Blue Ant International Sells Love Nature’s Epic Chasing the Rains to BBC America
(New York, NY – January 10, 2023) – Global distribution group Blue Ant International announced a major presale deal with BBC America for two Love Nature original documentary productions, Chasing the Rains and Africa’s Wild Year.
BBC America has acquired the four-part Love Nature original program, Chasing the Rains (4 x 60’; 4K & HDR; Maramedia), that takes audiences on a journey into one of the most majestic, unspoiled and rarely-filmed areas of wilderness in Africa. Masterfully narrated by Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton, Invictus), the cinematic series follows three separate animal matriarchs as they attempt to overcome incredible obstacles in order to protect their families during one of Africa’s worst droughts in 20 years.
BBC America previously picked up Africa’s Wild Year (4 x 60’; 4K; Merx International) a vivid journey set over the course of a single year in 10 different countries in Africa. Each episode focuses on one of the four seasons and reveals how animals adapt to sweeping weather variations across the continent. These stories expertly reveal Africa’s hidden wonders and the vast array of ways in which iconic African species, and their less-familiar counterparts, survive the seasonal extremes. The documentary series made its US territory debut in August of 2022.
“I can’t think of a better home for two of our most stunning documentaries coming out of the Love Nature brand,” says Bryan Gabourie, SVP, Sales International Sales & Partnerships, Blue Ant International. “I am thrilled to see this partnership with BBC America grow across premium documentaries in the natural wildlife space. As Love Nature continues to expand their original bluechip programs, we see more opportunities with this valued partner in the future.“
Blue Ant International appoints Sarah Hussain, Director of Sales & Acquisitions focusing on the Middle East, Africa, Benelux and ancillary sales
(London, U.K. – November 18, 2022) – As part of their continued expansion, global distribution group, Blue Ant International, today announced the appointment of Sarah Hussain to the role of Director, Sales & Acquisitions. Overseeing the Middle East, Africa, Benelux and ancillary sales, Sarah will be tasked with all sales activity in these markets including pre-sales, content licensing and partnerships while also supporting acquisitions and growing Blue Ant International’s reputation as a distributor of premium content. Based in London, Sarah has a dual reporting structure into Gerbrig Blanksma, SVP, International Sales & Partnerships for sales and Lilla Hurst, Global Head of Acquisitions & Partnerships for acquisitions.
“Sarah specializes in growing reach for producers in developing markets and has a deep connection to the Middle East, Africa and Benelux, which our clients can now tap into,” says Gerbrig Blanksma, SVP, Sales & Partnerships, Blue Ant International. “Her proven track record maximizing market opportunities and nurturing long-term relationships partners across all platforms is pivotal to continue to expand our advantage in those regions.”
“I am excited to join such an esteemed and creative team,” says Sarah Hussain, Director, Sales & Acquisitions, Blue Ant International. “Blue Ant International is known for tackling the market with a tailor-made, solutions-based approach which includes co-production financing options and an extensive library of premium content. I look forward to bringing these innovative solutions to our partners.”
Hussain has over 10 years of sales experience and joins Blue Ant International from Vice Media Group where she worked as Senior Sales Manager for EMEA and Canada, planning and executing brand partnerships, pre-sales deals and acquisitions. Prior to that, as a Sales Manager at A+E Networks, she negotiated and executed linear and digital sales for Benelux, Middle East, Africa and Israel. In this role, Sarah also negotiated format options and agreements and sourced a network of new co-production relationships from developing markets.
(TORONTO, ON – November 17, 2022) Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, today announced the promotion of Steve Gamester to Creative Director, Feature Docs, Co-Pros, and Limited Series. The move follows Gamester’s success developing and producing award-winning docs including 9/11 Kids and Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust and collaborating on series including Searching for Secrets, World’s Most Scenic River Journeys and Hunting Nazi Treasure.
The promotion will see Gamester build innovative content strategies and strengthen Saloon’s relationships with producers to expand the company’s factual portfolio. He will work closely with Saloon Media’s Senior Producer Elizabeth St. Philip.
“I am so proud of the work we do at Saloon Media, the creative team that I work with daily to bring these entertaining, impactful stories to the screen, and the exciting partners we connect with to do so,” said Steve Gamester, Creative Director, Feature Docs, Co-Pros, and Limited Series. “I am excited to further evolve our production slate.”
“Steve is a visionary with amazing instincts about what makes a good story combined with strong relationships within the creative community to get that story told,” said Michael Kot, Managing Director ofSaloon Media “I have been working with Steve since we started Saloon Media and he is valued expert that will help to grow our production presence.”
Gamester is a founding partner of Saloon Media and has worked as a Broadcaster, Executive Producer, Show Runner and Development Executive for clients in Canada, the United States, and the UK. From 2005 to 2009, he was a Broadcast Executive and oversaw more than 300 hours of programming for History, National Geographic, Showcase and Global Television.
