Banijay Rights Clinches ‘Big Brother’ for Malta

Banijay’s landmark reality show “Big Brother” will launch in Malta later this year, thanks to a new pact inked by Banijay Rights with local producer, greatt company, run by co-founder Mark Grech.

The new deal marks the 70^th adaptation of the original Dutch television series where a group of total strangers are cooped up in a custom-built house equipped with cameras throughout. While under constant surveillance, the contestants compete in various challenges and try to avoid being kicked out by fellow houseguests. Under the process of elimination, the remaining two vie for the grand cash prize.

“A pioneering format with consistently excellent ratings, ‘Big Brother’ needs little introduction as a global television hit,” said Marion Vergnaud, SVP Iberia, Italy and Malta, Banijay Rights, who brokered the agreement, adding: “We are thrilled to be working with our local broadcast and production partners on this new version in Malta, and we relish the opportunity to delight an even wider audience.”

PBS-owned TVM in Malta will premiere the show later in the year.

Remarking on their anticipation of “generating incredible results,” Mark Grech, co-founder of greatt Company, added: “Greatt is committed to bringing the best shows to Malta, and producing this latest version of ‘Big Brother’ epitomizes what we can do on the island.”

According to Banijay Entertainment, “Big Brother” has been adapted over 68 times, with more than 550 seasons and 36,000 episodes. “More than 8,500 housemates have passed through the ‘Big Brother’ house, with over 6,400 live evictions taking place, drawing a huge 90+ million social media followers from across the globe. The title remains one of the content powerhouse’s top three formats, launching in four new markets in 2023, and 13 territories in total,” it stated.

Among the countries that have successfully adapted the format are Portugal, the Philippines, Brazil, the U.S., Australia, Germany, Bulgaria and Finland.

Banijay Rights, which handles the distribution of Banijay Entertainment, represents a portfolio of 185,000 hours of fiction and unscripted programming. Its standout brands include “Survivor,” “MasterChef,” “Peaky Blinders,” “Rogue Heroes,” “Marie Antoinette,” “Grantchester,” “Deal or No Deal,” “Home and Away,” “Mr. Bean” and “Black Mirror.”