Jeff Zucker sees the UAE as key to his new $8 billion entertainment empire

The $8 billion merger creating Banijay Entertainment by combining Banijay Group and All3Media has formed a global production powerhouse spanning 25 countries and more than 265,000 hours of content, and Jeff Zucker says the United Arab Emirates will play a central role in building the new company’s reach. The deal, backed in part by RedBird IMI — a partnership between RedBird Capital Partners and Abu Dhabi’s International Media Investments (IMI) — positions the combined group to pursue scale across production, live events and immersive entertainment.

"The UAE has been a fantastic investor, a great shareholder, and that's because they are interested in media," said Jeff Zucker, the new chairman of Banijay Entertainment. "They're patient with their investments, and they're willing to take chances on the global stage. And that's just an incredible combination for someone who's looking to invest in media."

Deal specifics and strategic assets

The merger generates a company that, on a combined basis, would have produced more than €4.3 billion ($4.88 billion) in revenues and more than €700 million ($796 million) in adjusted earnings in 2025, with expected cost savings of €50 million within a year. The new Banijay Entertainment brings together a deep catalogue that includes flagship formats and series such as MasterChef, The Traitors, Big Brother, Race Across the World, Survivor, Peaky Blinders, Hamnet and The Culpa Trilogy.

• Scale: operations across 25 countries and 170+ production and live-events companies.
• Catalogue: more than 265,000 hours of programming spanning scripted, unscripted and factual formats.
• Recent productions tied to the UAE: The Lost Kingdom of Arabia and a history programme about a 67‑million‑year‑old T. rex skeleton at the Natural History Museum on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.

Context: why the Gulf matters

Zucker highlighted IMI — the private investment company controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s vice president and deputy prime minister and owner of Manchester City — as a key partner in closing the deal. RedBird IMI and Paris‑headquartered Banijay Group will be equal partners in Banijay Entertainment, with a split board reflecting that partnership. RedBird IMI previously acquired All3Media in early 2024 for £1.15 billion ($1.5 billion).

Banijay already has several productions underway in the UAE that Zucker said will continue under the merged company, and All3Media maintains a Dubai office. Zucker sees untapped storytelling potential in the Gulf: "The merger will open up a whole new opportunity to tell great stories, many of which have yet to reach a global audience." He also singled out live events and sports as growth opportunities, noting Banijay's recent credits include opening ceremonies for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in North America.

Outlook and metrics for success

Zucker said the merger’s success will be judged by revenue and profitability growth, but also by creative output: "We'll also measure it by new formats, new successes and new quality productions." Industry observers underscore the strategic logic: Tim Westcott, UK‑based Practice Lead for Digital Content and Channels at Omdia, noted the importance of aggregation and proven hits to secure commissions from major broadcasters as linear audiences decline and streaming grows — streaming accounted for a 47.6% share of TV viewing in April compared with 19.9% for broadcast, per Nielsen data.

Banijay Entertainment plans to expand franchises into gaming and immersive experiences — moves that align with Gulf states’ diversification goals — while continuing to scout new content and live opportunities across the UAE and the wider Gulf region.