Toronto-based Blue Ant Media (BAM) now has a majority share of Choice TV.
Simon Gault and Carly Flynn on set for Choice TV’s Cook The Books
Photo: Choice TV
Choice launched just over 2.5 years ago, the company being held by Top Shelf’s Vincent Burke and Laurie Clarke, with partners Alex Breingan and Julia Baylis. All were equal shareholders when the venture was set up. As the details of the deal with BAM, announced yesterday in North America, weren’t made public, it’s unclear how the minority shareholding is now held. Blue Ant’s statement confirmed that Baylis, who’s been GM since Choice was established, will remain in post.
Although BAM has investemnts in YouTube channel network Omnia Media, buying into Choice is BAM’s first investment into a TV channel operated outside of Canada.
Choice could offer a NZ home to a good deal of BAM’s programming, most of which is in the factual-reality spectrum. BAM has a catalogue of over 1,400 hours of content and earlier this year confirmed commissioning of 21 ongoing and new TV series, including a co-production with the US’ Smithsonian Channel.
Choice TV screens on Freeview channel 12 and Sky channel 26.
