Spain’s LaLiga launches studio in partnership with Banijay

Content studio Banijay has announced that Banijay Iberia is joining forces with elite Spanish football league LaLiga to launch LaLiga Studios, a new sports-related content production.

Through this partnership, LaLiga Studios will produce audiovisual content for LaLiga, clubs, sponsors, and broadcasters. It will also work with international platforms and brands in the development, production, and distribution of content across genres. Chalo Bonifacino Cooke has been appointed managing director and executive producer of LaLiga Studios, and will oversee its international growth utilising the footprint of both companies.

Pilar Blasco, CEO of Banijay Iberia, said: “We are very proud to announce this partnership with LaLiga; a great generator of narratives around sport and its values. We are eager to use our experience in the production and creation of premium content to tell these stories, with the highest quality standards, so they become known all over the world.”

Óscar Mayo, executive director of LaLiga added: “We have ambitious plans for LaLiga Studios, including working with the best brands, so it was critical for us to have the perfect partner. Banijay Iberia’s track record gives LaLiga Studios the best possible start.”

LaLiga, which is home to leading soccer clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid, has gone further than most sports brands in terms of reinventing itself as a global media company. The league already runs its own channels, including LaLigaSportsTV. Available internationally the channel offers a range of live sport including football, handball and basketball.

At this stage, it is not clear whether the creation of LaLiga Studios will see the league’s existing channels shift towards a more general entertainment model, or whether the plan is to create new channels – perhaps for the rapidly-expanding FAST market. Banijay has already moved aggressively into FAST with its own channel portfolio.