Banijay

ITV Expands YouTube Sales House with Snack Media

ITV Commercial has expanded its dedicated YouTube sales house through a partnership with Snack Media, which represents digital rights for major sports bodies. The agreement will be rolled out for specific sports inventories over time, with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) signed as the launch partner. ITV previously took on sales duties for Banijay Rights content and has placed more content on YouTube since its original deal to sell inventory on the platform. ITV says its YouTube sales arm has partnered with 1,300 brands and that recent World Cup coverage generated over 150 million views. ITV positions the Snack Media deal as a step to grow its sports inventory and explore further sports partnerships.

RTL Group's Schwebig Eyes ITV Studios Opportunity

The article profiles Clément Schwebig, who became CEO of the RTL Group in early May, and outlines strategic questions about Fremantle's future amid industry consolidation. Sky's announced takeover of ITV's broadcaster assets in the UK explicitly excludes ITV Studios, fueling speculation about potential buyers for the production arm. RTL Group currently says it prefers acquiring small- and mid-sized production companies for Fremantle, although shifting market dynamics and competitors' consolidation—especially Banijay's expansion via All3Media—could push larger strategic moves. Market data from TheWit shows Banijay leading distribution share for new format adaptations (16.3%) in 2025/26, with Fremantle (7.8%) and ITV Studios (7.0%) behind. The piece frames Schwebig's early months and upcoming decisions as pivotal for RTL's production strategy and competitive positioning.

Leonine launches Leonine C_ label

Leonine Studios has created a new label, Leonine C_, to centralize its branded- and creator-entertainment efforts. Built from the former digital unit of Cologne-based i&u Studios, the label — led by Jochen Köstler and located in Cologne — will develop platform-native formats with creators to help brands reach communities. Leonine positions Leonine C_ as a label (not a separate company) and cites prior projects such as "Love Hunter," "Splash House" and the YouTube channel "Breaking Lab." CEO Fred Kogel framed the move as a logical next step following Leonine's work on branded formats and the creator-marketing platform HOT (Home Of Talents). The launch follows an industry trend of production companies creating dedicated creator-focused units.