ITV

Tag: Sophie Ferron

  • Horsepower is heading to Europe

    Horsepower is heading to Europe

    Mumbai: Media Ranch founder & CEO, Sophie Ferron announced that Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) will host a Horsepower intensive in late February, training participants in the writing and pitching of global unscripted TV formats. The event is organised by the Lithuanian creative enterprise The Ethnic Kitchen Productions in partnership with Media Ranch, the Embassy of Canada to Lithuania, and Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT).

    Horsepower is a proprietary talent incubator created by Media Ranch to foster new talent in the creation of unscripted television formats. The program, started by Media Ranch’s Sophie Ferron in partnership with Quebecor, was first held in Montreal, Canada in 2018. Formats from this incubator have been optioned around the world. Highlights from past years include partnerships with TF1, Quebecor, La Fabrique des Formats and deals with The CW, Diga Studios, Wheelhouse, and gaming giant Ubisoft – where a first-year participant’s project is now the official TV format for mega-hit game “Just Dance”.

    After a successful run in Quebec, this is the first time Horsepower will be conducted internationally, and talks have already begun for other countries. Taking place in Vilnius, the workshops will be given by Media Ranch’s head of storytelling Philip Kalin-Hajdu, who has run the program since its inception. The program will conclude with pitches of the original formats created by participants to decision-makers from LRT and Media Ranch. LRT will pick one project that they would like to pursue in co-development. Media Ranch will board one (or more) projects as an international distributor.

    Ferron stated: “Horsepower has been such a dynamic vehicle for launching new IP and reaching new voices for the creation of formats. Media Ranch is thrilled to launch the first international version with LRT and Ethnic Kitchen in Lithuania and look forward to seeing amazing formats emerge.”

    Kalin-Hajdu said: “We are grateful to Aiste at Ethnic Kitchen, LRT, and the Embassy of Canada to Lithuania for this event. The beauty of formats is that they are, by nature, adaptable and serve to illustrate the commonalities between audiences, while celebrating our uniqueness. Horsepower continues to prove that local talent has the capacity to create for global audiences. We are thrilled to be bringing the program to Lithuania.”

    Ptakauske said: “In Europe alone, the TV formats industry generates over three billion euros per year. Although the UK has been the biggest European exporter of TV formats for a long time, other European countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have lately been stepping on its heels. Lithuania is, unfortunately, not a contender in the global TV formats industry yet. My hope is that Horsepower in Vilnius will provide Lithuanian creators with knowledge and ambition to develop TV formats for global audiences.”

    LTR head of TV department Andrius Korenka said: “Every year, before launching our public tender for TV programs, we hold special meetings with Lithuanian producers with the goal to convey to them our expectations as well as our audience’s preferences. New opportunities to learn about the most current trends of the global TV formats industry and possibilities to adapt them to the Lithuanian TV industry will be a very valuable experience to us and all our collaborators.”

  • GRB Media Ranch announces license deals at NATPE Global

    GRB Media Ranch announces license deals at NATPE Global

    Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch president, Sophie Ferron announced that Discovery Spain had renewed the license of five seasons of Untold Stories of the E.R.,  the company’s flagship medical reality series, and purchased an additional license for the most recent season (13) of that program. GRB Studios’ Gary R. Benz created the iconic series, exec-producing 13 seasons in 15 years. Untold Stories of the E.R. has been broadcast in 214 territories. The company has also received renewed interest in formatting the show around the world.

    Untold Stories of the E.R. is a dramatic medical docu-series re-enacting intense real-life stories of the emergency room, demonstrating the true nature of medicine practiced under pressure, where every moment can be a turning point. Audiences witness how a doctor’s personal blend of expertise, coolness under fire, and decision-making ability are challenged by unpredictable circumstances – and how character makes the ultimate difference.

    Death Walker, another GRB Media Ranch program with four seasons produced, has been purchased by both Discovery UK and France’s Canal Plus. The paranormal investigative series is hosted by series creator, Nick Groff, who theorises and investigates the origin of some of the most notorious hauntings in America, redefining our understanding of the paranormal.

