In the competitive world of digital media, Banijay Entertainment, the powerhouse behind global hits like “Big Brother” and “MasterChef,” is leveraging artificial intelligence to carve out a stronger presence on YouTube. The company, which produces unscripted and scripted content across dozens of countries, has turned to AI tools to sift through its vast archives, identifying viral moments and generating short-form clips that resonate with online audiences. This strategy comes at a time when traditional media giants are racing to adapt to the dominance of platforms like YouTube, where quick, engaging content drives viewership and revenue.

By partnering with Moments Lab, an AI startup specializing in video analysis, Banijay is automating the labor-intensive process of content curation. Moments Lab’s technology uses advanced algorithms to index footage, tagging elements like emotions, objects, and dialogue, which allows producers to quickly pull together compilations or highlights. According to a recent report in Business Insider, this has enabled Banijay to expand its YouTube channels significantly, with some shows seeing a surge in subscriber growth through targeted clip distribution.

Unlocking Hidden Value in Media Archives: How AI Transforms Dormant Content into Revenue Streams

The integration of AI isn’t just about efficiency; it’s reshaping how Banijay monetizes its intellectual property. Traditionally, media companies have relied on human editors to comb through hours of footage, a process that could take days or weeks. With Moments Lab’s platform, Banijay can now generate YouTube-ready clips in a fraction of the time, focusing on high-engagement moments such as dramatic confrontations in reality shows or celebrity chef mishaps. This has led to a notable uptick in ad revenue, as shorter videos perform well in YouTube’s algorithm, drawing in younger demographics who prefer bite-sized entertainment over full episodes.

Industry insiders note that this approach addresses a key challenge in the streaming era: the underutilization of back catalogs. Banijay’s library, spanning thousands of hours from formats like “Survivor” and “Deal or No Deal,” represents untapped potential. By employing AI to repurpose this content, the company is not only boosting its digital footprint but also experimenting with cross-platform strategies, such as linking YouTube clips back to full episodes on services like Netflix or Hulu.

The Technological Edge: Moments Lab’s Role in Banijay’s Digital Strategy and Its Broader Industry Implications

Moments Lab, which raised $24 million in funding earlier this year as detailed in Business Insider, provides Banijay with agentic AI capabilities that go beyond simple tagging. The system can predict viewer preferences based on trending topics, suggesting edits or thumbnails that optimize for clicks and watch time. For Banijay, this means producing content tailored to YouTube’s ecosystem, where algorithms favor consistency and relevance, helping the company compete with native creators who dominate the platform.

However, this AI-driven pivot isn’t without hurdles. Concerns about job displacement for human editors have surfaced, though Banijay executives argue that the technology augments rather than replaces creative roles, freeing staff for higher-level storytelling. Moreover, as AI tools become more prevalent, questions of content authenticity arise—ensuring that generated clips accurately represent the original material without misleading viewers.

Future Horizons: Scaling AI Adoption Across Global Media Operations and Measuring Long-Term Impact

Looking ahead, Banijay plans to scale its use of Moments Lab across more territories, integrating it into live production workflows for real-time clip generation during broadcasts. This could revolutionize event-based content, such as sports or awards shows, by enabling instant highlights that capture viral moments as they happen. Data from Business Insider indicates that early implementations have already doubled engagement metrics for select channels, pointing to a model that other media conglomerates might emulate.

Ultimately, Banijay’s embrace of AI underscores a shift in the entertainment industry toward data-driven content strategies. As platforms like YouTube continue to evolve with their own AI enhancements—such as those announced at the 2025 Made on YouTube event—companies like Banijay are positioning themselves at the forefront, blending traditional production prowess with cutting-edge tech to sustain relevance in a fragmented media environment. This collaboration with Moments Lab not only boosts immediate YouTube performance but also sets a precedent for how legacy media can thrive in the digital age.