Banijay UK Acquires Natalka Znak’s ZnakTV

Banijay UK has acquired ZnakTV and appointed Natalka Znak as CEO of both Remarkable Entertainment and Initial.

In addition to continuing to run ZnakTV in the U.S., Znak will lead Remarkable Entertainment and have oversight of Initial. As CEO across all three companies, she will take a strategic role and continue to pitch to broadcasters and platforms on both sides of the Atlantic.

The slates of Remarkable and Initial include the U.K. entertainment shows Pointless, Starstruck, The Wall, Soccer Aid, Tenable and Big Brother. 

Znak’s most recent credits include Masquerade Ball, Ultimate Tag, Revolution and Meghan Markle: An American Princess for Fox, 30 Days With: Bret Rock for YouTube as well as Netflix’s I am a Killer. Znak also serves as the long-running co-showrunner of Masterchef US and Masterchef Jr. for Fox. 

Reporting to Banijay UK CEO Lucinda Hicks, Znak will take up her new role at the end of the year. At Remarkable, she will work closely with Kitty Walshe, recently appointed CEO of Remarkable Factual and RDF. Remarkable Entertainment’s senior team, including creative directors Cat Lawson, Tamara Gilder and Richard Hague, will report into Znak.

At Initial, joint managing directors Cat Lynch and Katy Manley will continue to run the operation, reporting into Znak.

Hicks said: “Natalka is utterly unique. No one has a track record for entertainment hits like her, and combined with her razor-sharp commercial acumen and fantastic relationships in both the U.K. and U.S., she is an incredibly exciting appointment for Remarkable and Banijay UK. We have hugely talented teams within both Remarkable Entertainment and Initial, and bolstered by Natalka’s dynamic leadership, new ideas and relationships, we are really supersizing our entertainment ambitions.”

Znak added: “I am incredibly excited to work with all the talented people at Remarkable and Initial. Together, I know we will create TV’s next big hits. And, Banijay also has all my favorite shows in their formats catalog. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”