Banijay, Zig Zag Part Ways

LONDON/PARIS: The founders of Zig Zag Productions have bought back the company from Banijay Entertainment, less than a year after selling the U.K.-based outfit.

Banijay acquired Zig Zag in January. Danny Fenton and Kevin Utton have retaken control of the firm. Banijay International will continue to represent some of Zig Zag’s formats.

In other Banijay International news, the company has secured the worldwide distribution rights to the BBC’s successful new factual entertainment series The Secret Tourist from Outline Productions. It will be launched internationally at MIPCOM.

Laura Mansfield, joint managing director at Outline Productions, commented, "Following its success on BBC One, we believe that our show has huge, untapped potential.  The passion of Banijay International has impressed us and the company’s dynamic approach makes it the perfect partner to present this format to the world."

Karoline Spodsberg, Banijay International’s managing director, added, "We are very excited about The Secret Tourist joining our slate of hit formats for this market. The deal is a great example of the liberating position we find ourselves in at Banijay International. We have the necessary muscle to secure the strongest catalogue possible and to be a force in the international market, but at the same time, we are small enough to act with a boutique distributor approach, placing a strong focus on each and every format in our catalogue.”

Other Banijay International shows for MIPCOM include Superstar Ding Dong; Project Family 2011; Operation Neighbourhood; Holiday Roulette; My Parents Are Gonna Love You; Dilemma, and the finished U.K. version of its flagship reality format 71 Degrees North.