France, Canada in comedy venture

MIPTV: French fiction and comedy prodco Kabo Family and Canadian media company Contenu QMI have agreed a coproduction partnership to develop comedy formats.

André Provencher

The move will see the two partners adopt Kabo’s ‘pick ’n’ mix’ sitcom formula, a collection of stand-alone comedy sketches ranging from 13 to 52 minutes and arranged in any order to suit broadcasters’ schedules.

The partnership with Kabo represents Quebecor Media-owned Contenu QMI’s third international co-development deal, adding to last year’s with Armoza Formats and TF1 Production in France.

The partnerships form part of the company’s push to create properties for the global market, as well as innovative audiovisual content for viewers in Quebec.

André Provencher, VP of creation and international development at Contenu QMI, said the co-development deal was the first such example of co-operation between France and Quebec.

“This new partnership allows us to emphasise our desire to showcase talent and Quebec know-how abroad, this time via dramatic writing, and to better serve multi-platform needs,” he said.

Kabo’s formats distribution arm Kabo International, which launched last autumn, will handle worldwide distribution of new properties developed under the partnership.

Earlier this year Kabo International signed a format distribution deal with Canadian production outfit Zone3.