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Blue Ant Media announces its latest slate of original Canadian programming

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From a media release:

International production studio, rights business and channel operator, Blue Ant Media, kicked off day one of Prime Time by announcing new and returning Canadian series for the company’s specialty TV and international free streaming platforms in 2024.

The slate includes My Haunted Hometown, a new paranormal series filmed across North America; Wild Rose Vets, a spin-off of the original series Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet; and Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation (w/t), a new season of the hit franchise Hope for Wildlife. Further, Blue Ant Media has ordered two additional episodes of the previously-announced eight-part series Mysteries From Above, Season 3, following the ratings success of the franchise.

Blue Ant’s latest originals slate is overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media and Julie Chang, EVP, Business Strategy & Co-Productions. Blue Ant Studios rights division will handle pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide for all the titles.

The latest original slate comes after the previously announced Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy, which is currently casting GTA homeowners in need of a life-changing renovation via makeitright.ca/casting-call/.

Titles across the unscripted originals slate include:

Cottage Life/Love Pets

Wild Rose Vets (13 x 30; HD)
A Blue Ant Media and APTN Co-production
Producer: Wapanatahk Media in partnership with Great Pacific Media

Scheduled to air in spring 2025 on Cottage Life in Canada during the channel’s nationwide free preview, with a subsequent window on the free streaming channel Love Pets in multiple territories worldwide

A heartwarming and culturally-unique docuseries following the behind-the-scenes adventures of three Indigenous veterinarians in the prairies as they rescue and rehabilitate a wide range of household pets and exotic wildlife. The daily experiences of these young vets in very different clinics could not be more varied but they are each driven and connected by their love of animals. Blue Ant Studios rights division handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide. The series will also broadcast and stream on APTN’s channels and platform in Canada (date TBC).  

Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation (w/t) (8 x 60′; HD)
Producer: Arcadia Entertainment

World broadcast premiere scheduled to air on Cottage Life in early 2025, with a subsequent window on the free streaming channel Love Pets in multiple territories worldwide

The series takes audiences inside a world-class rehabilitation center in Nova Scotia. Led by the compassionate and trailblazing Hope Swinimer, the show follows her team’s efforts to rescue, treat and release injured and orphaned wildlife. As Hope grows the operation and prepares for her eventual passing of the torch, the series introduces us to a new generation of caregivers, trained to continue her lifelong mission of compassion toward animals. Witness dramatic rescues, miraculous recoveries, and emotional releases in this inspiring journey of hope and healing. Blue Ant Studios rights division handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide.

Cottage Life

Mysteries from Above, Season 3 (10 × 60’; HD)
Producer: Blue Ant Studios

World broadcast premiere is scheduled for spring 2024 on Cottage Life in Canada during the channel’s nationwide free preview

Previously renewed as an eight-part series, Blue Ant Media has ordered two more episodes of Mysteries from Above, Season 3. The popular series takes to the skies to unlock Earth’s greatest mysteries and dramatically change how we see the world. From the vantage points of drones, satellites and aerial photography, the series explores unique buildings and structures — both natural and man-made, curious creatures and lost ancient civilizations, revealing fascinating insights and never-before-seen footage to the viewers. Mysteries from Above, Season 1 and Season 2 both featured in the top 10 primetime series with total viewers, as well as Cottage Life’s core demographic of adults 25-54 and women 25-54. Blue Ant Studios rights division handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide.

T+E/HauntTV

My Haunted Hometown (8 x 60′)
Producer: Blue Ant Studios

World broadcast premiere scheduled in October 2024 on T+E during the channel’s nationwide free preview and its Creep Week programming event, with a subsequent window on the free streaming channel HauntTV in multiple territories worldwide

My Haunted Hometown follows the terrifying first-hand accounts of paranormal encounters in haunted small towns across North America. The documentary series reveals how many small towns are home to frightening supernatural activity; vengeful spirits torment residents. Each episode showcases true stories of individuals, families, and friends who built their lives in the community but now feel trapped, haunted and unable to escape. Blue Ant Studios rights division handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide.

Blue Ant Media is a privately held international production studio and rights business and channel operator. The company’s studio creates and distributes a premium slate of programming in all content genres for streaming and broadcasting platforms around the world.

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Featured, Industry News, Letterkenny, Shoresy

New Metric Media partners with Encore to develop bilingual rom-com heist series

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From a media release:

Award-winning comedy entertainment studio New Metric Media has partnered with Quebec’s premiere production company Encore to co-produce the untitled, rom-com mini-series involving a Quebecois family and an Anglo-Ontarian family reluctantly coming together despite their differences for an unforgettable wedding weekend. The project is based on a concept created by Mark Montefiore, Founder and CEO, New Metric Media.