    Ferron said: “GRB Media Ranch is thrilled start the year with deals for the iconic Untold Stories of the E.R. which is ripe for a Format version which we are diligently exploring. We are also pleased to bring our intriguing paranormal series, Death Walker to the UK and France.”

    Benz added, “the continued demonstrated interest in the series, with the ordering of new seasons as well as extending the license of prior seasons, speaks well to the program’s broad-based and long-lasting appeal.”

  • GRB Media Ranch closes licensing deal with Foxtel Group

    GRB Media Ranch closes licensing deal with Foxtel Group

    Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch co-principals, Gary R. Benz and Sophie Ferron announced that they closed a licensing deal for one of its top selling true-crime series, On the Case with Foxtel Group in Australia. The deal was brokered by GRB Media Ranch APAC sales rep Torquil Macneal.

    Foxtel Group acquired Season 11 of On the Case which has aired all 10 previous seasons since 2012. The long-standing series has been distributed into 185 territories. Season 11 is set to air in the first quarter of 2024.

    On the Case explores intriguing real-life murder mysteries through in-depth interviews with those closest to the case and examines the forensic evidence that helped unravel the mystery. First-person accounts from witnesses and suspects reveal the raw emotions left behind from personal tragedies and the motives of the perpetrators. (Produced for Discovery Networks.)

    CEO Gary R. Benz stated: “GRB Media Ranch is thrilled to bring another season of our top investigative series On the Case to Foxtel who have taken multiple seasons, receiving great audience feedback. On the Case has proven extremely successful around the world, being licensed into so many territories, and this latest season has even more exciting cases to present.”

    Foxtel Group GM factual Jim Buchan said, “Foxtel Group viewers have been enthralled by several seasons of On the Case and we are pleased to bring yet another fantastic season to them. The series keeps getting better and the fans are craving more of this premium series.”

  • GRB Media Ranch inks licensing deal with Cote Ouest at MIPCOM

    GRB Media Ranch inks licensing deal with Cote Ouest at MIPCOM

    Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch co-principals, Gary R. Benz and Sophie Ferron announced that they closed a licensing deal at MIPCOM for three popular titles from the Icons Unearthed series from the GRB Media Ranch catalog with Cote Ouest (now part of Mediawan). Liz Levenson, GRB’s distribution and acquisitions executive for Africa, CEE, Middle East ( finished programs & formats), and Scandinavia (finished programming) brokered the deal for GRB Media Ranch. GRB Media Ranch is located at MIPCOM Stand: # R7. A16.

    Created in 1997, Côte Ouest joined Mediawan Africa in May 2023, the African flagship of the Mediawan Group, a leading independent European studio producing audiovisual content and has partnered with GRB Studios in the past, this is their first deal with the new JV – GRB Media Ranch.

    –  Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious What should have been a one-off popcorn summer flick followed by a straight-to-video sequel became one of the largest film franchises of all time. Worth billions of dollars in ticket sales, it has spawned merchandise, spin-offs, and theme park attractions, and put a series of increasingly amazing stunts on the world’s movie screens. Despite the loss of a beloved lead actor, the franchise is a masterclass in world-building, raising the stakes, and growing a truly dedicated fan base internationally.

    –  Icons Unearthed: Star Wars: Travel to a time not very far, far away and witness the creation and filming of George Lucas’s two Star Wars trilogies. Interviews with cast and crew leave no stone unturned, making it the definitive account of the space saga that changed movies forever.

    –  Icons Unearthed: Marvel The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most successful franchise of all time and it has changed the way movies are made. Taking a cue from their comic book source material, these films tell different characters’ stories that all take place in one massive, interwoven universe. Each film would introduce one key protagonist, building toward the release of one giant blockbuster, The Avengers, that would put them all together. If a single one of those films failed at the box office, it could derail what may be the biggest gamble ever taken in the history of cinema. How did Marvel pull it off?

    – Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons – The Simpsons has reached television and film audiences around the world. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie are household names and the series’ impact on comedy writing, animation, and pop culture is felt to this day. Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons takes us on an insightful journey from the original two-minute shorts to its status as the longest-running scripted primetime television series of all time. Not even lawsuits, creative disputes, and production changes have been able to stop this animation juggernaut!

