Banijay UK acquires Natalka Znak's indie, ZnakTV

Banijay has acquired Natalka Znak’s production company ZnakTV and appointed its founder to become CEO of UK firms Remarkable Entertainment and Initial. “Natalka is utterly unique. No one has a track record for entertainment hits like her and combined with her razor-sharp commercial acumen and fantastic relationships in both the UK and US, she is an incredibly exciting appointment for Remarkable and Banijay UK," Banijay UK’s CEO Lucinda Hicks, said.

The executive is set to oversee the serivce in the US alongside overseeing the two UK-based companies, which are behind shows including Pointless, Starstruck, The Wall, Soccer Aid, Tenable and Big Brother. Banijay said she will also take on “a strategic role” and continue to pitch to broadcasters and platforms on both sides of the Atlantic. In terms of the US and UK operations, Znak will oversee a Remarkable team that includes creative directors Cat Lawson, Tamara Gilder and Richard Hague, who will report into her. 

Scheduled to work alongside the CEO of Remarkable Factual, Kitty Walshe, the move serves as the latest restructure for its unscripted division, following the departure of Mark Hill, who serves as MD of Tipping Point producer RDF West, revealed yesterday he would be stepping down after 15 years. His exit followed news in September that RDF Television’s MD Jim Allen would be departing. The company has also appointed new creative chiefs from Banijay stablemate Definitely, who will also oversee RDF labels Fizz and Little Wonder. Fizz creative director Neale Simpson departed earlier this month. 

Znak’s most recent credits include Masquerade Ball, Ultimate Tag, Revolution and Meghan Markle: An American Princess for Fox, 30 Days With: Bret Rock for YouTube, and Netflix series I Am A Killer. She also remains co-showrunner of Masterchef US and Masterchef Jr. for Fox. “We have hugely talented teams within both Remarkable Entertainment and Initial, and bolstered by Natalka’s dynamic leadership, new ideas and relationships, we are really supersizing our entertainment ambitions," Hicks continued.