Banijay, Zodiak in Merger Talks

PARIS: Banijay Group and Zodiak Media are in discussions for a potential merger of the European production and distribution entities.

A Banijay spokesperson has confirmed the ongoing merger talks with World Screen Newsflash.

Zodiak Media is active in 15 territories and has amassed a library of more than 20,000 hours. Majority owned by De Agostini Group, Zodiak's production businesses and its Zodiak Rights distribution arm operate across all genres, from entertainment formats and factual to drama and kids' fare.

Stéphane Courbit's LOV Group is the majority owner of Banijay, with De Agostini holding a minority stake. It owns production companies in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and across Europe's key markets. For Banijay, a Zodiak Media merger would give it a presence in Asia, Latin America and the U.K.

Should the merger happen it would be the latest in a wave of consolidation taking place across the production and distribution sectors, following the Endemol-Shine-CORE union, Liberty Global and Discovery's all3media deal and ITV's acquisitions spree.