TV & Film News – Boat Rocker acquires Platform One Media

Boat Rocker Media has acquired Los Angeles-based TV production and distribution house Platform One Media. Platform One CEO Katie O’Connell Marsh will become founder and chairman, in addition to taking on a leadership role with Boat Rocker. Launched two years ago with backing from Liberty Global and private investment firm TPG, the deal comes following Boat Rocker’s acquisition of unscripted production company Matador Content last year, which is also funded in part by TPG. Evolution Media, the investment and advisory services firm created by Creative Artists Agency and TPG, has since become an investor in Toronto-headquartered Boat Rocker.

eOne (Entertainment One) is expanding its unscripted TV business, acquiring non-fiction producer Blackfin which is behind series like Finding Escobar’s Millions and Primal Instinct.  Blackfin founder and CEO Geno McDermott becomes eOne’s president of U.S. Alternative Programming, Unscripted Television. He’ll report to Tara Long, president of Global Unscripted Television.

Telefilm Canada has released its annual report for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Among its export achievements, Telefilm brought 103 films to international festivals and events in 24 countries. It’s also touting $1.5M in administrative budgetary savings transferred back into funding programs. The agency’s executive will discuss the report and priorities going forward at this year’s annual public assembly in November.

CBC has announced that Schitt’s Creek will return for its sixth and final season on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT), airing on the same day and time across Canada and the U.S. The series is also available on the CBC Gem steaming service.

EMAfilms and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) have announced that production is underway on the feature film BEANS. Directed by award-winning Mohawk filmmaker Tracey Deer, who co-wrote the script with Meredith Vuchnich, the film depicts a 12-year-old Mohawk girl’s coming-of-age during the harrowing Oka Crisis in Quebec in 1990. It’s the first feature film to explore the event narratively onscreen. The lead role of Beans is portrayed by Kiawentiio Tarbell (Anne with an E). BEANS was one of two projects that CFC Features, in partnership with Bell Media’s Crave, selected for development in 2018, in consultation with Women in View, to recruit promising projects by female directors.

Thunderbird Entertainment Group has announced that a second season of docuseries Queen of the Oil Patch has been ordered by APTN. Produced in collaboration with Kah-Kitowak Films, production is now underway in Fort McMurray and the Mikisew Cree First Nation. Following an Indigenous entrepreneur with two spirits – Massey Whiteknife and Iceis Rain – the show’s first season was nominated for Best Writing in a Factual Series at the 2019 Canadian Screen Awards. Season 2 will air in Fall 2020 and feature eight episodes.

Sun Life Financial has partnered with new Radio-Canada quiz show 100 génies. Hosted by Pierre-Yves Lord, the show is a battle of wits between 100 of the brightest 14-to-17-year-olds in the country. The students have a chance to win $26,000 in contributions to a Sun Life Registered Education Saving Plan. The show will air on ICI Radio-Canada Télé, Thursday evenings at 8 p.m.

TSN has announced its broadcast schedule for the NBA champion Toronto Raptors’ 2019-20 regular season, delivering 41 games. Tangerine Raptors Basketball on TSN will be led by play-by-play commentator Matt Devlin, game analyst Jack “The Coach” Armstrong, and Kate Beirness reporting from the sidelines. Rod Black hosts pre-game, halftime, and post-game coverage alongside analyst Leo Rautins. Live radio coverage will be heard on TSN 1050 Toronto with play-by-play announcer Paul Jones, joined by Armstrong and Sherman Hamilton, in addition to dedicated Raptors reporter Josh Lewenberg. TSN 1050’s complete Raptors schedule can be found here.

Sportsnet will also broadcast 41 Toronto Raptors matchups this season across its TV, streaming, and radio platforms, starting Oct. 22. Sportsnet’s broadcast team features Matt Devlin and Leo Rautins with updates and interviews from NBA insider Michael Grange and reporter Eric Smith. Home game panel discussions will be anchored by Brad Fay, live from Scotiabank Arena. On Sportsnet 590 The FAN and the Sportsnet Radio Network, Eric Smith returns to the broadcast booth on play-by-play, alongside analyst Paul Jones. On Sportsnet.ca and the Sportsnet app, Faizal Khamisa and Danielle Michaud will provide analysis of Raptors storylines on social media. Live weekly editions of NBA Chatroom, Sportsnet’s interactive YouTube show, will be hosted by Khamisa and Donnovan Bennett. In-depth features, Big Reads and ongoing analysis will also be provided by Grange, Arden Zwelling, Dave Zarum and Steven Loung.

