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Sphere Media
Formerly
  • Groupe Télé-Vision (1984–2010)
  • DATSIT Studios (2012–2017)
  • DATSIT Sphere (2017–2020)
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryTelevision production
Founded1984; 40 years ago (1984) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
FounderJean Rémillard
Headquarters
Montreal, Quebec
,
Canada
Key people
Bruno Dubé (CEO)
Divisions
  • Sphere Abacus
  • Sphere Animation
  • Sphere Films
Websitesphere-media.com/en/

Sphere Media is a Canadian film and television production and distribution company based in Montreal, Quebec.[1]

History

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Sphere Media was founded in 1984 by Jean Rémillard.[2] Initially named Groupe Télé-Vision Inc., the company was sold in 2010 to Bruno Dubé and partners, and renamed DATSIT Studios, in 2012.[2] It was renamed DATSIT Sphere in 2017 after acquiring Sphere Media Plus, founded by Jocelyn Deschênes.[3]

In October 2018, DATSIT Sphere had subsequently announced that they've acquired Nicole Robert's Montreal-based film production company GO Films thrus expanding DATSIT Sphere's operations and marked the first time DATSIT Sphere had enterted the film industry along with their first smaller studio acquisition with founder of GO Films Nicole Robert continued to remain as the president and producer of the acquired company under DATSIT Sphere.[4]

In March 2019, DATSIT Sphere had announced that they've expanding their operations into the animation industry by acquiring Montreal-based animation production company Oasis Animation. They also announced that they've entered the documentary and unscripted production industry by acquiring documentary-focused and unscripted production company Quiet Motion with the two companies joining the DATSIT Studios division and will continued to operate under their existing names.[5][6]

In July 2019, DATSIT Sphere had announced that they've launched an Quebec-based international film licensing sales outfit with former Seville International executives Anick Poirier and Lorne Price named WaZabi Films with DATSIT Sphere backing the new international film sales company and Anick Poiriee and Lorne Pirce becoming co-presidents of the newly launched saled division WaZabi Films within DATSIT Sphere with a focus on licensing international films to global distributors.[7][8][9]

In March 2020, DATSIT Sphere had announced that they've acquired Toronto-based factual and children's production company BGM (Bristow Global Media) which was founded by Judy Bristow from it's then-struggled parent company KEW Media Group, marking DATSIT Sphere's first entry into the English-language factual entertainment television production with BGM's CEO Marlo Miazga continued to lead the company under their new parent company.[10][11][12] Seven days later in that same month, DATSIT Media had announced that they've acquired KEW Media Group's second production company which was Julia Sereny and Jennifer Kawaja's Toronto-based film and television production label Sienna Films from its then-struggling parent company KEW Media Group, marking DATSIT Sphere second production company acquisition from the then-struggling latter company thrus expanding the former's global drama operations.[13][14][15][16][17]

In June 2020, DATSIT Sphere announced that they're rebranding as Sphere Media and had launched a new identity to reflectthe company's dramatic growth.[18]. Later in December of that same year, the president of Sphere Media, Bruno Dubé, was named "Dealmaker of the Year" by Playback magazine for the acquisitions of BGM and Sienna Films during 2020.[19]

In January 2022, Sphere Media announced the acquisition Montreal-based animation studio Sardine Productions, founded in 2002 by Ghislain Cyr.[20] In the same year, it launched a new animation studio in Ottawa.[21]

In April 2022, Sphere Media announced a corporate restructuring and rebranded themselves along with its subsidiaries as Sphere Media, Sphere Films and Sphere Animation.[22] Eight days later that same year following the restructure, they subsequently announced that they've acquired Montreal-based film production and distribution company MK2 Mile End in which it was founded in 2017 by Charles Tremblay and will be merged into Sphere Media's own film distribution Sphere Films with French film production and distribution company MK2 dropping the stake in the acquired company along with MK2 Mile End's president and founder Charles Tremblay became the president of Sphere Media's film distirbution division Sphere Films..[23][24]

In March 2023, Bell Media acquired a minority stake in Sphere Media.[25]

The Sardine Productions operations were subsequently incorporated into a new children's and family programming division launched in 2023.[26]

In June 2023, Sphere Media had announced that they've ceased their film international sales activies by shutting down their film international sales division Sphere Films International.[27]

In June 2024, Sphere Media announced that they've established a deal to acquire British-based premium television international distribution and rights management company Abacus Media Rights from its Toronto-based parent company Amcomri Entertainment for $18 million. The deal could also give Sphere Media their own distirbution arm and will be renamed Sphere Abacus Media Rights once the acquisition is complete with Acabus' team will be remained once the acquisition is completed and Abacus' founder and managing director Jonathan Ford will join Sphere Media's executive team.[28][29][30] Two months later in August of that same year, Sphere Media had announced that they've completed their $18 million acquisition of British-based premium international television distribution and rights management company Abacus Media Rights from it's parent company Amcomri Entertainment with Sphere Media now having Abacus Media Rights as their own distribution division and had it interrogated into Sphere Media by renaming it to Sphere Abacus as the acquired company now distributing Sphere Media programmed along with the continuation of distributing programmes from independent producers. Sphere Abacus' team will continue to work within the acquired company alongside Sphere Abacus' founder Jonathan Ford continuing to lead Sphere Media's new distribution arm.[31][32][33]