His work has been nominated for over 30 Canadian Screen Awards. 9/11 Kids won a Rogers Audience Award at Hot Docs and the CSA’s Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary in 2021.
Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, is a leading producer of scripted and unscripted content. Based in Toronto, Canada, Saloon Media has an international track record for delivering successful, award-winning programs. The production company works with like-minded partners, worldwide, to produce top-quality, returning series and high-impact specials. Recent credits include the award-winning 9/11 Kids (CBC); Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (Amazon Prime Video); Mysteries From Above (Blue Ant Media); Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust (HISTORY Canada); and long-running series See No Evil (Investigation Discovery US). Saloon is celebrated for producing and delivering internationally-recognized formats in Canada including Drag Race Canada (Crave for Bell Media), Life Below Zero Canada (Blue Ant Media, BBC Worldwide) and Hoarders Canada (A+E). For more information visit saloonmedia.com.
Programming includes the exclusive world premiere of Haunted Gold Rush and US premiere of Hotel Paranormal Season 2
Blue Ant International holds worldwide rights for Haunted Gold Rush
Blue Ant Media’s free streaming channel, HauntTV, is now available on VIZIO WatchFree+; expanded distribution includes the premieres of two original productions including Haunted Gold Rush (above), which features a strong female force of paranormal investigators.
(Toronto, ON – Oct 19, 2022) International producer, distributor and channel operator, Blue Ant Media announced today the launch of its free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel HauntTV on VIZIO WatchFree+ in the U.S. The channel’s extensive library of paranormal-themed programming is now available to VIZIO’s audiences beginning this month.
Additionally, VIZIO will premiere two exclusive original series from Blue Ant Media during its Fall Fest line-up.
The global premiere of Haunted Gold Rush (2 x 60’; HD), Blue Ant Media’s first-ever original FAST-first docu-series explores the ghostly mysteries along an historic Gold Rush Trail in British Columbia, told through the eyes of a strong female force of paranormal investigators, Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland. British Columbia’s Cariboo Gold Rush trail was a bustling, wild and often violent place in the 1800s. Today, the 650 km stretch of land is considered a hotspot for paranormal activity and has hundreds of stories of hauntings from more than a dozen locations. Ghost sightings along this trail are nothing new, but recently there have been numerous intense and dramatic reports. Now, three paranormal detectives have been called in to take an unprecedented road-trip and retrace this historic Gold Rush Trail. The documentary follows them as they solve mysteries and witness hauntings along the way. Haunted Gold Rush is produced by Small Army Entertainment in association with Blue Ant Media. Blue Ant International oversees global distribution.
The exclusive U.S. premiere of Hotel Paranormal,Season 2. Narrated by Emmy® Award-winning and Oscar®-nominated actor Dan Aykroyd, who is a firm believer in the paranormal, the second installment of this fan-favorite series ramps up the scares with more real-life stories of otherworldly run-ins at hotels. The terrifying paranormal encounters take place at 4-star hotels, bed and breakfasts, highway motels and inns around the world. From hotel workers and guests witnessing objects flying across the room to uncovering trapped ancient spirits and experiencing demonic possession, Hotel Paranormal brings to life terrifying encounters with dramatic recreations and paranormal expert insights. Hotel Paranormal is produced by Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company. Blue Ant International oversees global distribution.
Following the Fall Fest premiere on VIZIO, these series will appear on the HauntTV channel, with Haunted Gold Rush premiering on October 27 and Hotel Paranormal, Season 2 on October 28:
“October is perfect timing for VIZIO to bring HauntTV’s exclusive line-up of paranormal and ghostly programming to its audiences, just ahead of Halloween,” says Jamie Schouela, President, Global Channels & Media, Blue Ant Media. “VIZIO has been a key collaborator and we’re excited to celebrate HauntTV’s launch on the platform and to have VIZIO premiere two Blue Ant Media original productions, including our first-ever original to premiere globally on a FAST platform.”
“Our continued mission is to provide our users with the content they crave and the data shows that Fall is primetime for viewing paranormal content for our users,” said Greg Barnard, Director of Content Acquisition at VIZIO. “We are pleased that we can provide these exclusive releases on WatchFree+ for our users, while expanding our collaboration with Blue Ant Media.”
Programming highlights available now on HauntTV include:
Ghost Chasers (10 x 60’), exploring some of Europe’s most haunted locations, in search of proof ghosts really exist
Ghostly Encounters (83×30’), following the first-hand real-life accounts of those who have experienced chilling spectral run-ins
World’s Scariest Hauntings (10 x 60’), exploring some of the most terrifying ghost and horror stories from around the globe
Paranormal Survivor(50 x 60’; HD; Season 2 and Season 3), that chronicles the horrifying real-life ghostly encounters or ordinary people. Their bone-chilling stories are told first-hand and unfold slowly using terrifying reenactments
Boogeymen(26 x 60’; HD; Seasons 1 and 2), an in-depth look at the history of local monsters in picturesque towns according to believers and skeptics.
