Present at London TV Screenings, the group showcased the formats Football Island and Date on Stage.
Content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment today unveils Football Island, a groundbreaking format blending sports, survival and competition reality.
Created by SimpelZodiak (part of Banijay Benelux), the premium title is set to be a highlight in the exclusive London TV Screenings line-up for Banijay. Football Island will be the first co-production between SimpelZodiak and Banijay Benelux label Southfields, the largest sports production company in the Netherlands.
Making its global debut in the Netherlands, Football Island drops 13 legendary footballers in a remote tropical location, stripping them of stadiums, status and comfort. Battling the elements they fight for the basics, and victory, in high-stakes, football-inspired challenges. With friendships tested, rivalries reignited, and legacies on the line, this raw and unscripted adventure brings the beautiful game into the brutal wild.
Justine Huffmeijer, Managing Director at SimpelZodiak says: “Football Island is a one-of-a-kind concept bringing legendary footballers back into the heat of fierce competition. This is more than just a game – it’s also a test of strategy, and endurance. Watching football icons relive past clashes and push their unceasing competitive spirit in a high-stake survival environment is set to be a thrilling spectacle for audiences to enjoy.”
James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development, Banijay Entertainment: “Football Island’s electrifying fusion of genres will appeal to sports and entertainment fans alike, offering an intense, character-driven reality format to meet the needs of our many clients around the world. With an outstanding track-record producing high-profile global formats like Survivor and Hunted, SimpelZodiak has raised the bar, pushing survival and reality to the next level, where strategy, resilience and football collide.”
Banijay Benelux label, SimpelZodiak, specialises in adventure reality and factual entertainment for linear and VOD platforms. The company is behind local versions of global hits including Survivor, Special Forces and Hunted. Other credits include Good Luck Guys, Shaolin Heroes, and Banged Up.
This new title taps into Banijay Entertainment’s growing efforts in sport following its launch of Banijay Sports.
Banijay Entertainment Brings Comedian Cupids to London TV Screenings with Date on Stage
Banijay Entertainment also unveiled Date on Stage, a fresh and hilarious new dating format joining its exclusive London TV Screenings event.
Created and produced by Banijay Benelux label TwentyTwo, and commissioned by Omroep Zwart for NPO Start and NPO3, this format puts love and laughs literally in the spotlight.
In Date on Stage, singles search for romance without looks getting in the way. Blindfolded, one single embarks on a date with two potential matches, guided only by conversation, chemistry and instinct. But there’s a twist, imagine a first date live on a theatre stage, with a real audience watching every awkward moment and flirtatious attempt. Thankfully, the singleton isn’t all on their own. Two quick-witted comedian cupids are on hand to stir the action, and they aren’t shy at sharing their honest and entertaining opinions, making sure the journey to love is anything but predictable.
James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development at Banijay Entertainment, comments: “This original new format is packed with real heart and a huge dose of chaotic comedy energy, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. It is a unique take on the dating genre, mixing humour, theatre and romance. Date on Stage is perfect for buyers looking for a scalable, high-energy series to draw fans of comedy and love, whether they’re searching for romance or just a good laugh.”
Paul van der Maesen, Producer, TwentyTwo Productions says: “Dating is sometimes taken too seriously, both on television and in real life. But it can be light-hearted, and full of hilarious moments. Date on Stage brings romance and comedy together: it’s live, unfiltered and packed with surprises. This format taps into the most popular dating trends you see on social media, bringing them to life in an unpredictable and wildly entertaining way. With witty comedians leading the charge, and real singletons putting their heart, and dignity on the line, it’s dating at its most spontaneous and fun.”
Additional titles within Banijay Entertainment’s format line-up for London TV Screenings include Against All Odds (Meter/Jarowskij), Mission Unknown: Atlantic (Banijay Productions Germany), The Rest of Your Life (Pineapple Entertainment), AI Love You (Nordisk Film TV) and 30 Days and 30 Dates (Cuarzo Producciones).
