| Sphere Media | |
| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Television production |
| Founded: | in Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Founder: | Jean Rémillard |
| Location City: | Montreal, Quebec |
| Location Country: | Canada |
| Key People: | Bruno Dubé (CEO) |
Sphere Media is a Canadian film and television production and distribution company based in Montreal, Quebec.[1]
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]
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]