Canada’s Bell Media reports uptick in copro approaches from US broadcasters
Carlyn Klebuc speaking at Content Canada
CONTENT CANADA: Canadian broadcaster Bell Media is seeing an uptick in inbound interest from US studios as the dual strike south of the border drags on.
Carlyn Klebuc, general manager of original programming, told C21’s Content Canada event that the company, which owns broadcaster CTV, streamer Crave and a suite of pay-TV channels, is beginning to have conversations about coproduction projects that make sense for both sides.
“We have studios reaching out that want to work with us, to have programming that works in both Canada and the US, and that we co-finance and create together,” she told delegates at Content Canada yesterday.
Those conversations are primarily taking place with US studios rather than streamers, she added.
From the Canadian perspective, an important aspect of the deal-making is that the US partner brings a level of financing that reflects the fact its market is almost 10 times the size of Canada’s.
In the past, Klebuc admitted that some coproduction and co-financing partnerships with US streamers “didn’t work out that well” but based on current discussions she said she was “optimistic” about striking good deals and creating impactful projects.
“They’re bringing IP, we’re bringing IP, and we’re co-financing. So far, it’s been pretty optimistic, in that it looks like the financing the US is bringing is commensurate with their audience,” she said.
“We’ve seen in the past, working with foreign partners, where they basically want us to pay the full freight and they bring it to their audiences 10 times the size of us. It’s not a great business model for us, as you can imagine.”
Given that CTV’s primetime content lineup features a significant portion of acquired content, the network’s fall schedule will feel the impact of the lack of new US scripted product.
In the absence of many US shows, Klebuc said CTV will lean more heavily on and give more prominence to its homegrown hits, which have been unaffected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in the US.
“We’re really happy to have the Can-con that we do, especially the dramas and broad comedies like Children Ruin Everything, Transplant, Sullivan’s Crossing and others, because we are really going to have to rely on those as the content slows down due to the strikes in the US,” she said.
CTV announced its full fall lineup yesterday, including its local adaptation of psychological reality series The Traitors and trivia gameshow Battle of the Generations, as well as Children Ruin Everything, Transplant and Sullivan’s Crossing.
The company also revealed that original medical drama Transplant, which also airs on NBC in the US, is to end with its upcoming fourth season. The show, created by Joseph Kay and starring Hamza Haq, has been a ratings winner for CTV, and garnered acclaim and multiple awards.
“I’d always intended a four-season window into [lead character] Bashir’s life as he completes his medical residency for a second time, sets down roots in Canada, and learns to shed some of his past, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to be able to tell his complete story,” said Kay, who serves as showrunner and exec producer.
In terms of US acquisitions, CTV’s fall slate includes a host of Fox shows such as the return of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test, and Snake Oil hosted and produced by David Spade and executive produced by Will Arnett, in addition to CBS drama Magnum PI.