    Gary R. Benz stated: “GRB Media Ranch is operating both our sales, and acquisitions, work at full speed since our launch just 6 weeks ago! These deals represent a sampling of the great programs we offer. We are booked solid with meetings at MIPCOM with our partners to bring them even more fantastic programs.”

    Sophie Ferron added: “We are thrilled with these deals for some of our best programs and also have them available for other territories. Gary and I are looking forward to having our full sale teams together for the first time at MIPCOM and, as our motto says, “…we’ve got stories” – over 5,000 hours of them!”

    Cote Ouest CEO Jonathan Lett stated “Cote Ouest, now part of Mediawan, is thrilled to work with these ICONS UNEARTHED titles, and we value the longstanding relationship we’ve had with GRB, now GRB Media Ranch, over the years.  We are so excited to share these titles with audiences in Africa and as both our companies evolve, look forward to exploring exciting new ways to work together.”

  • Media Ranch partners with Crazy Maverick Films for international format development

    Media Ranch partners with Crazy Maverick Films for international format development

    Mumbai: Media Ranch’s president and founder Sophie Ferron announced that Media Ranch, and Crazy Maverick Films Private Ltd (CMF) have agreed to develop, co-own and distribute a slate of paper formats for global distribution, with the aim to partner and co-own with high-end talent of the industry. Media Ranch’s director, storytelling and business development Philip Kalin-hajdu will oversee the development for the partnerships.

    The first partnership is with Lucky Horseshoe, newly launched ProdCo from Blake Shelton & Lee Metzger for two 2 paper formats – including a bold, fresh high-concept take on dating – with development beginning this Autumn. In May 2023 music superstar and TV personality Blake Shelton and showrunner Lee Metzger (Legendary, The Voice) joined forces to launch Lucky Horseshoe Productions and this partnership is one of their first international deals.

    Development and IP ownership for the first format will be with all three parties with a focus on a strategic worldwide launch with each company leaning into their strengths: Lucky Horseshoe will be the producer in North America, CMF will produce in India; and Media Ranch will market and distribute to the rest of world. The aim is to collaborate and co-develop to create exciting new formats that appeal to a global audience, while identifying early on what makes the format feel local, personal, and identifiable. The ability to understand the nuances in each company’s territories helps in the creative approach.

    Media Ranch had been working with Abhishek Rege of CMF to partner with brand-name companies and AAA creators such as Lucky Horseshoe to expand their libraries of originals to reach new markets. This is the first project for Rege’s new prodco, CMF after his role as CEO of Endemol Shine India. He was also named to The Economic Times/Spencer Stuart’s India’s ‘hottest 40 under 40 Business Leaders ‘in 2018 and to the Impact 40 under 40 list in 2019. Prior to this, he has held various management roles at Viacom18 and Star India. Bhhaskar De, who comes with a rich international experience, played a key role in getting Media Ranch and Abhishek Rege together for this one-of-a-kind initiative.

    Shelton and Metzger stated: “Lucky Horseshoe was launched in May and this partnership is exactly what we are looking for to broaden our reach to other territories. Sophie and Abhishek have the international experience and contacts to help us create something fun and unique.”

    Rege added: “Sophie and I are here at MIPCOM to promote our exciting collaboration with Blake and Lee. With all the talent involved, we know that we  are bringing something special to the market – the first of many for our format development slate.”

    Ferron said: “Media Ranch is so thrilled to announce our development deal with Abhishek Rege here at MIPCOM and also to jointly announce our partnership with the incomparable Blake Shelton and Lee Metzger whose talent  and appeal are universally recognized and loved.   Media Ranch continues to develop original formats that will make their mark on the world. We are excited to be in partnership with such fantastic format creators from around the world. The world is truly small, business is global, and this pan-world partnership is testament to that.’”

  • GRB Media Ranch announces several deals ahead of MipCom

    GRB Media Ranch announces several deals ahead of MipCom

    Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch co-principals, Gary R. Benz and Sophie Ferron announced that several program deals were finalised ahead of the upcoming MipCom market. Deals span the globe from Australia, South Korea, Middle East, and Iberia.

