Sphere Media, Moira Ross to develop dating, social experiment, talent competition shows
Canada’s Sphere Media has struck up a creative partnership with experienced transatlantic format developer and showrunner Moira Ross to develop international formats together.
The exclusive agreement aims to develop a new hub for large scale US and UK entertainment format coproductions.
Ross will develop and produce established and new IP, initially focusing on dating shows, social experiments and premium talent competitions.
The two said the partnership combines Ross’s internationally recognised format expertise with Sphere Media’s strength in creating and exploiting both original and established formats worldwide.
Supported by Canada’s competitive tax incentives, the collaboration enables large-scale studio formats to be delivered at significantly more cost-effective levels than many other global production hubs throughout the world, the two said.
Ross has worked on some of the industry’s biggest global franchises on both sides of the Atlantic, including playing a key role in the relaunch of Strictly Come Dancing in the UK, informed by her previous involvement on Dancing With the Stars in the US.
Known for rebranding and refreshing major IP, she also launched the BAFTA-nominated UK version of The Voice and served as showrunner for five seasons.
Her recent credits include music series K-Popped and BAFTA nominated Hannah Waddingham’s Home for Christmas, both for Apple TV, and The Masked Singer and So You Think You Can Dance, both for Fox.
Ross previously served as editor, format entertainment at the BBC, ran her own production label Panda, part of All3Media, and later worked as a freelance creative executive and showrunner.
Ross said: “I’m drawn to Sphere for its creative culture, collaborative approach and the possibility of producing in multiple languages.
“Producers everywhere are under intense pressure to deliver more with less – whilst pre-production budgets shrink and expectations keep rising.
“Canada feels uniquely positioned at this moment to be a global hub and partner with clear advantages in cultural alignment and budget competitiveness. I see huge potential to build exciting, ambitious, premium formats here where we can breathe life into fresh ideas and put every dollar on screen.”
Sphere Media CEO Bruno Dubé added: “Moira’s creative leadership and deep experience in global formats make her an exceptional partner.
“This agreement will also allow us to unlock new creative and commercial opportunities with US and UK partners while further strengthening Canada’s position as a hub for premium entertainment formats.”
Sphere Media has a track record in originating and re-versioning formats in Québec, having adapted more than 40 formats in recent years, including Got Talent (Fremantle), One Question (NBCUniversal), What Would Your Kid Do? (ITV), Dementia Choir (BBC) and Five Guys a Week (Fremantle).
Alongside local adaptations, Sphere has created original formats such as festive dating format The Advent Calendar and House of Secrets, both currently distributed by Fremantle.
The company is currently in production on season two of the Crave original, Drag Brunch Saved My Life, starring international pop and drag superstar Priyanka.
Sphere Media has offices in Montreal, Toronto and London. The company invested in global distributor Abacus along with Bell Media to create Sphere Abacus, the commercial arm with a catalogue containing more than 5,500 hours of TV series and documentaries.
