Banijay’s youth programming at MIPCOM 2026

Banijay Media is bringing a first-of-its-kind creator-led iteration of the hit format Schlag den Star (Beat the Star) to the digital space. Titled Schlag den Aaron (Beat Aaron), the live interactive spectacular premieres on Monday, October 26, streaming simultaneously across Twitch and YouTube. Produced by Banijay Germany label Brainpool, with Banijay Media Germany steering the marketing strategy, the format marks a major crossover event for digital audiences. 

In this new adaptation, presenter and prominent YouTube creator Aaron Troschke teams up with fellow influencer Marvin Wildhage. The duo goes head-to-head against popular Twitch streamers Zarbex and Max Schradin in a series of multidisciplinary challenges. The event broadcasts live across Troschke and Wildhage’s YouTube channels, alongside Zarbex and Schradin’s Twitch streams, creating a massive cross-platform viewing experience that allows fans to interact live within their preferred communities. 

Troschke notes that combining a premium studio setting with distinct creator personalities and live community interaction delivers a winning formula. After appearing in the franchise’s anniversary episode earlier this year, Troschke says he is eager to return, though he jokes that he and Wildhage must fight hard to ensure the show’s title doesn’t become a self-fulfilling prophecy against their fierce opponents. 

For Banijay, the project represents a blueprint for modern content distribution. Christian Nienaber, Managing Director of Banijay Media Germany, explains that the event merges one of Germany’s strongest entertainment brands with high-reach creators. By combining major studio production values with the intimacy of the creator world, Banijay opens up entirely new, organic integration opportunities for commercial brands. 

Beat Aaron arrives as Banijay Entertainment aggressively scales its digital footprint following its merger with All3Media in July 2026. This cross-platform launch joins recent digital-first initiatives across the group, including a Twitch collaboration for Fort Boyard with French streamer Domingo, the Big Brother – Knossi Edition in Germany, and The Bov Boys’ 24-hour Big Brother UK livestream.