This announcement builds on Blue Ant Media’s momentum and expansion into the emerging free streaming space around the world and expands the company’s existing distribution with VIZIO. The company’s global wildlife and nature brand, Love Nature, and true crime brand, Total Crime, are also available on the platform.
Blue Ant Media’s suite of FAST (free, ad-supported streaming TV) channels offer audiences curated, exclusive programming that is free to access on growing platforms like VIZIO WatchFree+, The Roku Channel, Xumo, Samsung TV Plus and VIX. The company’s growing global portfolio of FAST channels include Love Nature, HauntTV, Total Crime, CrimeTime, Homeful and HistoryTime.
Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator. We own and operate numerous production companies in North America and Asia-Pacific, creating content for broadcasters and streaming platforms in multiple genres including factual entertainment, natural history, documentary and adult animation. Our distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a substantial catalog of content, including one of the world’s largest 4K natural history offerings. Blue Ant Media operates linear and free streaming channels under several brands including Love Nature, Smithsonian Channel Canada, BBC Earth (Canada), BBC First (Canada), HauntTV, CrimeTime, Total Crime, Homeful and HistoryTime. Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with eight international offices in Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, Tokyo, London, Washington, Mumbai and Beijing. Blueantmedia.comTwitter|Instagram|LinkedIn
About VIZIO: Founded and headquartered in Orange County, California, our mission at VIZIO Holding Corp. (NYSE: VZIO) is to deliver immersive entertainment and compelling lifestyle enhancements that make our products the center of the connected home. We are driving the future of televisions through our integrated platform of cutting-edge Smart TVs and powerful operating system. We also offer a portfolio of innovative sound bars that deliver consumers an elevated audio experience. Our platform gives content providers more ways to distribute their content and advertisers more tools to connect with the right audience. For more information, visit VIZIO.com and follow VIZIO on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The distributor is offering a significantly expanded slate on the heels of its acquisition of Drive Media Rights, increasing its offering, its executive team, and its capacity to deliver premium content through pre-sales and co-productions
Blue Ant International announces new documentary special, Born to Be King, in time for MIPCOM
New offering also includes recently announced premium titles from Blue Ant Studios, Love Nature, and top-tier independent producers
Blue Ant International is debuting over 1100 hours of content at MIPCOM 2022, including a brand new greenlit documentary special, w/t Born To Be King (1 x 60’), above.
(Toronto, ON – September 29, 2022) – Global distribution group, Blue Ant International, announced today a brand new slate of titles it is debuting to the international marketplace, including more than 1100 hours of premium content across factual, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and scripted categories. Debuting at MIPCOM, the new slate offers a diverse array of storytelling aimed at satisfying audiences across all platforms.
“Blue Ant International’s growing catalog, our expertise in financing and presales and our commitment to customer service allow us to meet the varied needs of our international buyers,” says Solange Attwood, EVP, Blue Ant International. “Bringing this volume of high quality shows to the market is a key point of difference in creating customized content solutions for the diverse needs of our platform partners, from linear, streaming to multi-platform.”
Earlier this year, Blue Ant International’s catalogue grew significantly with the acquisition of Drive Media Rights. As part of the acquisition, Ben Barrett and Lilla Hurst joined the team as Global Head of Content Financing & Partnerships and Global Head of Acquisitions & Partnerships, respectively, growing Blue Ant International’s position as a leader in pre-sale funding and co-productions and adding 900+ hours of programming to its portfolio.
Blue Ant International is also debuting a timely pre-sale opportunity for Born To Be King(1 x 60; HD: Touchdown Films), a brand new documentary special delivering in early 2023 that reveals the compelling inside story of the extraordinary life of King Charles. The documentary uses unique, unprecedented and unlimited access to a fascinating well of footage to show a definitive story of the man behind the crown, while exploring the direction of the British monarchy under King Charles III.
The distributor’s MIPCOM 2022 slate also includes King Charles’ Grand Design, an exclusive access documentary about a secret project that King Charles has been championing for over a decade—the purchase and ambitious restoration of Dumfries House. This film features the last known footage of the King with his mother, filmed together in a casual setting.
To round out the royals offering, and also available for licensing, is Blue Ant Studios’ new high-profile original documentary special, Prince Andrew: Banished, which chronicles the events that led to Prince Andrew’s sex trafficking allegation scandal, for which Blue Ant International holds global licensing rights.
