LOS ANGELES, CA. – Global distribution and production company Keshet International announced a joint venture today with Canadian TV executive Mark Rubinstein to establish a new Canadian office.
Rubinstein, who was previously president and CEO of Insight Sports and COO of Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting, will lead the joint venture, to be known as Keshet Canada. The new Canadian office will have the rights to more than 50 Keshet International properties, and aims to engage the local industry to develop, produce and co-produce original content under the Keshet Canada banner.
“Keshet’s swift international growth in recent years is a testament to the company’s ability to transcend international borders with its innovative scripted and unscripted programming,” said Rubinstein in a release. “I am looking forward to utilizing our extensive network of industry contacts to bring the same level of success to the Canadian market with existing KI properties as well as new content we develop in-house.”
Keshet International, which also recently launched new offices in the UK and Australia, has already had some dealings in the Canadian market. Earlier this year in May, Canada’s Video Services Corp. acquired the broadcast, DVD and VOD rights for Keshet’s acclaimed drama Prisoners of War, the original Israeli version of prime-time Emmy-winning series Homeland. Both seasons of Prisoners of War will appear on iTunes Canada and DVD, and on Super Channel later in 2013.
Rubinstein also recently established RubyRun Ventures, a television and digital media company focused on the financing, production and multi-platform distribution of video content.
Keshet International, headed by managing director Alon Shtruzman, is the global distribution and production arm of Israeli media company Keshet Media Group.
