Exclusive: Michael MacMillan retired from the world of television 17 years ago. Except, he didn’t.
The Canadian film and TV producer and business exec had made his name as CEO and Chairman of Alliance Atlantis, the company that built the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise into a worldwide phenomenon, before its broadcast unit was sold off in 2007 to Canwest Communications and Goldman Sachs — making a lot of cash and taking a well-earned early retirement.
However, just four years later, he was back to do it all again.
MacMillan launched Blue Ant Media in 2011, originally as a Canadian channel operator, much the same as Alliance Atlantis had operated. However, just like his previous company, network ownership was only a means to an end — owning content was always the real play.
In the 13 years that have followed, Blue Ant has transformed from a channel operator to a content company playing in the international rights ownership game,...
The Canadian film and TV producer and business exec had made his name as CEO and Chairman of Alliance Atlantis, the company that built the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise into a worldwide phenomenon, before its broadcast unit was sold off in 2007 to Canwest Communications and Goldman Sachs — making a lot of cash and taking a well-earned early retirement.
However, just four years later, he was back to do it all again.
MacMillan launched Blue Ant Media in 2011, originally as a Canadian channel operator, much the same as Alliance Atlantis had operated. However, just like his previous company, network ownership was only a means to an end — owning content was always the real play.
In the 13 years that have followed, Blue Ant has transformed from a channel operator to a content company playing in the international rights ownership game,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The shape of Blue Ant Media’s combined studios and rights business is coming together.
Following the Canada’s Drag Race producer’s acquisition of Canadian compatriot MarbleMedia in August, the as-yet-unnamed production and distribution business has set out its leadership teams under Co-Presidents Mark Bishop and Matthew Hornburg, we can reveal.
Bishop and Hornburg previously led MarbleMedia, which has production and sales operations in Canada and the UK. Merging their business with Michael MacMillan’s Blue Ant has created Canada’s latest major content business, the name of which will soon be unveiled.
Here’s a rundown of the new structure: Hornburg’s unscripted development will see Jennifer Harkness taking the factual entertainment development reins from Blue Ant’s LA office. Over in Toronto, Kelsey Espensen (Best in Miniature) will lead unscripted entertainment and Steve Gamester (Inside the Statue Wars) heads specialist factual development.
Following the Canada’s Drag Race producer’s acquisition of Canadian compatriot MarbleMedia in August, the as-yet-unnamed production and distribution business has set out its leadership teams under Co-Presidents Mark Bishop and Matthew Hornburg, we can reveal.
Bishop and Hornburg previously led MarbleMedia, which has production and sales operations in Canada and the UK. Merging their business with Michael MacMillan’s Blue Ant has created Canada’s latest major content business, the name of which will soon be unveiled.
Here’s a rundown of the new structure: Hornburg’s unscripted development will see Jennifer Harkness taking the factual entertainment development reins from Blue Ant’s LA office. Over in Toronto, Kelsey Espensen (Best in Miniature) will lead unscripted entertainment and Steve Gamester (Inside the Statue Wars) heads specialist factual development.
- 11/22/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Latest BBC Comedy From ‘Fleabag’ Maker Sets Cast
Dinosaur, the latest BBC series from Fleabag maker Two Brothers Pictures, has set cast and commenced filming. David Carlyle (It’s A Sin), Lorn Macdonald (Bridgerton) and Danny Ashok (Roadkill) are aboard along with a range of support cast, while co-creator Ashley Storrie plays the lead of Nina, an autistic woman in her 30s who adores her life living with her sister and best friend Evie. When Evie rushes into an engagement after only six weeks and makes Nina her maid of honor, Nina is floored. Co-created by Matilda Curtis, the show has commenced filming in Scotland and will air on BBC Three and BBC Scotland. Two Brothers also makes hit BBC shows The Tourist and Back to Life.
Canada’s Blue Ant Merges With Marblemedia
Canada’s Blue Ant Media has merged production and distribution operations with Netflix’s Blown Away outfit Marblemedia.
Dinosaur, the latest BBC series from Fleabag maker Two Brothers Pictures, has set cast and commenced filming. David Carlyle (It’s A Sin), Lorn Macdonald (Bridgerton) and Danny Ashok (Roadkill) are aboard along with a range of support cast, while co-creator Ashley Storrie plays the lead of Nina, an autistic woman in her 30s who adores her life living with her sister and best friend Evie. When Evie rushes into an engagement after only six weeks and makes Nina her maid of honor, Nina is floored. Co-created by Matilda Curtis, the show has commenced filming in Scotland and will air on BBC Three and BBC Scotland. Two Brothers also makes hit BBC shows The Tourist and Back to Life.
Canada’s Blue Ant Merges With Marblemedia
Canada’s Blue Ant Media has merged production and distribution operations with Netflix’s Blown Away outfit Marblemedia.
- 8/11/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
A new heavyweight is about to make a splash in the unscripted ring.