New Specialist Factual Highlights:
Blue Ant International’s new MIPCOM slate will deliver a bevy of new specialist factual titles, including several recently announced original Love Nature natural history series and documentaries such as Chasing the Rains (4 x 60; 4K & HDR; Maramedia), Planet Shark (3 x 60’; 4K & HDR; Big Wave Productions), Uptown Otters (6 x 60’; 4K & HDR: Beach House Pictures), Woodpeckers: The Hole Story (1 x 60’; 4K & HDR; Coneflower Studios), Loons: A Cry From the Mist (1 x 60’; 4K & HDR; Yap Films). Additional specialist factual titles include: The Magic Circle of the Reef (4 x 60’; HD; Zona Mixta), which explores a southeast asian reef known as the Coral Triangle that has created a unique and self-sufficient ecosystem with diverse marine life that captivates with beauty and serenity.
The latest history titles include: Bettany Hughes’ Grand Tour: From Paris to Rome(4 x 60’; HD; Sandstone) which takes audiences on a journey of a lifetime with Prof. Bettany Hughes through the great cities of France and Italy to understand how travel, art, and culture can enrich our lives; Greatest Discoveries with Dan Snow (3 x 60’; HD; History Hit) in which Dan Snow explores the sites of history’s greatest discoveries, from lost Pharaoh’s tombs to the revelations of Pompeii to reveal the ingenuity and determination that led to some of the most important and amazing finds ever made; andPride and Prostitution (1 x 60’; HD; One Tribe TV), which focuses on the very successful and often lucrative business of sex during the openly promiscuous era of Georgian Britain.
New Crime Highlights include:
Blue Ant International’s raft of new factual programming covers a wide range of genres, including several crime-focused series. These include: Big Little Crimes (10 x 60’; HD; Brown Bob Productions), which tells the gob-smacking stories of ordinary police who stumble upon incredibly lucky breakthroughs that wind up solving major criminal cases; The Defenders (3 x 60’; HD; Spring Films), goes deep behind the criminal justice system to show how the UK’s leading defense attorneys fight for their clients who have been charged with serious crimes;
Killer in My Family Season 4 (8 x 60; HD; Woodcut Media), a returning favourite that examines murders through the lens of the killers’ family members to give details through a very personal point of view; Black Widow (2 x 60’ or 1 x 120’; HD; Transistor Films), which chronicles the shocking case of Penny Jackson, who murdered her ex-army officer husband, David, coldly stabbing him on three separate occasions over an 18-minute period, all whilst on the phone to emergency services; Claremont: A Killer Among Us (3 x 60’; Barking Mad Productions), the story of how a chilling trail of rape and murder in Australia in 1996 was finally solved and the killer revealed after 20 years, told through the lens of the survivors; Who Murdered Meredith Kercher (3 x 60’; HD; Turquoise), which examines the murder of Meredith, the controversial trial of Amanda Knox, and features exclusive access to her Italian boyfriend, Rafael Solicito.
Factual observational documentary series Anyone’s Game Season 1 (6 x 30’; 4K; BestCrosses Studios & Game Seven Media) is an inside look at an elite basketball prep school in a small rural town, as freshmen seek out their place on the team and seniors give their all to secure scholarships to Division 1 NCAA colleges, all a step towards playing in the NBA;
New factual lifestyle programming with a focus on food, travel and home decor includes Order Up! (8 x 60’; 4K & HDR; Beach House Pictures), which follows Fresh Off the Boat star Hudson Yang on the ultimate chef apprenticeship crash course across America to Singapore; Flat Out Food Season 2 (5 x 30’; HD; Halter Media), which follows author and food activist, Jenn Sharp who takes viewers on a journey from the farm to the dinner plate, while examining the historical and cultural significance of ingredients, all with an aim to change how we think about our cuisine; Gone Fishing (36 x 30’; HD; Owl TV), the journey of lifelong friends, and British comedic royalty Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer, who embark on a tour of the UK’s finest fishing spots on a quest to recover from heart disease; Tom Kerridge Sunday Lunch (1 x 60’; HD; Bone Soup), featuring celebrity chef Tom Kerridge as he cooks eight amazing menus step-by-step that take Sunday lunch to another level. This is food made with love and care to treat family and friends; Tom Kerridge Christmas Dinner (8 x 30’; HD; Bone Soup), showcases Tom’s favourite meal of the year created with clever planning and resulting in a wonderful festive table laden with amazing food; Kings of the Wood S2 (8 x 60’; HD; Ricochet Productions) a formattable series featuring an elite gang of highly-skilled woodworkers, carpenters and black smiths who have joined forces to create beautiful items of furniture for deserving recipients; Money For Nothing S5 – S12 (20 x 160’; HD; Friel Kean Films), which follows entrepreneur Sarah Moore as she works to save objects from the landfill and, with the help of craftspeople, transforms them into valuable, bespoke pieces.
