Bell expanding content distribution with majority stake in global distributor

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media is branching further into global content distribution with the acquisition of a majority stake in content distributor Sphere Abacus. Sphere Abacus, the U.K.-based distribution arm of a larger, Montreal-based company called Sphere Media, will be the “primary” international distributor of Bell Media’s owned distribution rights, the company said. It will continue to be run by managing director Jonathan Ford. Ford said in a press release Wednesday that the deal, which Bell said is set to close “in the coming weeks,” allows Sphere Abacus to accelerate acquisition of content from Canada and other territories. The companies’ combined catalogue will include more than 5,500 hours of content, the press release said. Justin Stockman, Bell Media’s vice president of content development and programming, said there would not be changes to staffing numbers at either Bell or Sphere Abacus as part of the deal, the financials of which were not disclosed. Bell already held a minority stake in Sphere Media. Stockman told The Wire Report that will not change. Bell said in a press release Wednesday that the acquisition is a “launchpad” for Bell Media’s content distribution expansion. “In the past, if we commissioned something, we might take distribution rights, but more often than not another distributor would sell that content in other countries,” Stockman said. Bell Media president Sean Cohan said in the press release that late last year, the company made expanding its global content distribution business a “core strategic priority.” Stockman noted Bell Media has had a “small but mighty” internal distribution unit for several years that sells Bell-produced content globally, “but just a small portion of what we commission is what we've kept the distribution rights on, and we've been trying to figure out how we become a bigger player. “When Sphere came to us and said they were going to buy Abacus, we participated in that, and as we looked to figure out how we could grow our distribution business more internationally, it seemed like let's start with Abacus,” Stockman said. “With Sean Cohan’s arrival as our president, and his background in global distribution, we had the perfect champion to push this over the line and really be able to demonstrate to wider Bell that this is a great opportunity that we should be taking advantage of,” Stockman said. As for impacts to Canadian viewers, Stockman said there will not be an up-front change, though over time they might see more content coming through its production line. “Now we will have more of a stake, through Abacus, to sell that content internationally, and it might then enable us to commission more content,” Stockman said. “Our commissioning has generally been what we want for our platforms in Canada, and now we're going to have another lens: what do we think would sell for Abacus internationally? So it's likely to see us doing more content and a wider range of content.” Blue Ant acquires three Canadian production companies in reverse takeover deal Bell is not the only company making an acquisition in broadcasting this week. Blue Ant Media Inc. announced Monday, March 24 that it is acquiring three Canadian production companies as part of a go-public agreement and reverse takeover of Boat Rocker Media Inc. Blue Ant inherits Insight Productions, Jam Filled Entertainment, and Proper Television. The agreement is subject to regulatory approval, a press release notes. Once the deal closes, Blue Ant’s founder and CEO Michael MacMillan will remain CEO as head of the resulting company and Blue Ant chair Brad Martin becomes chair of its board. The current board of Boat Rocker Media will resign on the closing of the deal. "This is an opportunistic moment for Blue Ant to go public, paving the way for long-term value creation," MacMillan said in the press release. "Through the combination of our public listing, a strengthened balance sheet, and significant net cash post-transaction, we believe that we are strategically positioned for profitable global growth, both organically and through M&A." news@thewirereport.ca

Bell expanding content distribution with majority stake in global distributor

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By Wire Report Staff
| March 26, 2025

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Bell expanding content distribution with majority stake in global distributor

Broadcast | By Wire Report Staff | March 26, 2025

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By Wire Report Staff
| March 26, 2025