Canadian production-distribution powerhouse Blue Ant Media, the producers of “Canada’s Drag Race,” has acquired “Blown Away” outfit MarbleMedia — a deal that merges two of Canada’s most global-facing industry players.
The acquisition sees Toronto-headquartered Blue Ant Media merge its production and distribution operations with MarbleMedia into one studio and rights business. Blue Ant Media boss Michael MacMillan, the former CEO of Alliance Atlantis, tells Variety that discussions have taken place for around a year. “Neither company needed to do this,” he says, “but it seemed like a really smart idea for us all.”
Formed in 2011, Blue Ant Media has grown into a leader in factual and unscripted content. Its stable of shows include “Canada’s Drag Race” for World of Wonder and Crave; “Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks” for Prime Video; the doc series “Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies...
Canadian production-distribution powerhouse Blue Ant Media, the producers of “Canada’s Drag Race,” has acquired “Blown Away” outfit MarbleMedia — a deal that merges two of Canada’s most global-facing industry players.
The acquisition sees Toronto-headquartered Blue Ant Media merge its production and distribution operations with MarbleMedia into one studio and rights business. Blue Ant Media boss Michael MacMillan, the former CEO of Alliance Atlantis, tells Variety that discussions have taken place for around a year. “Neither company needed to do this,” he says, “but it seemed like a really smart idea for us all.”
Formed in 2011, Blue Ant Media has grown into a leader in factual and unscripted content. Its stable of shows include “Canada’s Drag Race” for World of Wonder and Crave; “Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks” for Prime Video; the doc series “Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies...
- 8/10/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
As the online landscape continues to shift and evolve in the screen sector, so too do the conversations surrounding streaming legislation in Canada. The current iteration of that dialogue, Bill C-11, is in the final stages of voting at the Senate this week. It is expected to be passed back to the Commons for a final vote and eventual passage into law in the coming days.
Just as decision-makers wrapped that bill’s third reading on Feb. 2, Canadian screen leaders took the stage at the Canadian Media Producers Association’s (Cmpa) annual Prime Time event in Ottawa. There, they discussed media policy and potential changes to the industry in the years ahead.
Unsurprisingly, most of that discussion revolved around the concerns some of the 26 amendments to the 56-page bill have raised. (The bill is the longest study ever conducted at a Senate committee.) While the heart of the bill is...
Just as decision-makers wrapped that bill’s third reading on Feb. 2, Canadian screen leaders took the stage at the Canadian Media Producers Association’s (Cmpa) annual Prime Time event in Ottawa. There, they discussed media policy and potential changes to the industry in the years ahead.
Unsurprisingly, most of that discussion revolved around the concerns some of the 26 amendments to the 56-page bill have raised. (The bill is the longest study ever conducted at a Senate committee.) While the heart of the bill is...
- 2/2/2023
- by Amber Dowling
- Variety Film + TV
Blue Ant Media has hired Sundance Productions co-founder and Emmy-winning producer Laura Michalchyshyn to the newly-created role of chief creative officer and co-president of Blue Ant Studios.
Michalchyshyn, who has worked with Blue Ant as a producer and consultant since 2018, will collaborate with co-president Sam Sniderman to grow the Canadian company’s unscripted and scripted slate in the U.S.
She will be based out of New York City and will report to Blue Ant Media’s CEO and co-founder Michael MacMillan, who praised her “talent, knowledge of the industry, and experience” of working in the U.S. and Canada.
Blue Ant Studios makes the Canadian version of World of Wonder’s Emmy-winning series Rupaul’s Drag Race, as well as Netflix show The Healing Powers of Dude.
In addition to adding to this slate, Michalchyshyn will aim to bring more projects to the U.S. from the company’s international production houses,...
Michalchyshyn, who has worked with Blue Ant as a producer and consultant since 2018, will collaborate with co-president Sam Sniderman to grow the Canadian company’s unscripted and scripted slate in the U.S.
She will be based out of New York City and will report to Blue Ant Media’s CEO and co-founder Michael MacMillan, who praised her “talent, knowledge of the industry, and experience” of working in the U.S. and Canada.
Blue Ant Studios makes the Canadian version of World of Wonder’s Emmy-winning series Rupaul’s Drag Race, as well as Netflix show The Healing Powers of Dude.
In addition to adding to this slate, Michalchyshyn will aim to bring more projects to the U.S. from the company’s international production houses,...
- 10/3/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Toronto - Canadian cross-platform broadcaster GlassBOX Television has hired former top Shaw Media programmer Vanessa Case to head up its program acquisition and scheduling duties. Naming Case as executive VP of programming marks the first high-profile hire at GlassBOX after former CSI co-producer Michael MacMillan acquired a controlling stake in the company in 2011. Case most recently oversaw cable channel programming and scheduling at Shaw Media as both senior director and VP of content. While at Shaw Media, she managed some of Canada’s top-rated channels, including Hgtv Canada, History and Slice. MacMillan, as then head of the
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- 3/5/2012
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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