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Boat Rocker Media Inc.
Company typePublic
TSX: BRMI
IndustryMedia
Entertainment
Founded2003; 22 years ago (2003) (Brand only)
2013; 12 years ago (2013) (Trading company)
Founders
  • David Fortier
  • Ivan Schneeberg
Headquarters310 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1K6,
Canada
Key people
John Young (CEO)
OwnerFairfax Financial (51%)
Divisions
  • Boat Rocker Kids & Family
  • Boat Rocker Rights & Brands
  • Boat Rocker Studios
  • Boat Rocker Ventures
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.boatrocker.com

Boat Rocker Media Inc. is a Canadian multinational entertainment company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 2013 as a new parent company of Temple Street Productions, it holds interests in media production, distribution, brand licensing, and venture capital. Boat Rocker is led by co-executive chairs David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg and CEO John Young.

History

[edit]

Boat Rocker Studios was first established by Temple Street Productions in June 2013 as its digital studio.[1][2]

In February 2016, after Fairfax Financial made a majority investment in Temple Street, the company announced a restructuring that would establish a new publicly-traded parent company known as Boat Rocker Media, with Scheeberg and Fortier serving as co-CEOs of the new group, and Temple Street becoming a unit of the new company. The company would consist of five main divisions, including Boat Rocker Studios, Boat Rocker Rights (distribution), Boat Rocker Animation, Boat Rocker Brands (intellectual property),[3] and Boat Rocker Ventures. Founder David Tortier stated that the restructuring would allow the company to pursue new investments and multi-platform ventures, while Scheeberg and Fortier stated that they aimed to "build a platform for the creation and distribution of world-class content of all kinds, with the same core business and creative philosophies we've had from the start but on a much greater scale."[4][5][6]

Boat Rocker Rights' first outside distribution deal was with the acquisition of international rights to Steve Rotfeld Productions' Xploration Station programs in late-February 2016.[7] In March 2016, Boat Rocker Media announced its acquisition of Toronto-based studio Radical Sheep Productions, producer of series such as The Big Comfy Couch and The Next Step.[8][9] Then in June 2016, the unit acquired the Mountain Road Productions library, and reached a first-look deal with the company.[10]

In August 2016, Boat Rocker Media acquired the Ottawa-based animation studio Jam Filled Entertainment; the company would operate as a subsidiary studio under Boat Rocker's children's and family unit, with its existing management (including president Kyle Mac Dougall, and creative directors Jamie Leclaire and Phil Lafrance) reporting to CEO John Young.[11][12] Later that month, Boat Rocker acquired the library and distribution arm of unscripted producer Peace Point Entertainment Group,[13][14][15] while Jam Filled acquired the assets of Toronto-based 3D animation studio Arc Productions (which had entered receivership the previous month).[16]

In April 2017, Boat Rocker Ventures made a US$8.5 million Series A investment in New York-based edutainment software company MarcoPolo Learning. The investment also included a strategic partnership with Boat Rocker Studios to co-develop television and digital content based on MarcoPolo's characters.[17] In May 2017, Boat Rocker Studios announced that it would merge its factual and unscripted operations into a new unit known as Crooked Horse Productions; the Temple Street Productions label would focus solely on scripted productions from then on.[18]

In September 2017, following the death of its founder and president Guy O'Sullivan, Boat Rocker Media acquired the Toronto-based unscripted studio Proper Television—producer of series such as Canada's Worst Driver, MasterChef Canada, and Vegas Rat Rods among others.[19][20][21]

In January 2018, Boat Rocker acquired the Kids and Family Entertainment division of FremantleMedia; the company divested the library to focus more on its other core entertainment divisions.[22][23][24] In May 2018, Boat Rocker acquired a 70% majority stake in Toronto-based Insight Productions; the company would continue to operate independently.[25] In November 2018, Boat Rocker acquired the New York and Los Angeles-based unscripted studio Matador Content, marking its first foray into the American market.[26] It also made an investment in the Toronto Arrows of Major League Rugby.[27] The following month, Boat Rocker's distribution and brands units were brought under the Studios unit led by Jon Rutherford.[28]

In March 2019, Boat Rocker invested in the talent management and production company Untitled Entertainment.[29] In September 2019, Boat Rocker acquired Platform One Media, a Los Angeles-based studio founded by Orphan Black executive producer Katie O’Connell.[30][31] In October 2019, the company signed a first-look deal with Dakota Johnson's TeaTime Pictures.[32] In November 2020, Platform One Media signed a first-look deal with Lena Headey's Peephole Productions.[33]

