Temple Street Productions, a leading international production studio and producers of the award-winning, critically acclaimed, Orphan Black, sci-fi fan favorite, Killjoys, and teen sensation, The Next Step, announces the formation of Boat Rocker Media, a global entertainment company that creates, produces and distributes premium content and brands across all platforms. Boat Rocker Media, with headquarters in Toronto and offices in New York and Los Angeles, will serve as the parent brand for Temple Street and several new lines of business. The announcement was made today by David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, Co-Executive Chairmen of Boat Rocker Media and John Young, CEO of Boat Rocker Media.
Consolidated under the Boat Rocker umbrella are: Boat Rocker Studios, under which Temple Street and other original content creation brands and divisions will live; Boat Rocker Rights; Boat Rocker Ventures; Boat Rocker Brands; and Boat Rocker Animation. This announcement comes after a significant capital investment from Fairfax Financial, furthering the company’s growth through expanded production and distribution operations and strategic acquisitions.
Boat Rocker Studios, led by Fortier and Schneeberg, is the new company's creative engine, responsible for developing and producing premium content for worldwide audiences across all platforms and media. Temple Street, through its newly formed drama, alternative and kids & family programming divisions, will now operate within Boat Rocker Studios and will continue as the brand responsible for producing high quality television series such as Orphan Black, Killjoys, X Company, Million Dollar Critic, The Next Step and the recently premiered Lost and Found Music Studios. Also under the Boat Rocker Studios umbrella will be Boat Rocker Digital, a division which will specialize in designing and building original digital-first global media properties, including apps, console and mobile games, software and interactive, virtual reality and video content. The company expects to announce shortly the addition of new content creation brands and partners under Boat Rocker Studios.
Boat Rocker Rights is a global content distribution, sales and licensing team committed to partner-friendly interaction, absolute transparency, and building long lasting alliances with clients all over the world. Rights manages the company’s distribution, sales and acquisition of multiplatform content around the world, including the recently acquired, Ollie! The Boy Who Became What He Ate.
Boat Rocker Ventures acquires, invests and builds consumer-facing entertainment intellectual property and technology. In addition to direct investments, Ventures leverages Boat Rocker Media’s infrastructure and resources to partner with innovators to build smarter entertainment properties. Ventures also supports the overall strategic direction and corporate development of Boat Rocker Media.
Boat Rocker Brands will develop the strategy and execute on global marketing and monetization plans for high-potential entertainment brands. Through in-house expertise, audience analysis and a network of corporate partnerships, Boat Rocker Brands will expand modern media properties into revenue streams that extend beyond traditional content monetization. One of Brands’ first orders of business will be to further develop and expand hit properties Orphan Black, The Next Step, and Lost & Found Music Studios.
Boat Rocker Animation, will be housed in a newly created, state-of-the-art, 5,000 square foot space at Boat Rocker's headquarters in Toronto. It will be a full service animation studio that partners with creators, producers and broadcasters in the production of original 2D and 3D animation content across all genres and for all platforms. The studio is about to commence servicing multiple projects, including Dot and Top Wing, from Toronto-based animation production company, Industrial Brothers.