Sphere Media is a Canadian media production company involved in the creation, adaptation, production, and distribution of television and film content. Its headquarters are located in Montreal, and it has an office in Toronto. Sphere Media has over 200 employees and works with more than 10,000 freelancers annually. Its productions are broadcast in Quebec, Canada, and worldwide on networks such as STQ, TVA, SRC, CBC, CTV, NBC, ABC, CBS, Discovery, SKY, HBO, Viacom, etc.
Sphere Media was founded in 1984 by Jean Rémillard.[1] Initially named Groupe Télé-Vision Inc., the company was sold in 2010 to Bruno Dubé and partners, and renamed DATSIT Studios Inc. in 2012. It adopted the final name Sphere Media Inc. in 2017 after acquiring Sphere Media Plus Inc., founded by Jocelyn Deschênes.[2] Sphere Media made other acquisitions, including ORBI XXI in 2016, founded by Jacques W. Lina,[3] GO Films[4] in 2018, founded by Nicole Robert, Oasis Animation and Quiet Motion in 2019, founded by Jacques Bilodeau,[5] and BGM in 2020,[6] founded by Judy Bristow. It also acquired Sienna Films in 2020, founded by Julia Sereny and Jennifer Kawaja.[7] Sphere Media Distribution Inc. holds the catalog rights to its works for international exploitation and also owns the international sales agency WaZabi Films for the sale of feature films.
In 2020, 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 announced the acquisition of Sardine Productions, founded in 2002 by Ghislain Cyr.[9] In April 2022, the company acquired the film distributor MK2 MILE END, founded in 2017 by Charles Tremblay.[10]
In March 2023, Bell Media acquired a minority stake in Sphere Media. This strategic investment aims to provide Bell Media with access to a robust pipeline of bilingual content to enhance its English and French-language broadcasting operations across Canada.[11][12]
Operations and Productions
Sphere Media produces a wide array of content across different genres. Notable productions include:
Sort Of: A critically acclaimed comedy series for CBC and Max that follows the life of a gender-fluid millennial.[13]
Transplant: A medical drama series produced for CTV and NBC.[14]
The Porter: A historical drama series for CBC and BET+ that received significant recognition at the Canadian Screen Awards.[15]
Tall Pines: An eight-part series created by Mae Martin for Netflix Canada.[16]
No Return: A French-language whodunnit series produced for Bell Media's Noovo and Crave, which was also picked up by Canal+ in France.[17]
In April 2023, Sphere Media announced the formation of a new kids and family banner. This initiative, overseen by Marlo Miazga, the president of unscripted and documentaries at Sphere, is designed to support an increased investment in children's content. This restructuring aligns with Sphere's goal of expanding its presence in the kids and family entertainment sector.[18] Andrea Griffith, VP of Content and Development Kids and Family, and Judith Beauchemin, VP of Production & Post, Kids & Family, highlighted Sphere's prolific debut year in this arena, with major content launches such as Dog & Pony Show and Kiss My Age.[19]
Leadership and Key Appointments
Bruno Dubé serves as the CEO of Sphere Media, overseeing its extensive operations and strategic direction. Jennifer Kawaja, the president of scripted and feature films for English Canada, has played a crucial role in the company's success, particularly with the acclaimed series The Porter and Sort Of.[20] In February 2022, Kim Bondi joined Sphere Media-owned BGM as the Senior Vice-president of Development, bringing her extensive experience in unscripted content to the company.[21]
Awards and Recognition
Sphere Media has garnered numerous accolades for its productions. In April 2023, the company received 22 awards at the Canadian Screen Awards, including a record 12 wins for The Porter and seven for Sort Of.[22] Additionally, Sphere Media's animated documentary Eternal Spring won the Grand Jury Prize at the Banff Rockie Awards, highlighting the company's excellence in diverse genres.[23]
Future Projects
Sphere Media continues to expand its portfolio with several upcoming projects. These include:
A television adaptation of Miriam Toews' A Complicated Kindness developed in collaboration with Amazon Studios.[24]
A six-part adaptation of the environmental thriller You Are Obsolete, co-produced with SAM Productions and TV4.[25]
One Another, a series developed with Fab Filippo for CBC, and The Mozarts, a comedic retelling of the Mozart family.[26]
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