Banijay Expands Sportainment Portfolio with ‘The Bicycle Race’ and ‘Last One Standing’

Banijay Entertainment is bolstering its presence in the burgeoning “sportainment” genre with the addition of two new unscripted Dutch formats: the fitness competition Last One Standing and the cycling adventure The Bicycle Race. Both formats were unveiled to potential buyers at Banijay’s showcase during the London TV Screenings.

‘Last One Standing’: Elite Trials and Mental Resilience

Co-developed by RTL Creative Unit and SimpelZodiak (the team behind Football Island), both part of Banijay Benelux, Last One Standing is set to premiere on RTL’s Dutch streaming service, Videoland. The format received support from Banijay’s Genre Accelerator Fund, an initiative dedicated to unscripted development.

The series features a group of celebrities living together in a basic camp, continuously facing elite-level trials designed by top athletes and utilizing artificial intelligence. Unlike typical competition shows, Last One Standing eliminates contestants through votes or eliminations; the last person remaining is declared the winner.

‘The Bicycle Race’: A Cycling Adventure Across India

The Bicycle Race, created by EndemolShine Nederland (a part of Banijay Benelux) and Talpa Studios, has already completed an eight-episode run on Dutch broadcaster SBS6 [Source: Advanced Television]. Inspired by the growing popularity of bike-packing and cycling in the Netherlands, the show follows six celebrities as they team up with a partner, friend, or family member for an epic cycling journey across India.

Teams must navigate unfamiliar terrain, complete high-stakes challenges to earn money and rely on the support of local communities. After a 12-day journey, one couple will be crowned the winners. [Source: Deadline] The series builds upon EndemolShine Nederland’s existing relationship with SBS6, following previous collaborations like Let’s Play Ball and Signal.Stream.

Banijay’s Strategy in the Sportainment Space

James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development at Banijay, emphasized the timeliness of Last One Standing, noting the increasing public interest in fitness, mental resilience, and personal growth. [Source: C21Media] He described The Bicycle Race as an “uplifting, visually striking and character-driven adventure reality format” that combines jeopardy, scale, emotion, culture, and strategy, anticipating its appeal across multiple international markets.