Banijay Asia is making significant strides in expanding its presence in Southeast Asia, with founder and Group CEO Deepak Dhar unveiling new deals in Indonesia and the enhancement of a reality show that will send contestants to space during the APOS conference.
During a panel discussion titled “Culture to Content: How Asia’s Creative Ecosystem Is Going Global,” Dhar announced that the company has secured deals in Jakarta for both scripted and unscripted content. This expansion includes Banijay Asia’s ambitious cross-border reality series, which originally focused on finding one Indian to send to space but has now been expanded to include one Indonesian participant as well.
The company’s expansion in Southeast Asia comes in the wake of its successful operations in India, where Banijay Asia produces a staggering “800 days of ‘Big Boss’ [the local version of ‘Big Brother’] in our calendar year of 365 days,” showcasing the country’s insatiable appetite for content.
Dhar expressed his excitement about the company’s growth in the region, stating, “The timing is right for us personally, because we’re happy in the position that we are at in India, and now we can focus our bandwidth into the rest of the region. We are really doubling down on Indonesia and then subsequently in Thailand.”
Banijay Asia has a track record of localizing international formats and developing Indian originals. The company’s adaptation of “Night Manager” for Disney+ Hotstar was a massive success, and they are currently working on Season 2. Additionally, the reboot of “CID,” a long-running crime procedural, garnered strong viewership on Sony television before being windowed to Netflix.
Thailand’s Kantana Group’s head of content, Disalada “Stang” Disayanon, highlighted the success of their Netflix original “Master of the House,” emphasizing the importance of telling authentic local stories that resonate globally.
The company has also ventured into the horror genre with “Watcher,” which has been sold to 20 countries theatrically and will be available for global streaming. Kantana is also working on a unique show that combines Muay Thai with a zombie apocalypse set in Bangkok, specifically for Netflix.
Nicholas Simon, founder and CEO of Indochina Productions, shared the evolution of his company from production services to original content creation. With a history of working across 14 countries, including recent projects like “White Lotus” Season 3 and Sam Raimi’s upcoming film “Send Help,” Indochina Productions is making a mark in the international production scene.
All three executives highlighted the increasing global interest in Asian content, particularly in the aftermath of the success of shows like “Squid Game.” Dhar reiterated the regional ambition, stating, “It’s really time that an Indian story catches the fancy and attention of global audiences as well. So that’s really something that we’re excited and working towards.”
As Banijay Asia continues to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia and beyond, the company’s commitment to producing high-quality, culturally relevant content remains at the forefront of its strategy. With a focus on storytelling that resonates both locally and globally, Banijay Asia is poised to make a significant impact on the entertainment industry in the region.
