Banijay CEO Says European Producers Should Push for IP Retention

Marco Bassetti, CEO of Banijay Entertainment, used a fireside chat at Rome's MIA market to argue that European producers should press studios and streamers for better terms of trade, including retention of IP rights and rewards for creativity. The session was titled "What does it mean today to be a 'European champion' in an increasingly competitive global content market?"

Bassetti said the real fight for European producers should be about studios and streamers recognising creativity through rewards such as keeping hold of intellectual property. He described the current battle in Brussels over investment quotas as entirely pointless.

He added that producers in continental Europe typically have no ownership, though the situation is starting to open up slightly when it comes to release windows. The conversation was conducted by the Italian producer Marco Chimenz.

Banijay Entertainment, the London-based independent studio, is owned by the media company headed by Stéphane Courbit. Bassetti has led Banijay since 2013, and in 2020, during the pandemic, the group took over the production company Endemol Shine.

Two months ago, Banijay Entertainment and RedBird IMI completed the $8 billion merger of Banijay and All3Media, with All3Media CEO Jane Turton becoming deputy CEO of the combined company. Last week, at the Mipcom TV market in Cannes, Bassetti said he saw an opportunity to grow Banijay's scripted production and hinted at expansion into U.S. scripted.