BBC Studios Signs Production Agreement with Banijay Asia

BBC Studios, which exited the India production business due to industry headwinds, has signed a multi-year local production agreement with Banijay Asia.

After its present obligations are fulfilled, BBC Studios will cease its own production operations in India as part of this new plan, concentrating instead on this partnership with Banijay.

As part of the partnership, Banijay will have exclusive access to the scripted and unscripted format catalogue of BBC Studios. Through the agreement, Banijay Asia will be able to introduce both new and existing BBC Studios formats in India for the first time. Apart from scripted shows like Ghosts and The Office, BBC Studios also owns unscripted shows like Dancing with the Stars and The 1% Club.

A number of international formats, such as MasterChef, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, Temptation Island, and Fear Factor, have been modified for Indian audiences by Banijay Asia, Deepak Dhar's joint venture. Successful adaptations like The Night Manager, Call My Agent: Bollywood, and The Good Wife have also been produced by the company.

The agreement strengthens Banijay Asia's format portfolio as BBC Studios shifts its India strategy from direct production to licensing partnerships.

 And it brings Dhar closer to realizing his long-held dream of making Banijay the largest format licensing and production studio in India.