Sphere Media

Last updated

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
Founder Jean Rémillard
Headquarters
Montreal, Quebec
,
Canada
Key people
Bruno Dubé (CEO)
Divisions
  • Sphere Abacus
  • Sphere Animation
  • Sphere Films
Website sphere-media.com/en/

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

Contents

History

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]

The company subsequently acquired other smaller studios, including Nicole Robert's Go Films in 2018, [4] Oasis Animation and Quiet Motion in 2019, [5] Bristow Global Media in 2020, [6] and Sienna Films in 2020. [7]

In June 2020, DATSIT Sphere announced its rebranding as Sphere Media. Later the 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. [8]

In January 2022, Sphere Media announced the acquisition Montreal-based animation studio Sardine Productions, founded in 2002 by Ghislain Cyr. [9] In the same year, it launched a new animation studio in Ottawa. [10]

In April 2022, Sphere Media announced a corporate restructuring, rebranding its subsidiaries as Sphere Media, Sphere Films and Sphere Animation. [11] They subsequently acquired Montreal-based film production and distribution company MK2 Mile End. [12]

In March 2023, Bell Media acquired a minority stake in Sphere Media. [13]

The Sardine Productions operations were subsequently incorporated into a new children's and family programming division launched in 2023. [14]

In June 2024, Sphere Media announced 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. [15]

Key people

Bruno Dubé serves as the CEO of Sphere Media, overseeing its extensive operations and strategic direction. [8]

Jennifer Kawaja serves as the president of scripted and feature films for English Canada, [16] and film producer Marie-Claude Poulin joined the company in 2021 as head of French-language film development. [17]

In February 2022, Kim Bondi joined Sphere Media-owned BGM as the senior vice-president of development. [18]

Productions

Television

Film

Related Research Articles

Lagardère News, formerly known as Lagardère Active, is the media activities arm of the French Lagardère Group. It owns the radio stations Europe 1, Europe 2, and RFM, the newspapers Le Journal du Dimanche and the magazine Paris Match.

Mainframe Studios is a Canadian animation company owned by Wow Unlimited Media and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1993 as Mainframe Entertainment Inc. by Christopher Brough, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell, Gavin Blair and John Grace, the company established itself as a leading contributor to the introduction of computer-generated imagery (CGI) live action in animation, film and television.

The History of Canadian animation involves a considerable element of the realities of a country neighbouring the United States and both competitiveness and co-operation across the border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atomic Cartoons</span> Canadian animation studio

Atomic Cartoons, Inc. is a Canadian animation studio founded in 1999 by Trevor Bentley, Mauro Casalese, Olaf Miller, and former Warner Bros. Animation employee Rob Davies. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, it produces service animation for a wide variety of clients, as well as creating its own properties. Since 2015, the company has been owned by Thunderbird Entertainment.

WildBrain Ltd. is a Canadian media, animation studio, production, and brand licensing company, mostly associated as an entertainment company. The company is known for owning the largest independent library of children's television programming, including the assets of acquisitions such as Cookie Jar Group, Epitome Pictures, and Wildbrain Entertainment among others, distribution rights to the Jay Ward Productions library, and a stake in the Peanuts franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinesite</span> Visual effects studio

Cinesite is an independent, multinational business which provides services to the media and entertainment industries. Its head office in London opened for business in 1994, initially offering services in visual effects for film and television, subsequently expanding to include animation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jam Filled Entertainment</span> Canadian animation studio

Jam Filled Entertainment is a Canadian animation studio based in Ottawa, Ontario, and a division of Boat Rocker Media. The company is best known for animating Thomas & Friends and Nicktoons.

Lionsgate Canada is a Canadian entertainment company and a subsidiary of Lionsgate Studios. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the company is primarily involved in the acquisition and production of films and television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9 Story Media Group</span> Canadian media company

9 Story Media Group Inc. is a Canadian media production, animation studio, and distribution company founded in September 2002 by Vince Commisso, Steve Jarosz, and Blake Tohana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIP Animation</span> French animation studio

SIP Animation was a French animation studio, and a defunct subsidiary of BVS Entertainment. By 2009, the company had produced over 390 hours of animated content.

Leonine Holding GmbH, also known as LEONINE Studios and formerly known Tele München Group, LLC, is a German media production and distribution company that is based in Munich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Kids</span> American childrens television channel

Universal Kids is an American children's television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of NBCUniversal, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast.

Mediawan S.A. is a French media conglomerate and audiovisual international production and distribution group. It was founded in December 15, 2015 by Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse and Pierre-Antoine Capton under the legal form of a special-purpose acquisition company ("SPAC") with the purpose to acquire assets and operations in the media production and distribution business in Europe. Their ambition for the company was to become "one of the largest platforms for European content".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boat Rocker Media</span> Canadian media company

Boat Rocker Media Inc. is a Canadian entertainment company based in Toronto, Ontario. The company owns Boat Rocker Studios, which incorporates Temple Street Productions. Its majority shareholder is Fairfax Financial. Boat Rocker is led by co-executive chairs David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg and CEO John Young.

The Prix Michel-Côté is an annual film award, presented by Québec Cinéma as part of its annual Prix Iris, to honour the most popular film of the year among film audiences in Quebec.

Nicole Robert is a Canadian film producer.

References

  1. Victoria Ahearn, "Montreal’s Sphere announces restructure and rebrand". Playback , April 4, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "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. Townsend, Kelly (March 11, 2020). "DATSIT Sphere acquires BGM from Kew Media". Playback . Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  7. Duchesne, André (March 18, 2020). "Datsit Sphère achète Sienna Film". La Presse (in French). Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Pinto, Jordan (December 18, 2020). "Dealmaker of the Year 2020: Bruno Dube". Playback . Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  9. Max Weinstein, "Sphere Media Acquires Montreal Animation Studio Sardine Productions". Animation World Network , January 17, 2022.
  10. David Sali, "Montreal-based Sphere Media drawn to capital’s animation scene". Ottawa Business Journal , April 21, 2022.
  11. Ahern, Victoria (April 4, 2022). "Montreal's Sphere announces restructure and rebrand". Playback. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  12. Grater, Tom (April 13, 2022). "Canada's Sphere Buys Local Distributor MK2 Mile End". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  13. 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.
  14. Ryan Tuchow, "Sphere Media forms kids and family banner". Kidscreen , April 13, 2023.
  15. Vlessing, Etan (June 26, 2024). "Producer Sphere Media to Buy Distributor Abacus for $18M". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  16. Amber Dowling (May 30, 2023). "Sphere Media's Jennifer Kawaja on 'The Porter' Season 2, WGA Strike". Variety . Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  17. Liza Sardi, "Sphere Media adds feature film, fiction producer to team". Playback , October 1, 2021.
  18. K. J. Yossman (February 10, 2022). "BGM Taps Kim Bondi As Senior Vice-President Of Development". Variety . Retrieved 2022-06-07.