“We’re excited to collaborate with the insanely talented producteurs d’Encore on this hilarious nouvelle serie that will transcend barriers de la langue and playfully bridge the gap between Québécois and English cultures, all while laughing at it at the same time,” commented Montefiore (above left). “This project is a celebration of inclusivity, laughter and the unique charm that defines le coeur du Canada.”

“As comedy is part of Encore’s DNA, nous sommes très heureux to work with New Metric Media. With Mark, his incredibly talented team, and a project that made us rire at the first words, it was only natural for us to join forces. We dated for a while and finally said OUI to each other!”, say Julie Provençal (above right), President of Encore.

The untitled rom-com is My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets Bon Cop Bad Cop in a culture clash heist about a young couple from two different provinces whose wedding threatens to divide them rather than unite after the gift box of cash money goes missing from their already fractious ceremony. The Québécois blame the Anglos and the Anglos blame the Québécois sending the whodunnit mystery into all-out civil (union) war and threatens to drag their holy matrimony along with it.

About New Metric Media
Based in Toronto, New Metric Media is an award-winning independent entertainment studio specializing in building comedy brands across tv production, live entertainment, distribution, merchandising and licensing. Recipient of Playback’s 2022 Production Company of the Year award and the Banff World Media Festival’s 2018 Innovative Producer Award, the company’s slate of programming includes the hit Crave/Hulu original comedy Letterkenny, the Crave/Hulu Letterkenny spinoff series Shoresy, the CTV/CW/Roku half-hour comedy series Children Ruin Everything, as well as the new half-hour Crave comedy series Bria Mack Gets A Life.

New Metric Media is recognized as a leader in 360 degree brand marketing and its success with Letterkenny off-screen extensions, including beer, collectible merchandise and Letterkenny LIVE!, a sold-out North American theatre tour featuring the stars of the series.

About Groupe Encore
Created in Montreal in 2000, Encore is an integrated entertainment group, one of the most prolific production companies in scripted series (comedy and drama), live comedy specials, live plays, and artist management in French Canada.

With nearly 700 hours produced, Encore Television multiplies the production of millionaire and award-winning TV series praised both on the local and global markets.  Licensed in more than 100 countries as originals or adaptations, hit series like Les beaux malaises, Bête noire (Dark Soul), Fugueuse (Runaway), Pour Sarah (For Sarah), Léo, Boomerang, La candidate (The Candidate), Lâcher prise (Freefall) are amongst the highest-rated series in Québec.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

HGTV Canada and MEM greenlight Renovation Resort for Season 2

From a media release:

HGTV Canada and MEM announce today the Season 2 greenlight of Renovation Resort. Following the success of Season 1 as the #1 Canadian original series on Specialty in Spring 2023*, the new season will feature four all-new renovation and design duos competing to create the ultimate vacation rental. Season 2 of Renovation Resort will air on HGTV Canada and be available to stream live and on-demand on STACKTV.

HGTV Canada’s Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler return as co-hosts and judges in the eight-episode season distributed by Corus Studios. Scott and Bryan will decide which team takes home the title of Renovation Resort Champion and a game-changing prize of $100,000.

Casting is currently underway for four new pairs of renovation pros to compete in a battle to transform empty shells into one-of-a-kind vacation properties. The pairs will be put to the test, each renovating and redesigning one of the resort’s four cabins; as well as creating unique, multi-season outdoor backyard spaces. Interested applicants can apply here.

Viewers can also watch Scott McGillivray this Spring in Season 5 of Scott’s Vacation House Rules, where he and design partner Debra Salmoni show homeowners how to transform their vacation properties into profitable pieces of paradise. Production on Season 6 of the Corus Studios series is currently underway by MEM and is expected to premiere in 2025.

Renovation Resort and Scott’s Vacation House Rules are produced by MEM, Scott McGillivray is CEO, Angela Jennings is President, Nanci MacLean is COO, and Kelly Wray is Executive Producer.

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Industry News

Paramount+ in Canada and The Shine Network Institute announce the Indigenous Producers Budgeting Intensive

From a media release:

Today, Paramount+ in Canada and The Shine Network Institute (TSNI) announce the Indigenous Producers Budgeting Intensive, an online course and new resource to support the professional development and mentorship of Indigenous women in film, television and media. This first virtual course will be geared toward budgeting for film. It will be accessible on TSNI’s @Learnatshine platform and will launch on National Indigenous Peoples Day – Friday, June 21, 2024.