Sportsnet will broadcast 56 Toronto Maple Leafs games this season on TV and 41 radio games on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, starting Oct. 2. Sportsnet will also air four Leafs pre-season matchups, beginning Sept. 20. Sportsnet Ontario will be home to Leafs regional coverage this season, beginning Oct. 10 featuring play-by-play announcer John Bartlett and analyst Greg Millen. Shawn McKenzie and Chris Johnston will provide ice level updates. Radio coverage will be called by Joe Bowen and game analyst Jim Ralph.

TSN’s regional broadcast schedule for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2019-20 season will include four pre-season and 26 regular season games. Coverage will feature play-by-play commentators Gord Miller and Chris Cuthbert, with Ray Ferraro and Mark Masters reporting rinkside. The TSN Hockey panel featuring host James Duthie, hockey insider Bob McKenzie, and analysts Jeff O’Neill and Dave Poulin, will also contribute to Leafs On TSN. TSN 1050 Toronto game-day coverage will be hosted by Jim Tatti and feature play-by-play commentator Joe Bowen and analyst Jim Ralph, in addition to TSN 1050 Leafs reporter Kristen Shilton. Andi Petrilo will host Leafs Lunch, airing weekdays from noon – 2 p.m. ET, joined by regular Mike Johnson. Carlo Colaiacovo joins Michael Landsberg on First Up with Landsberg and Colaiacovo, airing weekdays from 6-10 a.m. ET. Jeff O’Neill will also join Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan on Overdrive, weekdays from 4-7 p.m. ET. 

TSN’s regional broadcast schedule for the Ottawa Senators’ 2019-20 season, includes four pre-season and 55 regular season games. Sens On TSN broadcasts will feature play-by-play commentators Gord Miller and Chris Cuthbert, alongside analysts Ray Ferraro, Jamie McLennan and Mike Johnson. Ottawa Bureau reporter Brent Wallace will also cover the team throughout the season across TSN’s platforms. Bruce Garrioch will return to the TSN Hockey Panel featuring James Duthie and Darren Dreger, to host fan-favourite Sens segment “Question Period.” TSN 1200 Ottawa will have live coverage of every game, called by Dean Brown and game analyst Gord Wilson. TSN 1200 also features two-hour pre-game shows, as well as intermission, and post-game coverage with TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, hosts Ian Mendes and Lee Versage and analysts Shawn Simpson, Brendan Bell, Brad Smyth and Chris Stevenson.

TSN’s regional broadcast schedule for the Montreal Canadiens’ 2019-20 season, includes four pre-season and 50 regular season games. Hosting duties for the Habs On TSN games are shared by Tessa Bonhomme and Glenn Schiiler, alongside Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun. Habs broadcasts will also feature play-by-play commentator Bryan Mudryk, with analysts Dave Poulin, Mike Johnson and Craig Button. Covering the Canadiens throughout the season is TSN Montreal Bureau reporter John Lu, who’ll file across the network’s platforms. TSN 690 Montreal will have live coverage of all pre-season, regular season, and playoff games, featuring play-by-play commentator Dan Robertson and analyst Sergio Momesso, with pre-game, intermission, and post-game coverage for all games throughout the season. 

TSN’s regional broadcast schedule for the Winnipeg Jets’ 2019-20 season, includes seven pre-season and 60 regular season games. The Jets on TSN broadcast team is led by host Sara Orlesky, with veteran play-by-play commentator Dennis Beyak, alongside analyst and former NHL player Kevin Sawyer, with contributions from Ken Wiebe. Orlesky will also contribute coverage across the network platforms. TSN 1290 Winnipeg will have live coverage of every Jets game with play-by-play commentating duties shared by Paul Edmonds and Beyak, alongside game analyst Brian Munz. Pre-game, intermission, and post-game coverage and analysis will be hosted by Kevin Olszewski and feature former players and TSN 1290 analysts Trevor Kidd and JP Vigier.

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