B and distribution €149M for the six months to June 30.
The “steady” growth was put down to “further penetration” with global streamers, with 17% of revenue coming from deals with the likes of Netflix and Prime Video. Banijay – which makes shows such as Temptation Island, SAS Rogue Heroes and Big Brother – said it had a “strong pipeline” of shows expected to deliver in H2.
The Euronext-listed Banijay cited Netflix Spanish-language series El Jardinero (The Gardener), Black Mirror Season 7, LOL: Last One Laughing UK and Prime Video Germany unscripted show The Summit among key performers in H1. Around 5,000 hours were added to Banijay Rights catalog in the sathree months to end of June, meaning the company now shops 215,000 hours in total.
Banijay Live, which is also led by Banijay Entertainment CEO Marco Bassetti and is grouped with the production business, saw its live experiences unit add €173M.
“Banijay Entertainment, with Banijay Live, continues to illustrate a robust business model, as demonstrated by these latest H1 results,” said Bassetti. “Year-on-year, we have significantly increased our activities with streamers, maintained significant investment in creativity to bolster our competitive market advantage, and accelerated our digital transformation efforts.
“The latter will rapidly unlock greater efficiencies, further amplify the value of our catalogue, and enhance our presence on YouTube specifically. In embracing new technologies and diversifying our revenue streams in areas like sport too, we continue to prepare the group for the future, cementing our house as the number one for talent, IP, and creative innovation.”
The wider Banijay Group, which also houses a betting business, took revenues of €2.21B, up 6.1% and adjusted EBITDA of €424.3M, up 15.8%. Adjusted free cash flow was €344.1M, though net debt grew to €2.79B. Restructuring and other single items cost Banijay €11.1M, down from €26.3M in 2024.
