Canadian producer and distributor, Sphere Media, has teamed with format developer and producer Moira Ross.
Under the exclusive agreement that aims to position a new hub for large scale US and UK entertainment format co-productions, Ross will develop and produce established and new IP, initially focusing on dating shows, social experiments, and premium talent competitions.
Drawing on Canada’s tax incentives, the collaboration “enables large-scale studio formats to be delivered at significantly more cost-effective levels than many other global production hubs throughout the world.”
Ross has worked on some of the industry’s biggest global franchises on both sides of the Atlantic, including playing a key role in the relaunch of Strictly Come Dancing in the UK, informed by her previous involvement on Dancing With the Stars in the US. Renowned for rebranding and refreshing major IP, she also launched the BAFTA-nominated UK version of The Voice and served as showrunner for five seasons.
Her recent credits include Apple TV+ successes K-Popped and BAFTA nominated Hannah Waddingham’s Home for Christmas. The Masked Singer (FOX) and So You Think You Can Dance. Ross previously served as Editor, Format Entertainment at the BBC, ran her own production label PANDA, (ALL3Media) and later worked as a freelance creative executive and showrunner.
Ross said: “I’ve had the privilege of working at the centre of several golden eras of global formats, and now this opportunity really excites me. I’m drawn to Sphere for its creative culture, collaborative approach and the possibility of producing in multiple languages. Producers everywhere are under intense pressure to deliver more with less – whilst pre-production budgets shrink and expectations keep rising. Canada feels uniquely positioned at this moment to be a global hub and partner with clear advantages in cultural alignment and budget competitiveness. I see huge potential to build exciting, ambitious, premium formats here where we can breathe life into fresh ideas and put every dollar on screen.”
Sphere Media CEO Bruno Dubé added: “Moira’s creative leadership and deep experience in global formats make her an exceptional partner. This agreement will also allow us to unlock new creative and commercial opportunities with U.S. and UK partners while further strengthening Canada’s position as a hub for premium entertainment formats. In collaboration with Sphere’s highly talented roster of creators and producers – Kim Bondi, Marie-Pier Gaudreault and Renaud Chassé – we will create ambitious content for the global market.”
Jon Creamer
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