Boat Rocker rejigs unscripted division

Say Yes to the Dress

Orphan Black producer Boat Rocker Media has set up a new arm to replace the factual and unscripted division of Temple Street Productions (TSP).

Crooked Horse Productions (CHP) will be part of Boat Rocker Studios and will be overseen by the former VP of factual at TSP, David Lerech.

It comes after TSP became Boat Rocker Media in February last year following a “significant” capital investment from Fairfax Financial.

TSP created and produced more than 150 hours of unscripted content, including Say Yes to the Dress Canada for W and Canada’s Next Top Model on CTV.

At CHP, Lerech will report to Boat Rocker Studios co-presidents and Boat Rocker Media co-executive chairmen David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg.

David Lerech

The firm, which has offices in Toronto, New York and LA, will focus on the lifestyle, documentary, reality and factual entertainment genres.

Two projects already underway at CHP are Late Nite Eats, for Cooking Channel in the US, and History in the Making, which hasn’t yet had its broadcaster announced.

Both series are being distributed internationally by Boat Rocker Rights and have received direct investment from Boat Rocker.

Fortier and Schneeberg said in a joint statement that Crooked Horse would leverage “enhanced self-financing strategies and co-financing partnerships with global broadcasters.”

John Young, CEO of Boat Rocker Media, added: “The shifting media landscape rewards bold action and our increased direct investment into content emphasises our long-held belief that content will always be king.”

The company said plans are also in place for Boat Rocker Studios’ other divisions, Temple Street (drama) and Radical Sheep (kids, family and animation) to increase their investment into original content.