On December 8, 2020, Platform One Media was renamed Boat Rocker Studios, Scripted, with Katie O’Connell Marsh being promoted to vice-chairwoman of Boat Rocker Studios. In addition, Matador Content co-founder Jay Peterson was promoted to head of Boat Rocker Studios, Unscripted, with his partner Todd Lubin succeeding him as head of Matador Content. Shortly afterward on December 18, Temple Street Productions was closed and folded into Boat Rocker Studios, Scripted.[34][35]

In March 2021, Boat Rocker announced a new unscripted studio known as Maven with former ITV Studios America executive Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh, focusing on "female-led narratives and emerging voices".[36][37] On December 20, 2021, Boat Rocker acquired a minority stake in TeaTime Pictures, with Dakota Johnson transitioning to an overall deal.[38]

In March 2022, as part of a reorganization, Boat Rocker merged its unscripted division into the Los Angeles-based scripted division. Steve Lescroart and Jay Peterson would remain head of scripted and unscripted respectively, with Lescroart additionally named chief operating officer of the unit.[39] In August 2023, Peterson stepped down as president of unscripted in favour of Todd Lubin.[40] In August 2024, Boat Rocker acquired the remaining 30% share of Insight Productions that it did not already own.[41]

On March 24, 2025, Blue Ant Media (which shares Fairfax as an investor) announced its intent to acquire portions of Boat Rocker Media as part of a reverse takeover; Blue Ant will acquire Insight Productions, Jam Filled Entertainment, Proper Television, and the current Boat Rocker corporate entity, which will be renamed Blue Ant Media Corporation and have 26.5% of its stock held by Boat Rocker's shareholders. The remainder of Boat Rocker (including Boat Rocker Studios and its brand licensing divisions) will be sold in a management buyout to a new entity known as IDJCo for $18 million, which will be led by Boat Rocker's lead executive team; following the completion of the transactions, IDJCo will trade as Boat Rocker Media.[42][43]

Units

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]

Animation

[edit]
Run Title Co-production with Client Notes Ref.
2015–2019 Danger Mouse Boulder Media, CBBC Production, Windmill Lane Studios CBBC Production services in 2018
Distribution services from 2018 to 2019
2016–2017 Fangbone! Radical Sheep Productions, DHX Media Family Chrgd
The Bagel and Becky Show Radical Sheep Productions, Jam Filled Entertainment Teletoon+ [11]
2016–2019 Dot. Industrial Brothers, The Jim Henson Company CBC Kids
2016–present The Loud House Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Jam Filled Entertainment Nickelodeon Animation services [11]
2017–2019 Ollie! The Boy Who Became What He Ate Radical Sheep Productions CBC Kids
2017–2020 Top Wing Industrial Brothers, 9 Story Media Group Treehouse TV
2018–2020 Bitz & Bob BBC Children's Productions, Boat Rocker Rights CBeebies
2019–2020 Kingdom Force Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker Studios CBC Kids
2020–present Love Monster BBC Children's Productions, Boat Rocker Studios CBeebies
2020 Remy & Boo Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker Studios Universal Kids
2021–present Dino Ranch Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker Studios Disney Junior [46]
2021 A Tale Dark & Grimm Netflix Animation, Novo Media Group, Astro-Nomical Entertainment Netflix Animation services by Jam Filled Entertainment [47]
2022–2023 Daniel Spellbound Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker Studios Netflix Merchandise distribution services [48]

Live-action

[edit]
Run Title Co-production with Client Notes Ref.
2011–present Top Chef Canada Insight Productions Food Network Canada
2013–present The Amazing Race Canada Insight Productions, Bell Media CTV
2013–present Big Brother Canada Insight Productions Global
2013–2023 The Next Step Family Channel
2014–present MasterChef Canada Proper Television CTV
2015–present Lip Sync Battle Matador Content, Eight Million Plus, Sunday Night, Four Eyes Entertainment, Casey Patterson Entertainment Paramount Network [49]
2015–2019 Killjoys Temple Street Productions, Mendacity Pictures, Universal Cable Productions CTV Sci-Fi Channel
2017 Boy Band Matador Content ABC
2017–present The Great Canadian Baking Show Proper Television CBC
2017 What Would Diplo Do? Matador Content Viceland
2019 Cavendish Temple Street Productions, Holdfast Pictures, Bridge Burner Entertainment, Somebody Stop Productions CBC
2019–2020 Mary's Kitchen Crush Proper Television CTV
2020 The Impossible Row Matador Content Discovery Channel Documentary
2020–2023 Dear... Matador Content Apple TV+
2020–present Junior Chef Showdown Proper Television Food Network Canada [50]
2021 Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry Matador Content Apple TV+
2021–2024 American Rust Showtime/Amazon Prime Video [51][52]
2021–present Go-Big Show Matador Content TBS
2021–present Invasion Kinberg Genre, Apple Studios (season 2) Apple TV+
2021 The Kids Tonight Show Broadway Video, Electric Hot Dog, Matador Content Peacock [53]
2022 LOL: Last One Laughing Canada Insight Productions Amazon Prime Video [54]
2023 Beacon 23 Peephole Productions, Platform One Media, Spectrum Originals, Studio 8 Television MGM+ [55]
2024 Orphan Black: Echoes You Say Potato, AMC Studios AMC

