TV & Film News – Cinespace Studios acquired by TPG

Cinespace Studios in Toronto and Chicago has been acquired by TPG Real Estate Partners (TREP), the real estate equity investment arm of TPG. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded by the Mirkopoulos family in Toronto, together with the Pissios family in Chicago, the company launched in Toronto in 1988 and today operates 23 production stages across the city, with another 12 stages planned for development on more than 40 acres. Cinespace Chicago opened in 2010 and currently operates 33 stages, with an additional 15 stages undergoing development or conversion on more than 60 acres. Cinespace intends to grow its employee base at each studio as a result of the transaction. As part of the acquisition, Eoin Egan and Keith Gee will join Cinespace as Co-Managing Partners and COO and CFO, respectively. Egan most recently served as Head of Production Services at Netflix, and Gee as CEO of Strive and CFO and President of LifeStorage, two former TREP portfolio companies. 

Rogers Group of Funds and Creative BC have announced the establishment of a new $1 million fund for Indigenous creators in British Columbia. The fund is Canada’s first provincial-national partnership focused on Indigenous creators and will also be the first targeted Indigenous screen fund at Creative BC. With a priority on Indigenous sovereignty and decision-making, Creative BC will undertake a consultation process within the Indigenous content creator community in B.C., contributing to the creation of a relevant, targeted, and responsive suite of programs over four years. The fund is aimed at increasing access and representation for Indigenous producers and Indigenous-led production companies in B.C.’s domestic motion picture industry. More details will follow next year.

Black Market Releasing is a new company, headed by filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, aiming to bring stories from the BIPOC community to the big screen. Focused on the Canadian theatrical market, Black Market’s parent company is CaribbeanTales Media Group which has been bringing BIPOC content to screens for 20+ years. Among the first projects on its slate is “Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes,” directed by Mark James, which tells the story of the Chins, the Chinese-Jamaican family behind the legendary recording studio that became the heart of the music revolution after Jamaican independence from Great Britain in 1962. The feature documentary features previously unreleased music and original interviews with Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, UB40, Maxi Priest, Lee “Scratch” Perry and more. Black Market is now accepting content submissions.

CBC is introducing a new carbon footprint requirement for all original Canadian English-language productions. The requirement builds on the public broadcaster’s five-year environmental sustainability strategy, Greening Our Story, released in June. Beginning Jan. 3, CBC will require completion and delivery of a carbon footprint on all original Canadian productions from independent producers with budgets over $400,000, using albert – a film and television industry tool that calculates the carbon emissions of productions. CBC was the first media company in Canada to use albert on CBC Kids’ in-house production, Gary’s Magic Fort. Since then, it’s expanded use of the calculator on additional productions including Family Feud Canada, Marketplace and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It plans to accelerate the pace at which in-house productions need to deliver carbon footprints next year. To support Canadian independent producers with the new requirement, CBC recently posted a newly-created Environmental Sustainability Lead role.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) has announced that Arkells will take centre stage at the Twisted Tea Grey Cup Halftime Show. The 108th Grey Cup from Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field will air live on Sunday, Dec. 12 on TSN and RDS. Arkells’ Max Kerman said the band is “exceptionally proud” to be the first homegrown act to headline their city’s Grey Cup halftime show. The performance is the latest milestone in the CFL’s ongoing relationship with Universal Music Canada, which has included in-game broadcast music, the stadium concert series, and collaborations with the league’s nine clubs.

FIBA, the world basketball governing body, has expanded its media presence in North America with the announcement of a long-term broadcast rights agreement with Sportsnet in Canada. Through the new partnership, Sportsnet becomes the exclusive broadcast rights-holder for FIBA events in Canada through to fall 2025. Home to a rapidly-growing fanbase, Canada’s national teams have seen increasing success on the world stage over the past five years. In addition to delivering coverage of Canada’s appearances in FIBA competitions, Sportsnet’s broadcast rights also include access to key international matchups featuring squads from around the world, including USA Basketball. Full FIBA on Sportsnet broadcast details will be announced at a later date.

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) and TSN, have announced the NLL Game of the Week on TSN broadcast schedule for the 2021-22 regular season, which features games from the home arenas of every Canadian franchise. The 20-game regular season broadcast schedule begins Saturday, Dec. 4, with TSN also delivering live streaming coverage of every game of the NLL regular season and postseason across its digital platforms, TSN.ca and the TSN app. 

The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs kick off this weekend on TSN with complete live coverage of Round One, starting Nov. 20 at 2:30 p.m. ET on TSN1, TSN.ca, and the TSN app with Philadelphia Union facing the New York Red Bulls, followed by Vancouver Whitecaps FC taking on Sporting Kansas City at 5 p.m. ET. As Canada’s exclusive English-language television home of the league, TSN delivers complete live coverage of every match of the playoffs all the way to the 2021 MLS CUP championship game on Saturday, Dec. 11. Find the broadcast schedule here. On the call is play-by-play commentator Luke Wileman with analyst Steven Caldwell, as well as Blake Price reporting from the sidelines. The MLS ON TSN studio panel is hosted by Kelcey Brade, alongside former Toronto FC Designated Player Julian DeGuzman, and veteran of the Premier League and Republic of Ireland Men’s National Team Kevin Kilbane. 

CHEK TV in Victoria launches two new shows this Sunday. The independent station is bringing the “This is Vancolour” podcast, hosted by Mo Amir, to TV, streaming, and on demand on CHEK+, Sundays at 7 p.m. PT. It will be followed at 7:30 pm by DownieLive Travels by Train, a 10-part cross-Canada travel series by popular Vancouver YouTuber Michael Downie.