In less than three months as Banijay France’s CEO, industry heavyweight Alexia Laroche-Joubert has orchestrated a pivotal move, bringing Authentic Media, a prominent French premium scripted banner, into the production-distribution powerhouse responsible for “Peaky Blinders.”
The acquisition of Authentic Media, known for its successful French adaptations like “Rita” and “This is Us,” substantially enhances Banijay France’s scripted labels portfolio. This includes in-house entities Banijay Studio France (“Germinal,” “Marie-Antoinette,” “Versailles”) and Shine Fiction (“Brocéliande,” “Carême”), along with Fiction’Air (“Les Disparus de la Forêt Noire”), Terence Films (“Rivière-Perdue”), Montmartre (“Alphonse,” “Sulak”), Screen Line (“Trash”), and Marathon, currently developing three series.
Established in 2011 by Aline Panel, Authentic Media boasts a diverse production output spanning drama, film, and documentary genres. With an impressive lineup of 15 projects in development, the company has notably delivered seven seasons of “Sam,” an adaptation of the Nordic series “Rita,” and three seasons of “Je te promets,” adapted from “This is Us.” Speaking to Variety, Laroche-Joubert emphasizes the strategic significance of this move, underscoring Banijay France’s commitment to expanding its presence in the scripted domain under her leadership.
Laroche-Joubert values Aline Panel’s entrepreneurial spirit, citing her creative prowess, innovation, and strong relationships with local TV players. The CEO anticipates Authentic Media’s seamless integration into Banijay France, commending the top-tier quality of writing and production in Panel’s shows. She believes Panel’s expertise in creating enduring series and adapting formats aligns with Banijay’s goals of revitalizing intellectual properties.
While acknowledging a projected slowdown in scripted content commissions for 2024, Laroche-Joubert stresses the persistently high demand, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a diverse content balance, including documentaries. She highlights the growing collaboration trend between traditional TV channels and streaming services on upscale shows.
Looking ahead, Authentic Media is set to produce ambitious scripted programs and explore internationally driven projects within the Banijay framework. Banijay Rights will distribute Authentic Media’s titles globally, and as part of the deal, Authentic Media’s intellectual properties will join Banijay France. Panel expresses enthusiasm for the partnership, praising Banijay for its commitment to talent and quality storytelling.
The acquisition of Authentic Media follows Banijay’s recent moves, including acquiring “The Buccaneers” producer The Forge and making strategic investments in Cris Abrego and Eva Longoria’s Hyphenate Media Group, Sir Lenny Henry’s Esmerelda Productions, James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky’s Rabbit Hole, and Italy’s Greenboo Productions. After becoming the world’s largest independent TV producer in 2020, Banijay continues to strengthen its position through strategic acquisitions and partnerships.