Key people

[edit]

Bruno Dubé serves as the CEO of Sphere Media, overseeing its extensive operations and strategic direction.[19]

Jennifer Kawaja serves as the president of scripted and feature films for English Canada,[34] and film producer Marie-Claude Poulin joined the company in 2021 as head of French-language film development.[35]

In February 2022, Kim Bondi joined Sphere Media-owned BGM as the senior vice-president of development.[36]

Productions

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Television

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Film

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References

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  1. ^ Victoria Ahearn, "Montreal’s Sphere announces restructure and rebrand". Playback, April 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "DATSIT SPHÈRE célèbre ses 35 ans à l'occasion d'un grand barbecue urbain !". CTVM (in French). September 9, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "DATSIT STUDIOS et SPHÈRE MÉDIA PLUS se regroupent". CTVM.info (in French). August 1, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Pinto, Jordan (October 15, 2018). "Datsit Sphere acquires Go Films". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Pinto, Jordan (March 26, 2019). "DATSIT Sphere merges with Oasis Animation, Quiet Motion". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Pinto, Jordan (March 26, 2019). "DATSIT Sphere merges with Oasis Animation". Kidscreen. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  7. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (July 23, 2019). "Former Seville International Execs Anick Poirier & Lorne Price Launch Film Sales Outfit WaZabi Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Townsend, Kelly (July 23, 2019). "Seville International closes, execs launch new sales outfit". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  9. ^ Barraclough, Leo (July 25, 2019). "Anick Poirier and Lorne Price Launch Sales Agency WaZabi Films". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Townsend, Kelly (March 11, 2020). "DATSIT Sphere acquires BGM from Kew Media". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Ravindran, Manori (March 11, 2020). "Quebec Producer-Distributor Datsit Sphere Buys Former Kew Media Group Producer BGM". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Whittingham, Clive (March 11, 2020). "Datsit Sphere acquires BGM". C21Media. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Duchesne, André (March 18, 2020). "Datsit Sphère achète Sienna Film". La Presse (in French). Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Vlessing, Etan (March 18, 2020). "'Cardinal' Producer Sienna Films Sold as Kew Media Group Continues to Offload Assets". The Hollywood Reproter. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  15. ^ Ravindran, Manori (March 18, 2020). "Quebec's Datsit Sphere Buys Kew Media's 'Cardinal' Producer Sienna Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  16. ^ Pinto, Jordan (March 18, 2020). "DATSIT Sphere acquires Sienna Films". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Wittingham, Clive (March 18, 2020). "Datsit acquires second Kew company". C21Media. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "DATSIT Sphere becomes Sphere Media and Unveils New Colours". Sphere. June 23, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Pinto, Jordan (December 18, 2020). "Dealmaker of the Year 2020: Bruno Dube". Playback. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  20. ^ Max Weinstein, "Sphere Media Acquires Montreal Animation Studio Sardine Productions". Animation World Network, January 17, 2022.
  21. ^ David Sali, "Montreal-based Sphere Media drawn to capital’s animation scene". Ottawa Business Journal, April 21, 2022.
  22. ^ Ahern, Victoria (April 4, 2022). "Montreal's Sphere announces restructure and rebrand". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  23. ^ Grater, Tom (April 13, 2022). "Canada's Sphere Buys Local Distributor MK2 Mile End". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  24. ^ Townsend, Kelly (April 13, 2022). "Sphere acquires distributor MK2 Mile End". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  25. ^ Etan Vlessing (May 29, 2023). "Bell Media Buys Minority Stake in 'Sort Of,' 'The Porter' Producer Sphere Media". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  26. ^ Ryan Tuchow, "Sphere Media forms kids and family banner". Kidscreen, April 13, 2023.
  27. ^ Townsend, Kelly (June 16, 2023). "Sphere Films International to shutter operations". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  28. ^ "Sphere Media To Buy 'Leaving Neverland' Seller Abacus Media Rights For $18.6M". Deadline Hollywood. June 26, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Vlessing, Etan (June 26, 2024). "Producer Sphere Media to Buy Distributor Abacus for $18M". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  30. ^ Yossman, K.J. (June 26, 2024). "Canada's Sphere Media Set to Snap Up Abacus Media Rights For $18 Million". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  31. ^ Whittock, Jesse (September 3, 2024). "Sphere Media Completes $18.2M Abacus Media Rights Takeover". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  32. ^ Pinto, Jordan (September 3, 2024). "Canada's Sphere Media completes $18m Abacus Media Rights acquisition". C21Media. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  33. ^ Tracy, Andrew (September 4, 2024). "Sphere Media completes acquisition of Abacus Media Rights". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  34. ^ Amber Dowling (May 30, 2023). "Sphere Media's Jennifer Kawaja on 'The Porter' Season 2, WGA Strike". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  35. ^ Liza Sardi, "Sphere Media adds feature film, fiction producer to team". Playback, October 1, 2021.
  36. ^ K. J. Yossman (February 10, 2022). "BGM Taps Kim Bondi As Senior Vice-President Of Development". Variety. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
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