Global producer/distributor Banijay is embarking on a new business venture with one of TV’s foremost adventurers, Bear Grylls.

The Paris-headquartered company is teaming with Grylls and longtime production partner Delbert Shoopman to launch The Natural Studios (TNS), which will aim to both develop and produce unscripted and scripted content in the adventure space for linear and non-linear platforms, as well as find and develop new talent in the genre.

Banijay is providing funding for the venture and will also distribute the content globally via its Banijay Rights arm.

Global investment bank ACF advised Grylls and Shoopman on the deal.

“TNS will be providing a home for the best adventure talent to help them create shows with us that inspire and move people to go for it in their lives and to never give up,” said Grylls and Shoopman in a statement.

“Banijay & ACF have proved the strongest of partners in this endeavor and we are primed now to extend our current raft of shows across multiple networks, platforms and territories,” they added.

“In a crowded marketplace, with many new players, only strong talents can cut through and as the face of adventure globally, Bear does just this,” said Banijay Group CEO Marco Bassetti. “Both he and Del bring an incredibly strong portfolio and track record in this space and fit harmoniously with our existing catalog of world-class adventure entertainment brands.”

Grylls’ current slate of programs spanning various networks includes Running Wild with Bear Grylls and Hostile Planet (Nat Geo), The Island for Channel 4, You vs. Wild for Netflix and Eco-Challenge for Amazon Prime. Grylls and Shoopman’s shows have been watched by more than 2 billion people worldwide.