Deepak Dhar's Banijay Asia Expands into Southeast Asia
Deepak Dhar, Founder and CEO of Banijay Asia, has announced the company's strategic expansion into Southeast Asia with the introduction of CreAsia Studio. This new endeavor, integrated into Banijay Asia, a joint venture between Dhar and Banijay Group, marks the establishment of CreAsia Studio. Furthermore, the company possesses ownership of Endemol Shine India. Jessica Kam-Engle has been appointed as the Executive Vice President and Business Head of CreAsia Studio, with a key emphasis on cultivating local partnerships for creating original content and adapting Banijay intellectual properties to suit the regional audience.
Jessica Kam-Engle, with over twenty years of experience as a film/TV producer and studio executive, will be reporting to Deepak Dhar. Her role involves overseeing business strategy and growth in key Southeast Asia markets, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. Formerly holding the position of Head of Content and Development for Disney+ in APAC, Jessica was responsible for commissioning over 60 original series in various languages. Prior to that, she served as the Head of Original Production for HBO Asia, managing original productions in 10 languages for the network. Jessica has collaborated with major brands in the region, including Walt Disney, Warner Media, and MTV.
Deepak Dhar expressed strong confidence in Jessica's leadership, underscoring her unparalleled experience in the Asian market. He views CreAsia Studio as Banijay's next growth engine, leveraging Jessica's expertise, Banijay's global IPs, and engaging in exciting local collaborations. Dhar emphasized the focus on India as a production hub for the region and the commitment to expanding into new markets within the vibrant Southeast Asian entertainment sector.
Jessica Kam-Engle, enthusiastic about her new role, considers it a privilege to join the Banijay family. She looks forward to spearheading the strategic expansion in Southeast Asia, exploring opportunities to develop both local and global IPs. Jessica aims to harness the creative talent in the region, merging it with Banijay's content production expertise and global distribution capabilities. She anticipates engaging collaborations with key players in the region.
Regarding Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, Deepak Dhar noted their expected revenues of Rs 1,000 crore in FY24, solidifying their status as India's largest TV and streaming content production firm. In the previous year, Banijay acquired CA Media's 51% stake in Endemol Shine India for $90-100 million, resulting in the annual production of 85–90 scripted and unscripted shows across Hindi and regional languages. This output is projected to increase to 90–100 shows in 2024. Dhar envisions India evolving into a global content creation hub, with Banijay/Endemol striving for industry leadership, especially after producing the Chinese version of Big Brother in India. Additionally, Dhar highlighted the potential for consolidation in India's content production business, with Banijay actively pursuing acquisitions of companies possessing complementary assets and skill sets.