    From Australia, Seven Network acquired three seasons (7,8 and 9) of GRB Media Ranch’s popular true-crime docuseries, On The Case. The long-running series explores intriguing murder mysteries through in-depth interviews with those closest to the case and examines the forensic evidence that helped unravel the mystery. First person accounts from witnesses and suspects reveal the raw emotions left behind from personal tragedies and the motives of the perpetrators.

    MBC took Showdown of the Unbeatables for the Middle East. This game show is where inventors and entrepreneurs pit their unique products and machines against each other and put their reputations to the test in the ultimate head-to-head invention battle.  Learn how the inventions work, meet the engineers who created the products, and see these tools in action. When the dueling competitors meet, the rules are agreed upon, the supporters take their place, and the showdown begins!

    South Korea’s JCG acquired three titles:

    –  Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious What should have been a one-off popcorn  summer flick followed by a straight-to-video sequel became one of the largest film franchises of all time. Worth billions of dollars in ticket sales, it has spawned merchandise, spin-offs, and theme park attractions, and put a series of increasingly amazing stunts on the world’s movie screens. Despite the loss of a beloved lead actor, the franchise is a masterclass in world-building, raising the stakes, and growing a truly dedicated fan base internationally.

    –  Icons Unearthed: Star Wars: Travel to a time not very far, far away and witness the creation and filming of George Lucas’s two Star Wars trilogies.  Included in the program are  revealing interviews with cast and crew, making it the definitive account of the space saga that changed movies forever.

    –  Icons Unearthed: Marvel The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most successful franchise of all time, and it has changed the way movies are made. Taking a cue from their comic book source material, these films tell different characters’ stories that all take place in one massive, interwoven universe. Each film would introduce one key protagonist, building toward the release of one giant blockbuster, The Avengers, that would put them all together. If a single one of those films failed at the box office, it could derail what may be the biggest gamble ever taken in the history of cinema. How did Marvel pull it off? Multicanal Iberia also acquired Nacelle title  Icons Unearthed: Marvel

    Benz stated, “GRB Media Ranch is fully operational at both our sales  and acquisitions level, working  at full speed since our launch just 6 weeks ago! These deals are an indicator of the reception we’ve gotten to the great programs we offer. We are booked solid with meetings at MIPCOM with our partners to bring them even more  content with high levels of audience appeal.”

    Ferron added, “We are thrilled with the reaction we’ve gotten to some of our  best programs which are also available for other territories. Gary and I are looking forward to having our entire team together for the first time at MIPCOM and, as our motto says, “…we’ve got stories” – over 5,000 hours of them!”      

  • GRB Media Ranch announces over 330 hours of acquisitions ahead of MIPCOM

    GRB Media Ranch announces over 330 hours of acquisitions ahead of MIPCOM

    Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch co-principals, Gary R. Benz and Sophie Ferron announced the acquisition of over 330 hours of new programs for their new international distribution catalog, to be offered at MIPCOM. The catalog features 300+ hours from the US network that embraces the vast spectrum of all things paranormal – The Dark Zone – as well as factual crime, a Lebron James and Maverick Carter executive-produced  documentary, two new Nacelle factual titles, and  a TV movie thriller.  Their MIPCOM Stand is # R7. A16.

    The Dark Zone paranormal programs consist of 10 series including Ghost Ship: The Queen Mary Experiment; Lizzie Borden Murder House; The Conjuring House: A Homecoming; The Paranormal Files; Paranormal Quest; The Witching Hour, featuring never-before-seen footage of  well-known paranormal incidents.

    Being presented at the market, along with The Dark Zone portfolio:

    – Who is Stan Smith? The Sole of a Champion: The iconic shoe bearing the name and face of tennis legend Stan Smith graces the feet of everyone from John Lennon to Jay-Z, but many have no clue who he is. From executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter, go on a lyrical adventure through time and pop culture, charting the extraordinary life of Stan Smith, the tennis champion turned sneaker icon and humanitarian.