Upcoming

[edit]
Title Co-production with Client Notes Ref.
Mating Season Matador Content Discovery Channel [56]
Who Wants to Be an Astronaut? Matador Content Discovery Channel [57][58]
Scary Stories for Young Foxes Peephole Productions [59]
Bad Kitty [60]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dickens, Andrew (June 10, 2013). "Temple Street opens digital studio". C21 Media. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  2. ^ See Quan, Danielle NG (June 10, 2013). "Temple Street Media Ventures launches Boat Rocker Studios". Playback. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (February 26, 2016). "Boat Rocker Brands signs UK licensees for The Next Step". Kidscreen. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ^ O'Connor, Joe (April 12, 2021). "Rocking the boat: How two disenchanted Bay Street lawyers shook up the entertainment industry". Financial Post. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  5. ^ Punter, Jennie (February 2, 2016). "'Orphan Black' Producer Temple Street Productions Expands as Boat Rocker Media". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Dickens, Andrew (February 3, 2016). "Temple Street restructures". C21Media. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Brzoznowski, Kristin (February 24, 2016). "Fox's Syndicated Science Block Xploration Station to Go Global". TVREAL. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  8. ^ "Boat Rocker Media acquires Radical Sheep". Kidscreen. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Boat Rocker captures Radical Sheep". C21Media. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  10. ^ "Boat Rocker Rights acquires Mountain Road library". Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d Milligan, Mercedes (August 4, 2016). "Boat Rocker Media Acquires Jam Filled Entertainment". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  12. ^ "Boat Rocker adds another animation studio". Kidscreen. August 3, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Pinto, Jordan (August 16, 2016). "Boat Rocker acquires Peace Point Rights". Playback. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Brzoznowski, Kirstin (August 17, 2016). "Boat Rocker Buys Peace Point Rights". Worldscreen. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Middleton, Richard (August 17, 2016). "Boat Rocker agrees Peace deal". C21Media. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  16. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 22, 2016). "Boat Rocker's Jam Filled Ent. Acquires Arc Assets". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  17. ^ Padovano Tong, Joanna (April 26, 2017). "MarcoPolo Learning Ties Up with Boat Rocker Media". TVKids.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  18. ^ Kashty, Meagan (May 31, 2017). "Boat Rocker unveils new factual division". Playback. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Bailey, Katie (September 25, 2017). "Boat Rocker acquires Proper Television, Proper Rights". Playback. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "Boat Rocker makes Proper acquisition". C21Media. September 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Padovano Tong, Joanna (September 25, 2017). "Proper TV Principal Assets Acquired by Boat Rocker". Worldscreen. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  22. ^ White, Peter (January 25, 2018). "FremantleMedia Moves Out Of Kids Content, Sells Unit To Canada's Boat Rocker". Deadline. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  23. ^ McLean, Thomas J. (January 24, 2018). "Boat Rocker Acquires FremantleMedia's Kids & Family Division". Animation World Network. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (January 24, 2018). "Boat Rocker buys Fremantle's Kids & Family Entertainment division". Kidscreen. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  25. ^ Benzine, Adam (May 17, 2018). "Boat Rocker buys Insight". C21Media. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 8, 2018). "'Lip Sync Battle' Producer Matador Content Acquired By Boat Rocker Media". Deadline. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  27. ^ Davidson, Neil (November 7, 2018). "Toronto Arrows open inaugural Major League Rugby season with eight road games". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Pinto, Jordan (December 19, 2018). "Boat Rocker combines content and rights teams under Studios Banner". Playback. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  29. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 4, 2019). "Boat Rocker Media Buys Stake In Untitled Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  30. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (September 12, 2019). "Boat Rocker Media Buys Platform One Media to Expand Scripted TV Operation". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  31. ^ White, Peter (December 8, 2020). "Katie O'Connell Marsh Promoted As Platform One Media Rebrands As Boat Rocker Studios, Scripted". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  32. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (October 24, 2019). "Dakota Johnson, Ro Donnelly Launch TeaTime Pictures & Set TV Deal With Platform One Media". Deadline. