Marco Bassetti, the head of Banijay Entertainment, celebrated a significant week for his company as it gears up for a merger with All3Media. Despite this, the French conglomerate experienced a decline in its production and distribution revenues in 2025.
The annual financial results, disclosed in late afternoon Europe time, revealed that production revenues fell to €2.52B ($2.92B), a 3.6% decrease from 2024’s €2.61B. The decline in distribution revenue was even steeper, falling by 7.2% year-over-year to €368.3M. Combined, Banijay Entertainment and its experiences division, Banijay Live, reported total revenues of €3.29B.
In a statement to its investors, Banijay noted, “In 2025, despite a challenging commissioning environment in the industry, Banijay Entertainment remained resilient. By leveraging its substantial scale and market-leading position, the company continued to solidify its role as a dependable partner for both global streaming services and local television networks.”
Overall, the Banijay Group saw its revenues increase by 1.6% to €4.88B, aided by growth in its experiences sector, Banijay Live, and Banijay Gaming. The group’s adjusted EBITDA rose by 6.8% to €961.1M, and operating profit surged by 25.5% to €641M. Net debt was reduced from a multiple of 2.9 in 2024 to 2.7, totaling €2.57B.
These financial results were announced shortly after Banijay and the parent company of All3Media, RedBird IMI, disclosed their upcoming merger, which will create the largest independent TV production entity globally, boasting pro forma revenues of $8.6B in 2024. This merger will unite 170 production companies under one umbrella with popular titles like The Traitors, Big Brother, Survivor, Peaky Blinders, Gogglebox, and Hamnet, expanding across the UK, U.S., Europe, and Asia Pacific.
As part of the merger, RedBird IMI will inject €625m into the newly formed organization, contributing to a total cash injection of €796M. This will allow both entities to hold a 50% share each. Additionally, Banijay Entertainment will issue a €171M pre-closing dividend to Banijay Group as part of the transaction.
Despite the downturns in TV sector revenues, Bassetti, CEO of both Banijay Entertainment and Banijay Live, remarked, “This week has been extraordinarily pivotal for our company. As we review our 2025 annual results, the strategic logic of merging Banijay Entertainment with All3Media becomes even clearer. Despite facing tough market conditions this year, our results showcase the benefits of our extensive creative capabilities, broad operational reach, top-tier talent, and a multifaceted strategy.”
“Throughout the year, we produced over 16,000 hours of content and launched more than 80 titles with global streaming platforms, including House of Guinness, Culpa Nuestra, Mrs Playmen, and Last One Laughing UK. In the realm of live events, we were proud to produce the Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony,” he added.
“In a consolidating market, the importance of scale cannot be overstated, and the upcoming merger will further enhance our ability to attract and retain outstanding talent, monetize our intellectual property across digital and live platforms, and boost our investments in creativity and new technologies. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to establish a robust media and entertainment powerhouse poised for sustained growth,” concluded Bassetti.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