Additional new factual programming includes: Haunted Gold Rush (2 x 60’; HD; De Vries Productions), a two-part feature doc hosted by three paranormal experts that examines reports of paranormal activity along British Columbia’s historic Gold Rush Trail that some say are connected to its dark history as a lawless land where kidnappings, injustices, and murder were commonplace; Trauma Rescue Squad (50 x 60’; HD; Air TV), which follows the Hazardous Areas Response Team of paramedics as they respond to accidents and emergencies, featuring dramatic rescues, critical emergencies and the scenes of serious crime; Helicopter ER Seasons 8 & 9 (75 x 60; HD; Air TV), gives viewers total access into the high-speed action and life-or-death drama inside the helicopters that are the last hope of survival for people seriously injured in some of the UK’s most extreme landscapes; Bangers and Cash (10 x 60’; HD; AirTV), follows the Mathewson family as they discover and auction over 4,000 classic cars a year, as well as all kinds of rare commercial vehicles, vintage motorbikes and auto memorabilia, all set against the backdrop of a beautiful English village.
New High-Impact Documentary Highlights:
The distributor is launching new thought-provoking, entertaining and award-winning high-impact documentaries, including Cracked: The Perplexing World of Egg Donation (1 x 60’; HD; Catapult Pictures and Dreaming Bird Productions), a look at the economics, emotional costs and ethics of egg donation, as fertility rates decline and women delay having children, illuminating how rapid advances in reproductive science have left countries, cultures and laws struggling to catch up; Finding Satoshi (1 x 60’; HD; Mt. Melvil) a fascinating global quest for one remaining unsolved clue in a 14-year-old, hide-and-seek alternate reality game, Perplex City; Framing Agnes (1 x 90’; HD; Fae Pictures), a multi-award winning doc, including the NEXT Innovator Award and the NEXT Audience award at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, which uncovers a study about sex disorders in the late 1950s that was originally thought to include just one subject, a young trans woman named Agnes, but in 2017 revealed to include concealed case files of additional patients; The Good Drug (1 x 90’; HD; B Good Picture Co.), an in-depth look at society’s relationship with psychedelic substances, exploring historical uses and modern research on therapeutic properties for a host of mental health issues giving the audiences the information to decide for themselves whether psychedelics have the potential to be good; Uri Geller’s Secret Treasures (1 x 90′; 4K; Coleman Television), an extraordinary look at the life of the Uri Geller, the man famous for bending spoons, and reading minds, told through exclusive interviews with the man himself who reveals details of his personal relationships with celebrities including Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley and his early days of fame, espionage and his return to Israel, where it all started; and The Fringe, Fame and Me (1 x 60’; HD; Oxford Film & TV), the inside story of how the Edinburgh Fringe became a national institution. Told by film, theatre and television stars who recount their triumphs, favourite jokes, and sometimes painful failures at the festival, the doc uncovers the hidden history of comedy, revealing how the gags we find funny and the comedians we love reflect our changing culture.
New Scripted Programming Highlights:
Blue Ant International also has an impressive line-up of scripted programming debuting in Cannes including: Baroness Von Sketch Show (46 x 30’; HD; Frantic Films), the smash single-camera comedy hit, that serves up fast-paced and irreverent sketches starring Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne and Jennifer Whalen that take an irreverent look at our narcissistic contemporary culture; and Doomlands Season 1 (10 x 15’; HD; Look Mom! Productions), an animated, adult comedy that follows Danny Doom and aspiring bartender Lhandi who sling beers across a hellish wasteland, facing ruthless desert gangs, memory-stealing creeps, and even mean bathroom graffiti.
Blue Ant Internationalis a leading worldwide distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms. The company offers a full-service approach to production partners with sales operations in the U.S., the UK and Canada. Blue Ant International has a growing slate of over 5,000 hours of premium content, including distinctive series and formats in five key genres including factual entertainment, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and family, and scripted. Blue Ant International also has one of the world’s largest offerings of 4K natural history content. Blue Ant International is a division of Blue Ant Media.
Aileen Gardner has been appointed Head of Production, Canada; Zachary Frank is VP, Development
(L-R) Aileen Gardner, Head of Production, Canada, Blue Ant Studios; Zachary Frank, VP, Development, Blue Ant Studios, Canada
(Toronto, Canada) September 14, 2022 – Award-winning production company, Blue Ant Studios, announced at Content Canada today two newly created leadership roles within its production and development divisions. Aileen Gardner has been appointed Head of Production, Canada, Blue Ant Studios and is charged with leading the operations for the studio’s slate of productions in Canada. Gardner will report to Laura Michalchyshyn, CCO + co-president, Global Production, Blue Ant Media and Sam Sniderman, co-president, Global Production, Blue Ant Media. Zachary Frank is VP, Development, Blue Ant Studios. In this role, Zachary will be working with the studio’s team in Los Angeles to further expand its development slate of limited and returnable series with an emphasis on the Canadian, UK and American markets. Zachary will report to Jennifer Harkness, SVP, Unscripted, Blue Ant Studios while working closely with Aileen Gardner in Toronto.
