FIFA World Cup and Olympics producer expands to North America
Balich Wonder Studio, the Banijay-owned live entertainment company behind six FIFA World Cup and Olympic ceremonies, is expanding into North America and Mexico with new hubs in New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City after delivering the soccer tournament's star-studded closing ceremony on Sunday, aiming to accelerate the studio's next growth phase across live entertainment, sport and IP.
Key Takeaways
- Balich Wonder Studio is opening offices in New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City.
- The Milan-based company has delivered six FIFA World Cup ceremonies and 17 Olympic ceremonies under Marco Balich.
- Recent credits include Milano Cortina 2026, a UEFA Champions League final kick-off and AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
- The expansion follows Banijay Entertainment's $8 billion merger with All3Media earlier this month.
- Leaders say North America and live production are strategic priorities after the merger.
The move matters for anyone following major sports spectacles and how they travel across TV and streaming platforms. Fans of Streaming & TV Alerts will recognize these ceremonies as the live moments that still drive appointment viewing worldwide.
Why is Balich Wonder Studio expanding into North America now?
According to Variety, the expansion comes after a peak period for the Milan-based studio. Creative director and executive producer Marco Balich has 17 Olympic ceremonies and numerous other top global events on his résumé.
The company said the new hubs join existing bases in Milan, Paris, Dubai, Riyadh and Shanghai. Each is described as anchored in a key growth market for live entertainment, sport and IP development.
What recent FIFA World Cup and Olympic work backs the move?
Besides the latest World Cup closing show, Balich Wonder Studio also shepherded the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. It delivered the UEFA Champions League final kick-off show and the preamble to the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco.
A company statement framed those credits as bolstering its status as one of the world's leading creators of extraordinary cultural moments experienced by billions of people around the world.
How does the Banijay and All3Media merger change the picture?
News of the North America push follows the completion earlier this month of the $8 billion merger of Banijay Entertainment and RedBird IMI-owned All3Media. The companies have described the combined group as the world's largest independent production company.
By drawing on Banijay's worldwide content and digital capabilities, plus RedBird IMI's expertise across sport, media and investment, Balich Wonder Studio said it is uniquely positioned to create live experiences that capture global attention and evolve across platforms and markets.
What are executives saying about the North America push?
Banijay Entertainment CEO Marco Bassetti said uniting content and live expertise with RedBird IMI's strengths creates a chance to build a global platform that can transform the world's biggest live moments far beyond the events themselves.
Jeff Zucker, CEO of Redbird IMI and chairman of Banijay Entertainment, called the expansion exciting as the Banijay-All3Media merger completed. He said growing the footprint in North America and in live production are two strategic imperatives, and that the studio is able to move quickly on both.