Boat Rocker integrates unscripted and scripted, grows Michel Pratte’s remit

Publicly listed Canadian studio Boat Rocker Media is integrating its scripted and unscripted content divisions under a single operating group and expanding the remits of three senior executives.

Michel Pratte

The scripted and unscripted divisions have been merged under the name Boat Rocker Studios, TV, which will continue to be overseen by Boat Rocker Studios’ co-chairmen Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier.

The day-to-day operation of Boat Rocker Studios, TV will continue under its existing leadership with Jay Peterson as president of Boat Rocker Studios on the unscripted side and Steve Lescroart as president for scripted.

In addition, Boat Rocker said it is “expanding its commitment in growth areas around talent and commerce” by making Boat Rocker Ventures a formal operating division. The business acquires, invests in and builds consumer-facing entertainment IP and technology.

“We’re pleased to be bolstering the management of our operating divisions to help build further connectivity and value for our creative partners across the company,” said Schneeberg and Fortier, who also jointly serve as co-executive chairmen of Boat Rocker Media.

“As the home for creative visionaries, we’re continually pursuing ways to improve how we work with partners to enhance the creative and business value of their endeavors and these updates to our structure will help us fully optimise.”

Michel Pratte, president of Boat Rocker Media, will see his remit expand to focus on attracting more high-profile IP, talent and creators with a focus on investments and partnerships that combine talent, content and commerce.

Jon Rutherford, president of Boat Rocker Studios, kids and family and rights, will continue to report to Pratte. Pratte will also oversee Boat Rocker Ventures, the company’s investment in Untitled Entertainment and Boat Rocker’s corporate communications.

In addition, Lescroart has been appointed to the newly created role of chief operating officer of Boat Rocker Studios.

Eric Taitz has been promoted to senior VP and general manager of Boat Rocker Ventures. In the new role, Taitz will work with Untitled Entertainment to support the growth of its talent management business while also focusing on “high-growth-venture opportunities.”

Boat Rocker’s production credits include Invasion and Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry for Apple TV+, Beacon 23 for Spectrum/AMC and Dino Ranch for Disney.