Bell Media announced Wednesday it is strengthening its existing partnership with Montreal-based Sphere Media by acquiring a majority stake in global content distributor Sphere Abacus, through its parent company Sphere Media International.
Bell Media currently owns a minority stake in content producer Sphere Media. The acquisition of Sphere Abacus “serves as a launchpad for Bell Media’s content distribution expansion, combining the strength of the two companies to accelerate growth and capitalize on new opportunities,” says a Bell Media press release announcing the transaction, which is expected to close in the coming weeks.
As part of the acquisition, UK-based Sphere Abacus becomes the primary international distributor of Bell Media’s owned distribution rights, enhancing the reach of Canadian content and creators with global audiences, according to the press release.
Sphere Abacus continues to be led by its managing director, Jonathan Ford.
“Late last year, we set the expansion of our global content distribution business as a core strategic priority. It’s gratifying to see that vision realized through our partnership with Sphere Media and Sphere Abacus,” Sean Cohan, Bell Media’s president, said in the release. “We look forward to continued collaboration with [Sphere Media CEO] Bruno [Dubé], Jonathan, and their teams to further grow Sphere Abacus with compelling, global, and profitable storytelling. We’re just getting started.”
“The arrival of Bell Media will enable Sphere Abacus to significantly accelerate its vision of international expansion in content acquisition and exploitation, with the aim of positioning the company among the industry leaders,” Dubé said in a statement. “I would like to thank Sean Cohan and the Bell Media team for their confidence and support.”
“Sphere Abacus prides itself on listening carefully to our customers to understand their changing programme needs, and the support of Bell Media will help us to further invest to service these,” Ford said. “Accelerating the acquisition of high-quality content from Canada and other territories, and broadening our relationships with more creators and producers will allow us to offer an even greater range of premium programming.”
Following the acquisition’s close, the combined catalogue of Sphere Abacus and Bell Media will feature more than 5,500 hours of content, including titles such as The Mightiest, Sort Of, Late Bloomer, Deepfake (L’Indétectable), Small Achievable Goals, The Family Next Door, Scrublands, Making Manson, Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson, Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music, and Mark McKinney Needs a Hobby.
