Blue Ant acquires Marblemedia, merges production and distribution operations

L-R: Matthew Hornburg, Michael MacMillan and Mark Bishop

Canada’s Blue Ant Media has acquired Blown Away producer Marblemedia and is merging the two firms’ production and distribution operations to form one unified studio and rights business.

Marblemedia co-founders and CEOs Mark Bishop and Matthew Hornburg will take the helm of this business, serving as co-presidents. Based in Toronto, they will report to Michael MacMillan, CEO and co-founder of Blue Ant Media.

With hubs in Toronto, New York, LA, Miami and London, the combined business will operate across all genres. It brings together Marblemedia and its sales subsidiary Distribution360 with Blue Ant-owned production companies Blue Ant Studios, Saloon Media and Look Mom! Productions, plus distributor Blue Ant International.

Blue Ant Media is the producer behind Canada’s Drag Race and also operates international wildlife network Love Nature, among other channels. Marblemedia produces Netflix series Blown Away as part of its slate. Blue Ant International currently represents more than 5,000 hours of content across all genres, while Distribution360 has a catalogue of 2,000 hours of content and formats.

Sam Sniderman will serve as Blue Ant Media’s chief commercial officer, working closely with MacMillan and chief financial officer Robb Chase on business development, partnerships and M&A. Laura Michalchyshyn will continue her duties as chief creative officer, nurturing and attracting talent for the company’s overall business worldwide.

Beach House Pictures, another Blue Ant-owned prodco, will continue to operate independently out of Singapore.

MacMillan said: “Marblemedia has long been regarded as one of the most respected production and distribution companies in the unscripted and scripted space, having created huge hits for the biggest streamers and broadcasters in the industry.

“With Mark and Matt leading our combined studios and rights business, Blue Ant Media is well positioned in its growth as an international media company with production, rights and an established global channels division all operating at scale.”

Bishop and Hornburg added in a joint statement: “Building this new merged production and distribution studio will bring together our talented teams who have a shared vision and belief that original content and rich IP are the greatest differentiator. The appetite for premium content remains strong in the global market, and we can better serve this demand with high-quality content and by working with best-in-class collaborators.”