“Blue Ant Studios is always looking to collaborate with best-in-class creatives and development executives to grow an exciting slate filled with original stories, premium talent and returnable series,” said Laura Michalchyshyn, CCO and co-president of Global Production, Blue Ant Media. “With Aileen’s incredible experience in producing content across multiple genres for global markets; and Zach’s deep network in the development space across the US, Canada and UK, we’re excited to continue Blue Ant Studios’ expansion and debut a fresh lineup of projects and voices to be shared with the world.”
Aileen Gardner arrives at Blue Ant Studios with over 20 years experience in broadcast media production across the UK, US, and Canada in genres from one-off documentary to lifestyle series with companies such as Mentorn, Endemol, Cineflix and Scott Brother’s Entertainment. Since arriving in Canada she has overseen shows such as the award winning Nazi Hunters (Discovery), the launch of internationally successful American Pickers (A&E) and the reboot of Brother vs Brother (HGTV) among many others.
With over a decade of experience in development and production, Zachary Frank has worked with partners across Canada, The US and UK. Prior to joining Blue Ant, Zachary was Senior Director at Cream Productions, where he developed projects for networks including CNN (History of the Sitcom), Discovery ID (If I Should Die), Bell Networks (Fear thy Roommate), Corus (The World Without) Travel Channel (A Ghost Ruined My Life), and more.
Blue Ant Studios is a leading studio and award-winning production business with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. The company’s premium slate of programming spans documentaries and docuseries, scripted, unscripted, and reality competition, with recent hits including the Hollywood Critics Association TV Award-nominated docuseries The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Prime Video); breakout investigative docuseries Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell (Peacock and SKY) and Evil by Design: Exposing Peter Nygård (Starz and CBC); the multi-award-winning Canada’s Drag Race seasons 1-3 (Crave for Bell Media); the Daytime Emmy Award-winning scripted series The Healing Powers of Dude (Netflix); and the upcoming Canada Vs. the World (Crave for Bell Media) and Prince Andrew: Banished (Peacock).
The company works with best-in-class creatives and major international streaming, cable and broadcasting companies, as well as regional players in the markets in which it operates. Blue Ant Studios is a subsidiary of global media company, Blue Ant Media.
Documentary chronicles the events that led to Prince Andrew’s sex trafficking allegation scandal, featuring new interviews with palace insiders, journalists, members of his social circle, and the legal team that brought the allegations to light
The documentary special is set to launch Oct. 5 on Peacock in the U.S. and will be distributed internationally by Blue Ant International
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
(LOS ANGELES) August 26, 2022 – Award-winning production company Blue Ant Studios today announced the upcoming documentary special Prince Andrew: Banished (1×90, HD). The documentary will premiere Oct. 5, 2022 on Peacock in the U.S. and will be distributed internationally by Blue Ant International.
Prince Andrew: Banished unpacks the tumultuous story of how Prince Andrew, Duke of York – formerly regarded as the attractive, beloved son of Queen Elizabeth II and decorated naval officer – eventually became the man responsible for disgracing the 1200-year legacy of the British Royal Family. Through new interviews with palace insiders, journalists, members of Andrew’s social circle, and the legal team that brought the allegations to light, the documentary examines the world of privilege, jealousy, desire, and greed that pushed Prince Andrew – first, into the orbit of notorious sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and then into a sordid sex trafficking scandal that threatens to bring down the House of Windsor.
The documentary follows Blue Ant’s three-part premium docu-series Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell, one of the first television series to investigate Maxwell in-depth ahead of her trial and conviction in 2021. The series debuted on Peacock and Sky in June 2021, offering a comprehensive exploration of Maxwell’s story from her childhood to the events leading up to her arrest.
“We became interested in Prince Andrew’s story when we were deep into research for our documentary series on Ghislaine Maxwell, and it became evident that there was a lot more to explore there,” said Executive ProducersJennifer Harkness, SVP of Unscripted Development & Production, Blue Ant Studios and Laura Michalchyshyn, Chief Creative Officer and Co-President, Blue Ant Studios. “Our goal with this documentary is to investigate the underlying question: how did someone born into a life of such extreme privilege end up in this precarious place?”
“While the Royal Family has long been a point of public and press fascination, there is so much more to the Prince Andrew story than the flurry of headlines on his downfall,” said Jamie Crawford, Director and Executive Producer. “The stories shared in this documentary will shed light on the whole arc of his life and on a steady accumulation of events that catalyzed his fall from grace, and called into question the legacy of the monarchy in a way that was once unthinkable.”
Prince Andrew: Banished is produced by Blue Ant Studios. The documentary is directed by Jamie Crawford. Crawford, Jennifer Harkness, Laura Michalchyshyn, Sam Sniderman, Nina Burleigh, Emma Cooper, and Barbara Shearer serve as executive producers. Nick McKinney serves as senior producer. Frank Ombres is producer. Blue Ant International is the global distributor.
