Markets

At MIPLondon 2026, FRAPA hosted on Tuesday, Febraury 23, a practical and strategically focused session titled Formats ABC: Acquisition, Buying, Co-development, moderated by David Ciaramella, founder of Boxed Off. The panel brought together three experienced executives working at different points of the formats ecosystem: Lisette van Diepen (Acquisitions Consultant, Marphes Media), Helen Greatorex (Head of Format Acquisitions, Banijay Entertainment), and Aleksander Herresthal (Partner & Chief Content Officer, Seefood TV).

The discussion offered a clear snapshot of how format acquisition strategies are evolving in a market shaped by intense competition, faster decision cycles, and increasing pressure for differentiation.
The session opened with a question on creativity and how acquisition decisions are actually made inside large organizations. Helen Greatorex described Banijay’s process as deeply collaborative and structurally international.
Within a group that receives more than 250 new ideas each year, decisions rarely depend on a single buyer. Input flows continuously from multiple territories, allowing the central acquisitions team to identify potential cross-market synergies. However, she stressed that creativity still depends on individual passion:
“Sometimes you just have that one creative champion who doesn’t stop talking about an idea until we make a decision. That’s when it gets really exciting.”
In other words, even in a highly structured global group, intuition and internal advocacy remain decisive drivers of innovation.

At the same time, Greatorex highlighted a key operational reality: needs still vary significantly between territories. Different markets may prioritize entirely different genres or editorial directions. For global groups, the strategic challenge is therefore not uniformity, but portfolio diversity—ensuring there is space for multiple types of ideas to coexist.

Aleksander Herresthal offered a complementary perspective from the production side. Seefood TV, founded by creators, rarely acquires external formats and instead focuses on developing original concepts driven by creative vision rather than market trends.Their strategy deliberately challenges broadcaster expectations. When networks request a specific genre—crime, reality, or large-scale entertainment—the company may present something entirely different.

Revivals: The Return of Proven Brands
Another topic addressed during the session was the growing interest in format revivals.
Greatorex noted that major “superbrands” within Banijay’s catalogue continue to find new life through fresh adaptations, spin-offs, or launches in new territories. The recent reacquisition of Ninja Warrior was cited as an example of a classic property ripe for repositioning.
While archive mining requires significant time and resources, the appeal is clear: familiar IP offers built-in recognition and reduces market risk when paired with a contemporary creative refresh.

Co-development and the Reality of Paper Formats
Traditionally, commissioners looked for proven track records—multiple seasons, strong ratings, and international performance. However, the panel agreed that the current market no longer allows buyers to wait for that level of validation.