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  33. ^ White, Peter (November 12, 2020). "'Game Of Thrones' Star Lena Headey's Peephole Productions Strikes First-Look Deal With Platform One Media". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  34. ^ Townsend, Kelly (December 18, 2020). "Boat Rocker folds Temple Street into scripted division". Playback. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  35. ^ White, Peter (December 8, 2020). "Katie O'Connell Marsh Promoted As Platform One Media Rebrands As Boat Rocker Studios, Scripted". Deadline. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  36. ^ Otterson, Joe (March 15, 2021). "Boat Rocker Studios, Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh Launch Production Company Maven". Variety. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  37. ^ White, Peter (March 15, 2021). "Ex-Sirens Media President Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh Launches Production Company Maven With Boat Rocker Studios". Deadline. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  38. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 20, 2021). "Boat Rocker Buys Stake In Dakota Johnson's TeaTime, Vice-Chair Katie O'Connell Marsh Segues To Overall Deal, Becomes TeaTime Partner". Deadline. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  39. ^ Townsend, Kelly. "Boat Rocker Studios merges scripted, unscripted divisions". Playback Online. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  40. ^ White, Peter (August 17, 2023). "Boat Rocker Unscripted Chief Jay Peterson Exits, Todd Lubin Takes Over". Deadline. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  41. ^ Townsend, Kelly (August 15, 2024). "Boat Rocker to acquire full ownership of Insight Productions". Playback. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  42. ^ "Blue Ant acquires Boat Rocker production assets and goes public via reverse IPO". C21media. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  43. ^ Whittock, Jesse (March 24, 2025). "Blue Ant Media Going Public Through Reverse Takeover Of Boat Rocker Media; Boat Rocker Studios Set For MBO". Deadline. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  44. ^ "Temple Street restructures". C21media. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  45. ^ Punter, Jennie (February 2, 2016). "'Orphan Black' Producer Temple Street Productions Expands as Boat Rocker Media". Variety. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  46. ^ "Disney Junior picks up Boat Rocker's Dino Ranch". Playback. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  47. ^ "Netflix Announces Three New Animated Comedy Series for Kids from Renowned and First-Time Creators". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  48. ^ "Netflix Summons 'Daniel Spellbound' to Netflix in an All-New Animated Series". Netflix Media Center. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  49. ^ Known as Spike until the Soul Train special, including the first 3 seasons. The first episode broadcast as Paramount Network was the Michael Jackson special.
  50. ^ "Junior Chef Showdown". IMDb. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  51. ^ Otterson, Joel (July 31, 2019). "'American Rust' Series Set at Showtime, Jeff Daniels to Star (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  52. ^ Martino, Paul (April 22, 2021). "Showtime Series 'Rust' Starring Jeff Daniels Set To Begin This Week". KDKA. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  53. ^ Steinberg, Brian (May 13, 2021). "Jimmy Fallon, NBC Making 'The Kids Tonight Show' Under New Development Deal". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  54. ^ McCarthy, Sean L. (April 13, 2021). "Jay Baruchel to Host 'LOL: Last One Laughing, Canada' for Amazon Prime Video". Decider. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  55. ^ White, Peter (October 30, 2020). "'Beacon 23' TV Adaptation From Zak Penn Scores Series Order At Spectrum & AMC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  56. ^ Hayes, Dade (May 18, 2021). "Fresh Off WarnerMedia Merger Reveal, Discovery Touts 2021-22 Streaming And Linear Programming". Deadline. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  57. ^ Etherington, Darrell (May 18, 2021). "Discovery's new reality show 'Who Wants to Be an Astronaut?' will pick one winner to go to space". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  58. ^ Hahn, Jason Duaine (May 25, 2021). "Do You Dream of Flying to Space? Discovery's New Series Is Your Shot at Being an Astronaut!". People. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  59. ^ White, Peter (April 28, 2021). "Lena Headey To Adapt Kids' Horror Book 'Scary Stories For Young Foxes' As Animated Miniseries With Boat Rocker". Deadline. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  60. ^ Yossman, K. J. (June 16, 2022). "Nick Bruel's 'Bad Kitty' Children's Books Get Animated Television Adaptation From Boat Rocker (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
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