Blue Ant Studios is a leading studio and award-winning production business with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto. The company’s premium slate of programming spans documentaries and docuseries, scripted, unscripted, and reality competition, with recent hits including the Hollywood Critics Association TV Award-nominated docuseries The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Prime Video); breakout investigative docuseries Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell (Peacock and SKY) and Evil by Design: Exposing Peter Nygård (Starz and CBC); the multi-award-winning Canada’s Drag Race seasons 1-3 (Crave for Bell Media); the Daytime Emmy Award-winning scripted series The Healing Powers of Dude (Netflix); and the upcoming Canada Vs. the World (Crave for Bell Media) and Prince Andrew: Banished (Peacock).
The company works with best-in-class creatives and major international streaming, cable and broadcasting companies, as well as regional players in the markets in which it operates. Blue Ant Studios is a subsidiary of global media company, Blue Ant Media.
(June 7, 2022 – Toronto, Canada) – Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, today announced the appointment of Nick Crowe to Head of Unscripted Development and Tara Elwood to Production Executive as part of the company’s continued expansion. These personnel moves will see Crowe take on an expanded role leading the development team, and bring Elwood, who has worked with the company on projects including See No Evil and Life Below Zero: Canada, to the production team in a full-time capacity.
Formerly Production Executive, Crowe has been promoted to Head of Unscripted Development, reporting to Managing Director Michael Kot. In his new role, Crowe will lead Saloon’s development team as it continues to expand its unscripted portfolio in North America and the international marketplace, with a focus on factual entertainment, formats and specials. Building on Saloon’s award-winning slate of history, science, true crime and paranormal programming, under Crowe’s leadership, the development team will continue to broaden its scope and seek out new creative partnerships and talent. Crowe’s production credits for Saloon include Encounter: UFO and UFO Town. Prior to joining Saloon three years ago, he held roles at HISTORY Channel (Canada) and Shaw Media.
Elwood joins Saloon as Production Executive, reporting to SVP of Production Betty Orr. In her new role, Elwood will develop and produce content for the North American and international markets. With over 20 years of Factual production experience, Elwood has worked with Saloon as a producer on numerous projects including Mysteries From Above, See No Evil and Life Below Zero: Canada. Elwood’s previous production credits include the Race for the White House (CNN and RAW TV), the hit series Nazi Hunters (National Geographic), the critically acclaimed feature doc Manson (HISTORY), and CBC’s premium 10-part factual series Canada: The Story of Us, among others.
“Nick remains an invaluable member of the Saloon team, and we look forward to having him take on this expanded role leading our development efforts as we continue to diversify our slate,“ said Michael Kot,Managing Director of Saloon Media. “Tara has lent her creative talents to several of our most successful projects in recent years, and we are grateful to welcome her to the Saloon team full-time to collaborate on more exciting content.”
Saloon Media produced over 100 hours of content in 2021, with recent series including World’s Most Scenic River Journeys (co-produced with BriteSpark East for Channel 5 UK and Smithsonian Channel Canada), History By The Numbers (CuriosityStream + Smithsonian Channel Canada), Deep Water Salvage (The Weather Channel + Cottage Life), See No Evil (Investigation Discovery), Mysteries From Above (Cottage Life), The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence (T+E), and Life Below Zero: Canada (Cottage Life).
The combined businesses will position Blue Ant International as a leader in pre-sale funding, while supercharging the distributor’s network within the creative community
Industry specialists in content financing, Ben Barrett and Lilla Hurst, will join as Global Head of Content Financing & Partnerships and Global Head of Acquisitions & Partnerships, respectively
(L-R: Lilla Hurst, Solange Attwood, Ben Barrett)
(Dana Point, California – June 6, 2022) – Global distribution group, Blue Ant International, announced today at Realscreen Summit that it has acquired 100% ownership of UK-based Drive Media Rights. The deal represents Blue Ant International’s ongoing expansion in the UK and the distributor’s commitment to growing its pre-sale capacity, while supercharging the distributor’s network within the creative community. As part of the deal, Drive’s Managing Directors Ben Barrett and Lilla Hurst will now join Blue Ant International as Global Head of Content Financing & Partnerships and Global Head of Acquisitions & Partnerships, respectively. Barrett and Hurst will continue to operate from London (UK) and will report to Solange Attwood, EVP, Blue Ant International.
Launched in 2013, Drive was founded as a production funding (pre-sale) house and evolved into a 360 global funding, sales and distribution business. Joining forces with Blue Ant International, they will continue to offer a full range of commercial services, working with producers around the world to get their projects funded, produced and distributed.
