Industry

Banijay Entertainment today announces a strategic alliance between Banijay Media Germany—the creative and marketing arm of Banijay Germany—and Innovation Media, a leading European player in martial arts and live events. As part of this new partnership, the two companies unveil their first joint project: The Ultimate HYPE, a high-energy martial arts event set to take place on 4 October 2025 at the Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.

This collaboration combines Innovation Media’s deep expertise in martial arts and live event production with Banijay Media Germany’s strength in marketing, multi-platform distribution, and ticketed experiences. The goal is to tap into the growing demand for combat sports, fueled by the global success of franchises such as UFC, Professional Fighters League, ONE Championship, and Bellator.

Together, the partners will co-create, produce, and distribute original martial arts entertainment across social platforms, television formats, and live shows.
The Ultimate HYPE will spotlight reality stars and digital creators as they step into the ring to compete in boxing, MMA, and other combat disciplines. In the lead-up to the event, participants will undergo professional training, documented and shared across platforms to build anticipation and audience engagement.
Christian Nienaber, Managing Director of Banijay Media Germany, commented:“Martial arts and boxing are booming online, driven by massive fan communities. With The Ultimate HYPE, we’re blending real-time storytelling with high-impact live entertainment—training influencers, following their journey, and culminating in a major live showdown. Innovation Media is the perfect partner to bring this vision to life.”

Ingrid Langheld, also Managing Director at Banijay Media Germany, added:“We’ve previously collaborated with Innovation Media on ticketing for major martial arts events. Now we’re expanding that relationship into full-scale production, starting with The Ultimate HYPE. I’m thrilled about what’s ahead.”

Lukas Band, Managing Director of Innovation Media, said:“Martial arts live events are our passion, and this new partnership allows us to raise the bar. With Banijay Media Germany, we’re delivering an all-encompassing experience—complete with red carpet moments, music performances, live fights, and exclusive digital content for fans everywhere.”

Tickets for The Ultimate HYPE, scheduled for 4 October 2025 at the Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, are now available at ultimatehype.de and myshow.de.

This move underscores Banijay Entertainment’s broader expansion into the sports entertainment space, following the launch of Banijay Sports and the continued growth of Banijay Live, the company’s dedicated live experiences division.