Sam Linton leaves Blue Ant as distribution and channels teams integrate

Sam Linton has left her role as VP of production and development at Blue Ant Media as the Toronto-based company continues to make changes as it integrates its distribution and channels teams.

Sam Linton

Linton, who joined the company in 2013, is one of several employees leaving as a result of the rejig, which comes 13 months after Blue Ant went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange via a reverse takeover of Boat Rocker.

In a statement, a Blue Ant rep said the company would be hiring several new positions to meet the needs of its reshaped business, including a “global commissioning role.”

Linton has played a key role in building Blue Ant’s original content business since joining as VP, head of original content 13 years ago. Four years ago, she was elevated to VP of production and development, with oversight of development, production and commissioning for linear channels including T+E and Cottage Life, as well as free ad-supported streaming channels like Love Pets.

Linton’s departure comes just a few months after Banff World Media Festival, where she, alongside Mark Bishop (chief monetisation officer for Blue Ant rights and streaming) Matt Hornburg (chief content officer of Blue Ant Studios), laid out Blue Ant’s content vision.

The changes have come thick and fast over the past 13 months, with Blue Ant acquiring doc-focused US streamer MagellanTV and later Vancouver-headquartered studio Thunderbird.

It has also announced several restructures, which have seen the departures of key execs including former Thunderbird distribution head Richard Goldsmith and former Jam Filled Entertainment president Lori McIndoe.

“As we continue to integrate our new businesses and bring our rights and channels teams together, we have made some organisational changes which impacted a few roles,” said a Blue Ant representative.

“We are also hiring for a number of new roles to support the evolved business, including a global commissioning role that will oversee both Canadian and international commissioning. We are grateful to our departing colleagues for their contributions and are supporting them through this transition.”