“As the media ecosystem evolves, a distribution partner that can bring meaningful financing, allowing our partners to realize their creative ambitions, is paramount. Our combined expertise and relationships with Ben and Lilla should help our partners to do more of just that!” said Solange Attwood, EVP, Blue Ant International.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we and our team have achieved with Drive over the last nine years and we’re excited to become part of a larger organization. Blue Ant Media consists of top quality content producers, established channels and a thriving distribution business, all of which will provide new levels of opportunity and relationships, allowing us to seamlessly grow the combined business,” said Ben Barrett and Lilla Hurst.
As part of this deal, Blue Ant International has acquired Drive Media Rights’ library of over 900 hours of content. This offering consists mainly of unscripted programming, with genres spanning documentary, history, science, crime, lifestyle and paranormal. This will bring Blue Ant International’s offering to almost 5000 hours of programming now available to broadcasters and streamers around the globe. Drive’s roster of production clients include October Films, Oxford Films, Blink Films, Air TV and Future Studios.
Blue Ant Internationalis a leading worldwide distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms. The company offers a full-service approach to production partners with sales operations in the U.S., UK and Canada. Blue Ant International has a growing slate of over 4,900 hours of premium content, including distinctive series and formats in five key genres including factual entertainment, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and family, and scripted. Blue Ant International also has one of the world’s largest offerings of 4K natural history content. Blue Ant International is a division of Blue Ant Media.
Cortés Filmworks and Blue Ant Studios will Develop and Produce Scripted and Non-Scripted Series and Narrative Works
Projects in Development Include a Docuseries Adaptation of Clover Hope’s The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop and Scripted Projects No Retreat and Little Apple
Lisa Cortés; Credit: Paul Morejón
(Los Angeles, CA – April 20, 2022) – Award-winning production company Blue Ant Studios, a Blue Ant Media company, today announced a new first-look deal with Academy Award®-nominated and Emmy Award®-winning producer and director Lisa Cortés. Under this new deal, Cortés will work with Blue Ant Studios to develop and produce new scripted and unscripted properties spanning documentary, music, history and biography, and narrative.
As part of their collaboration, Cortés and Blue Ant are developing a docuseries based on Clover Hope’s critically acclaimed book The Motherlode: The 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop. Other projects in progress under the new deal include scripted series No Retreat, an action-packed drama about Black and Indigenous women soldiers in Europe during World War II, and Little Apple, a sci-fi/dramedy created by Riley S. Wilson about a little girl in Harlem who happens to be a superhero. Additional projects will be announced in the coming months.
“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about telling complex, powerful stories from new perspectives,” said Cortés. “Cortés Filmworks is committed to inclusivity, and to elevating talent often overlooked by the mainstream. This collaboration with a company leading in dynamic, impactful genre-spanning content is exciting, and I look forward to developing a diverse slate of scripted and unscripted projects with the Blue Ant team.”
“Lisa is a creative powerhouse who has an incredible eye for vibrant, visionary stories that are of our time. She brings curiosity and a wonderful range of talent to her projects. The impact of her work is inspiring,” said Laura Michalchyshyn, Chief Creative Officer and Co-President, Blue Ant Studios. “We are already developing several exciting projects together and are honored to collaborate with her to bring culturally relevant and talent-driven projects to life.”
Recent standout series from Blue Ant Studios include the upcoming docuseries The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Prime Video), Canada’s Drag Race (with Saloon Media for Crave) and Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell (Peacock). The deal underscores Blue Ant’s continued expansion of its dynamic production business, and is its latest in a series of development initiatives that champion innovative and progressive women-led content.
Independent from her collaboration with Blue Ant, upcoming film directing credits for Lisa Cortés include Little Richard: I Am Everything, a documentary about the transgressive rock ‘n’ roll icon, and The Empire of Ebony, which explores the Black publishing powerhouse that forever changed American culture. Her recent work includes Amazon Studios’ All In: The Fight For Democracy (2020); and the Emmy-winning HBO documentary The Apollo (2019). All In was shortlisted for an Oscar and nominated for BAFTA, WGA, and NAACP awards. Cortés was also executive producer of the 2009 breakout film Precious, which won two Academy Awards®.
Cortés spent her early career as a music executive at the iconic Def Jam label and Rush Artist Management. She was VP of Artist & Repertoire at Mercury Records and founded the Loose Cannon label.
Cortés is represented by Lowell Shapiro and Mike Dill of Black Box Management and Denise J. Brown.
Blue Ant Studios is represented by United Talent Agency (UTA).
Blue Ant Studios is a leading studio and production business with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. Notable series and documentaries include The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Amazon Prime Video), Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell (Peacock, Sky), Canada’s Drag Race (Crave for Bell Media, WOW Presents Plus) and Daytime Emmy Award-winning series The Healing Powers of Dude (Netflix). The company works with all major international streaming, cable and broadcasting companies as well as regional players in the markets it operates in. Blue Ant Studios is a subsidiary of global media company,Blue Ant Media.
