Datsit Sphere acquires BGM

Quebec-based producer and distributor Datsit Sphere has acquired BGM (fka Bristow Global Media) from the wreckage of Kew Media Group.

Marlo Miazga

Datsit Sphere, which has offices in Montreal and Toronto, is best known for producing primetime drama and comedies such as Transplant, 19-2, Rumours and This Life.

The acquisition of BGM represents its first foray into English-language factual entertainment and is part of an expansion into the global market.

BGM was formed in 2013 is now headed by CEO Marlo Miazga after founder Julie Bristow left the company in November last year.

The company was one of the initial six firms acquired by Kew Media Group at its launch in 2017. Kew’s lenders forced the company into administration in February after months of turmoil.

Kew ran into difficulties at the end of 2019 when it announced that financial statements from chief financial officer Geoff Webb contained inaccurate information with regards to working capital.

Webb left Kew and internal investigations were launched. Last month, the company was forced to withdraw from the Toronto Stock Exchange when auditor Grant Thornton withdrew previously released reports on the firm owing to an “inability to rely on representations he [Webb] made to Grant Thornton in the course of its audits and review of Kew’s financial statements.”

Jamie Brown retook control of his Canadian indie Frantic Films just prior to the administration, following Dance Moms producer Collins Avenue, Scottish outfit Two Rivers, and London-based distributor TCB Media in beating a hasty retreat from the stricken firm.

BGM’s production slate includes Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911 and the forthcoming Paranormal Nightshift. On the kids front, BGM is the producer of Backyard Beats and It’s My Party.

Miazga joined BGM Inc as VP of content in 2016 and since then has helped deliver a slate that includes documentary format The Story of Us and drama-documentary 100 Days To Victory.

Bruno Dubé, president and CEO of Datsit Sphere, said: “Our strategy for some time has been to create a completely diverse, talented network of creatives. We have carefully, over time, become a home for excellence in all genres; animation, unscripted, documentary, fiction, distribution and feature film.

“BGM is one of the leaders of the Canadian domestic production scene, and more crucially for us, a significant player in the international market. This acquisition is a building block towards realising our plans to create a global, sustainable, independent production group capable of producing quality entertainment across all genres and platforms.”