Geared toward emerging and mid-level Indigenous female producers, this first intensive course of 10 x one-hour modules offer students hands-on learning accompanied by Indigenous-framed tutorials designed to empower students as they prepare to produce their first feature film. The course will also include candid conversations with Indigenous female producers to inspire and motivate students by giving them access to industry veterans who can dispel myths and misconceptions about producing.

“Working with The Shine Network Institute on this course is truly the first step in our partnership,” said Doug Smith, SVP Streaming & Content Licensing Paramount Global, Canada. “After listening and consulting with Jennifer Podemski and her team over the past few months we are proud to collaborate on this online course which will provide tangible skills to those interested in line producing, one of the most important jobs on any set. It is also a project we can build on in the months and years to come to support even more of TSNI’s membership and the next generation of Indigenous producers.”

“I am thrilled to be partnering with Paramount + Canada for this course,” said Jennifer Podemski, President & CEO, The Shine Network Institute. “Partnerships like this allow TSNI to offer the highest level of training and mentorship while building capacity for Indigenous people within the screen sector. Although our mission at TSNI is to foster the careers of Indigenous women who are the least represented across the sector and experience the most disproportionate outcomes, this course, which will be offered on our @Learnatshine platform, is open to all Indigenous professionals working within Canada’s film, television and digital media space.”

This initiative is the third partnership Paramount+ in Canada has announced that reinforces its long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Earlier this fall, the company announced a collaboration with the Black Screen Office for the Black Creators Festival Initiative; a joint venture with BIPOC TV & Film, and the National Screen Institute Partner for the new ELEVATE program; and now TSNI’s Budget Online Intensive.

These programs are intricately connected to the mission of Paramount Global’s Content for Change initiative, which seeks to counteract narratives that enable bias, stereotypes and hate using the power of our content, the creative supply chain that powers it, and the culture that underpins everything we do.

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Featured, Industry News

Paramount+ in Canada adds two projects to its development slate from Boat Rocker

From a media release:

Paramount+ announced today two new, Canadian original comedy titles to their expanding development slate from Boat Rocker. BENSEN, created and written by Clara Altimas, and ELECTED, created and written by Michael McGowan, have been added to the growing list of Canadian content backed by the global streaming service. In June, Paramount+ in Canada revealed its first set of projects in the development stage consisting of Paramount+ Original documentary, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD from Dianne Whelan and four other projects from a variety of Canadian creatives.

New Titles in Development

BENSEN
A scripted dramedy about a struggling limo driver who tries to maintain fun dad status after the death of his wife and with the help of his dysfunctional family. BENSEN is a story about the impossibility of grieving the right way. Created and Written by Clara Altimas. For Boat Rocker Executive Producers are: Clara Altimas, David Fortier (Slip, Beacon 23), Ivan Schneeberg (Slip, Beacon 23), and Kerry Appleyard (Orphan Black: Echoes, Robyn Hood).

ELECTED
When an A-list actor unexpectedly has an opportunity to become the Prime Minister of Canada, he accepts what could turn out to be the worst decision he’s ever made or, improbably, the role of a lifetime. A premium comedy series created by Michael McGowan (All My Puny Sorrows, Still Mine), Creative consultant is Sherry White (Pretty Hard Cases, Rookie Blue). For Boat Rocker Executive Producers are: Michael McGowan, David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg and Kerry Appleyard.

Additionally, Paramount+’s first Original documentary, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD will premiere at the Whistler International Film Festival this Friday, December 1. The project will have a limited theatrical run in early 2024, followed by its premiere on Paramount+. 500 DAYS IN THE WILD is produced by Betsy Carson with Executive Producers Christine Haebler and Dianne Whelan for Rebel Sisters Productions and distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures.

Previously announced Series in Development with Paramount+ in Canada include; HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY from writer Anthony Q Farrell (The Office U.S.) and award-winning producers New Metric Media (Letterkenny), LEN & CUB from writer Lynne Kamm and producers Muse Entertainment and Elliot Page’s Page Boy Productions, CARPE DEMON from award-winning showrunner Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp, Lost Girl) and producers December Films, Cineflix Studios, Gina Marcheschi and Jon Brown and THEY DRIVE AT NIGHT written by Emmy Award winner Craig Wallace (Murdoch Mysteries, Todd & The Book of Pure Evil) and producers Black Birds Entertainment.

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