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Sphere Media

{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}

{{Short description|Television production company}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Sphere Media

| logo = Logo_Sphère_Média.png

| former_name = {{Plainlist|

  • Groupe Télé-Vision (1984–2010)
  • DATSIT Studios (2012–2017)
  • DATSIT Sphere (2017–2020)

}}

| type = Private

| industry = Television production

| founded = {{Start date and age|1984}} in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

| founder = Jean Rémillard

| location_city = Montreal, Quebec

| location_country = Canada

| key_people = Bruno Dubé (CEO)

| owner =

| divisions = {{Plainlist|

  • Sphere Abacus
  • Sphere Animation
  • Sphere Films

}}

| website = {{URL|https://sphere-media.com/en/}}

}}

Sphere Media is a Canadian film and television production and distribution company based in Montreal, Quebec.Victoria Ahearn, [https://playbackonline.ca/2022/04/04/montreals-sphere-announces-restructure-and-rebrand/ "Montreal’s Sphere announces restructure and rebrand"]. Playback, April 4, 2022.

History

Sphere Media was founded in 1984 by Jean Rémillard.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2022 |date=September 9, 2019 |language=fr-FR |title=DATSIT SPHÈRE célèbre ses 35 ans à l'occasion d'un grand barbecue urbain ! |url=https://ctvm.info/datsit-sphere-celebre-ses-35-ans-a-loccasion-dun-grand-barbecue-urbain/ |website=CTVM}} Initially named Groupe Télé-Vision Inc., the company was sold in 2010 to Bruno Dubé and partners, and renamed DATSIT Studios, in 2012. It was renamed DATSIT Sphere in 2017 after acquiring Sphere Media Plus, founded by Jocelyn Deschênes.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2022 |date=August 1, 2017 |language=fr-FR |title=DATSIT STUDIOS et SPHÈRE MÉDIA PLUS se regroupent |url=https://ctvm.info/datsit-studio-sphere-media-plus-se-regroupent/ |website=CTVM.info}}

The company subsequently acquired other smaller studios, including Nicole Robert's Go Films in 2018,{{cite web|title=Datsit Sphere acquires Go Films|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2018/10/15/datsit-sphere-acquires-go-films/|website=Playback|first=Jordan|last=Pinto|date=October 15, 2018|access-date=October 15, 2024}} Oasis Animation and Quiet Motion in 2019,{{cite web|title=DATSIT Sphere merges with Oasis Animation, Quiet Motion|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2019/03/26/datsit-sphere-merges-with-oasis-animation-quiet-motion/|first=Jordan|last=Pinto|website=Playback|date=March 26, 2019|access-date=October 15, 2024}} Bristow Global Media in 2020,{{cite web|title=DATSIT Sphere acquires BGM from Kew Media |url=https://playbackonline.ca/2020/03/11/datsit-sphere-acquires-bgm-from-kew-media/|website=Playback|first=Kelly|last=Townsend|date=March 11, 2020|access-date=October 15, 2024}} and Sienna Films in 2020.{{cite news |access-date=October 17, 2024 |date=March 18, 2020 |language=fr |title=Datsit Sphère achète Sienna Film |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/2020-03-18/datsit-sphere-achete-sienna-film |website=La Presse |last1=Duchesne |first1=André }}

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.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2022 |first=Jordan|last=Pinto |title=Dealmaker of the Year 2020: Bruno Dube |url=https://playbackonline.ca/2020/12/18/dealmaker-of-the-year-bruno-dube/|website=Playback|date=December 18, 2020}}

In January 2022, Sphere Media announced the acquisition Montreal-based animation studio Sardine Productions, founded in 2002 by Ghislain Cyr.Max Weinstein, [https://www.awn.com/news/sphere-media-acquires-montreal-animation-studio-sardine-productions "Sphere Media Acquires Montreal Animation Studio Sardine Productions"]. Animation World Network, January 17, 2022. In the same year, it launched a new animation studio in Ottawa.David Sali, [https://obj.ca/montreal-based-sphere-media-drawn-to-capitals-animation-scene/ "Montreal-based Sphere Media drawn to capital’s animation scene"]. Ottawa Business Journal, April 21, 2022.

In April 2022, Sphere Media announced a corporate restructuring, rebranding its subsidiaries as Sphere Media, Sphere Films and Sphere Animation.{{cite web|title=Montreal's Sphere announces restructure and rebrand|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2022/04/04/montreals-sphere-announces-restructure-and-rebrand/|website=Playback|first=Victoria|last=Ahern|date=April 4, 2022|access-date=October 15, 2024}} They subsequently acquired Montreal-based film production and distribution company MK2 Mile End.{{cite web|title=Canada's Sphere Buys Local Distributor MK2 Mile End|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/canadas-sphere-local-distributor-mk2-mile-end-1235001491/|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Tom|last=Grater|date=April 13, 2022|access-date=October 15, 2024}}

In March 2023, Bell Media acquired a minority stake in Sphere Media.{{cite web |access-date=October 17, 2024 |language=en |title=Bell Media Buys Minority Stake in 'Sort Of,' 'The Porter' Producer Sphere Media |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/bell-media-buys-minority-stake-in-sort-of-the-porter-producer-sphere-media-1235502901 |website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 29, 2023|author=Etan Vlessing}}

The Sardine Productions operations were subsequently incorporated into a new children's and family programming division launched in 2023.Ryan Tuchow, [https://kidscreen.com/2023/04/13/sphere-media-forms-kids-and-family-banner/ "Sphere Media forms kids and family banner"]. Kidscreen, April 13, 2023.

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, renaming it Sphere Abacus.{{cite web|title=Producer Sphere Media to Buy Distributor Abacus for $18M|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sphere-media-abacus-media-rights-1235932767/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|date=June 26, 2024|access-date=October 15, 2024}} On March 26, 2025, Bell Media acquired a majority stake in Sphere Abacus, and announced that it would handle international distribution for its catalogue going forward.{{Cite web |last=Thiessen |first=Connie |date=2025-03-26 |title=Bell Media acquires majority stake in Sphere Abacus |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/bell-media-acquires-majority-stake-in-sphere-abacus/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Broadcast Dialogue |language=en-US}}

Key people

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

Jennifer Kawaja serves as the president of scripted and feature films for English Canada,{{cite web |access-date=June 7, 2022 |language=en |title=Sphere Media's Jennifer Kawaja on 'The Porter' Season 2, WGA Strike |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/sphere-media-jennifer-kawaja-the-porter-season-2-1235628171/ |website=Variety|date=May 30, 2023|author=Amber Dowling}} and film producer Marie-Claude Poulin joined the company in 2021 as head of French-language film development.Liza Sardi, [https://playbackonline.ca/2021/10/01/sphere-media-adds-feature-film-fiction-producer-to-team/ "Sphere Media adds feature film, fiction producer to team"]. Playback, October 1, 2021.

In February 2022, Kim Bondi joined Sphere Media-owned BGM as the senior vice-president of development.{{cite web |access-date=2022-06-07 |language=en |title=BGM Taps Kim Bondi As Senior Vice-President Of Development |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/kim-bond-bgm-1235175665/ |website=Variety|date=February 10, 2022|author=K. J. Yossman}}

Productions

=Television=

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=Film=

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}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.spheremedia.ca/ Official website]

{{Portal bar|Television}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sphere Media Plus}}

Category:1984 establishments in Quebec

Category:Canadian companies established in 1984

Category:Companies based in Quebec

Category:Television production companies of Canada

Category:Film production companies of Canada