MONTREAL – Quebecor Content has signed a strategic development partnership with NBCUniversal International Studios to co-develop new factual entertainment and studio-based formats for international audiences.
A division of Quebecor Media Inc., Quebecor Content provides distinctive, top-quality audio-visual content. Its goal is to offer customers a multi-platform experience, particularly via Videotron and the TVA Group, while showcasing local artists, both in Quebec and globally, reads the news release.
Quebecor Content and NBCUniversal International Studios will share all IP created through the partnership, and NBCUniversal has been granted the rights to exploit the format and distribution rights internationally. “Creative conversations” with Quebecor Content will be driven by NBCUniversal’s London based in-house format lab Tellycopter, and all English language versions of the formats developed for Canada will be produced by Lark Productions, which NBCUniversal International Studios owns an equity stake in.
NBCUniversal International Studios recently agreed to a similar co-development agreement with TV3 in Ireland. Quebecor Content also has strategic partnership deals with TF1 Production, Armoza Formats and French production company Kabo.
“We are pleased to continue our collaborative creative development approach with leading partner, NBCUniversal International Studios”, said Quebecor Content SVP France Lauzière, in the release. “For Quebecor Content, this is another very important step towards globalizing our activities and exporting Quebec-made television."
"It is great to be partnering with such a well-established international content provider like Quebecor Content”, added NBCUniversal International Studios factual and entertainment SVP David Mortimer. “We are hoping our experience in developing successful and globally renowned entertainment shows, teamed with their invaluable knowledge of the French Canadian TV market, will result in the development of some great new formats that will boast international appeal".
Quebecor Content's latest projects include By Invitation Only, Live From My Home, and Only One Knows; all of which are available in the international format market.
