Banijay America has made a strategic move into creator-led comedy with a new partnership with Don’t Tell Comedy, one of the fastest-growing live and digital stand-up brands in the U.S. The deal, announced on October 28, also involves Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay Entertainment. Together, they will bring Don’t Tell Comedy’s 14 million followers and 115 hours of stand-up content to streaming and digital platforms worldwide.
New Channels and Global Distribution
To tap into YouTube’s growth on living room screens, Banijay America and Banijay Rights will launch dedicated Don’t Tell Comedy channels on the platform, built for global audiences and Connected TV viewing. At the same time, the library will be distributed internationally across AVOD, FAST and SVOD platforms, including Amazon Prime Video Direct, alongside curated longer-form compilations and specials.
In addition, the partners will support new projects, brand partnerships and financing opportunities. As a result, Don’t Tell Comedy gains access to Banijay Entertainment’s global network, digital channel expertise and production resources.
From a Backyard to a Global Brand
Don’t Tell Comedy was founded in a Los Angeles backyard in 2017, and in 2022 it began producing short-form specials distributed for free on social media. Its stages have featured comedians such as Ralph Barbosa, Robby Hoffman and Michael Longfellow.
“Our mission is simple: to make comedy more accessible,”
said Kyle Kazanjian-Amory, CEO of Don’t Tell Comedy. With Banijay, he added, the company aims to connect emerging talent with global audiences.
Banijay’s Creator Push
For Banijay America, the deal is part of a wider move into the creator space.
“This partnership marks another leap into the creator landscape for Banijay America,”
said CEO Ben Samek.
Likewise, Blake Zender, VP, Strategy & Business Development at Banijay America, explained that the company’s strategy is “to back creator-led brands with a loyal audience,” noting that Don’t Tell Comedy performs more than 150 shows a week. Meanwhile, Shaun Keeble, SVP Monetisation at Banijay Rights, said longer-form programming and distribution windows “can unlock further value” from the catalogue.
Finally, the deal supports Banijay Entertainment’s broader digital strategy, which also includes moving Somebody Feed Phil from Netflix to YouTube.
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