    –  scripted true crime series about what happens when friendships turn deadly: I Killed my BFF as well as a movie based on a trued story, I Killed my BFF: The Preacher’s Daughter

    –  a fictional thriller tv movie, Ruined,  about a woman seeing a counselor to save her marriage. She is unaware that her therapist shares a secret past with her husband and is out for revenge. In this psychological thriller, no one can trust anyone, and someone may not survive.

    – Paranormal doc: Aliens on the Moon: The Truth Exposed exploring Apollo 11 footage revealing possible alien presence.

    – Anew titles from partner Nacelle: Icons Unearthed: James Bond about the exciting James Bond spy franchise

    – Magnolia’s Hope – a documentary about Rett Syndrome, a debilitating disorder affecting live female births, and a family’s struggle to deal with this disease while the Covid pandemic is raging around them.

    – Boy Boy: a humorous documentary series offering viewers an insider’s look into Montreal’s gay porn industry,  a major hub on the international scene. Meet the actors, cult filmmakers, specialists in sex health, and models’ entourage revealing all the secrets about the porn star life.

    Sophie Ferron stated, “GRB Media Ranch is thrilled to start our very first market as a JV with a broad variety of new programs – over 330 hours. We are offering a 360-degree approach with our factual, fiction, and format programming. Our motto at GRB Media Ranch is “…we’ve got stories”! And we certainly do, with over 5,000 hours in our catalog!”

    Gary R. Benz added, “We will make our initial market appearance with a rich catalog and a large, strong team.  It embodies what we contemplated when we created our joint venture.” 

  • GRB Studios & Media Ranch partner for distribution joint venture

    GRB Studios & Media Ranch partner for distribution joint venture

    Mumbai: GRB Studios CEO Gary R. Benz and Media Ranch CEO Sophie Ferron have entered into a joint venture partnership to create a premiere independent distribution organization. The new entity will combine the extensive content catalogs and proven formats, coupled with the years of entertainment business experience of both companies and principals to create an entity with a broader reach and a deeper catalog than the two partners have individually.  The company, GRB Media Ranch, will have a portfolio that includes over 5,000 hours of factual, unscripted, and scripted programming as well as a multitude of formats in all genres.

    Both companies will retain their separate production and creative businesses. Creative and original production for GRB Studios will remain solely with GRB under the management of Benz while Media Ranch’s original IP and format development, including current paper formats, and incubator Horsepower will remain solely with Media Ranch, under the management of Ferron and with Media Ranch’s Philip Kalin-Hajdu, head of development and storytelling.

    The two companies have a combined 50+ years in the international content sector, with award-winning programming such as GRB’s  Untold Stories of the E.R.; Icons Unearthed series: The Simpsons, Marvel, Star Wars, etc.; On the Case, among others, and GRB is the producer of megahit, Emmy Award-winning  Intervention. Media Ranch distributes over 150 formats, including Round Table from Wonwoo Park  (creator of Masked Singer), Watch, and hits such as Surprise sur prise, Comedy on the Edge, Rose D’or winning Street Jungle, and many more.

    Both Benz and Ferron have been active on the international trade circuit, speaking at MIPCOM, NATPE, Realscreen and other events. Ferron is an Advisory Member of FRAPA and the International Emmys org, and Benz is currently a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, the Academy of Television Arts and the Board Chairman for the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.

    Under the leadership of both Benz and Ferron, the team will include personnel from both partners handling distribution. From GRB:  Liz Levenson will cover Africa, Middle East, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe while Torquil Macneal will cover APAC; Janel Downing will cover Latin America;  From Media Ranch:  Tanja van der Goes will cover Europe for formats; Alexa Jorizzo will cover Europe and Canada for finished programs.

    Benz stated, “Sophie and I have known each other for over 10 years, partnering on various inspiring projects. Our companies and visions complement each other well, and we bring our creativity to deal-making into the evolving business of the content industry. Our joint venture is a natural and logical next step in our relationship to build a super independent distribution organization.  Together, we will expand our global reach even further.”

    Ferron added, “Gary and I have two strong teams that will become a unified and stellar sales force. We are eager to contribute our skills to the new entity and reach even greater heights. The goal is to become an international distribution powerhouse offering a comprehensive marketing approach from formats to finished programs in all genres.”