Latest news with #Blink49Studios
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
At Banff, Media Leaders Debate AI as Job Killer
Bing Chen, executive chairman and CEO of Gold House, issued a dire warning on Monday about artificial intelligence: the emerging digital technology stands to eliminate entry-level entertainment industry jobs. 'The notion of replacing entry-level jobs for our children, we have yet to have a solution. Because this is no longer about upscaling. This is about full replacement of you when you were 22, 27 or 28,' Chen told the Banff World Media Festival. More from The Hollywood Reporter Banff: Taye Diggs, Jennifer Whalen to Lead 'New Spanish' Live Script Read (Exclusive) 'Stranger Things' Music Supervisor Nora Felder Joins Banff World Media Festival Board (Exclusive) Chuck Lorre to Keynote Banff World Media Festival But Kevin Johnson, CEO of WPP Media Canada and president and WPP Media, countered the jury was still out on whether AI will cut a swathe through the economy and take over jobs, never to be replaced, or instead could create new opportunities and reshape the workspace. 'I think it's way to early for us to press the button and say our kids are not going to have a job anymore, or worrying about what I feel was the same when computers came in,' Johnson argued during a panel moderated by The Hollywood Reporter's Mikey O'Connell. The panel was held against the background of escalating industry disruption, which includes advertising woes and licensing declines and movie theater uncertainty and a shake-up in streaming. That left global media executives in Banff to unpack the forces transforming the industry, and how they were responding. John Morayniss, CEO of Blink49 Studios, said content creators these days were forced to work with more collaborators and go for increased creative finesse. 'The business of making traditional content is getting harder and harder, and it requires way more partnerships and way more creative ways,' Morayniss said. He pointed to Blink49 Studios making an investment in Stapleview, the Los Angeles-based digital-first comedy producer launched in 2022. 'They have direct relationships with their audience, they understand their audience and they're marketing to their audience,' Morayniss said of Stapleview getting closer to the coal face to mine new viewers for content exploitation. That was a theme picked up by Prentiss Fraser, president of Fox Entertainment Global, who argued having more distribution channels for content at her major studio had helped discover more ways to monetize content in turbulent times. 'There's just a lot of ways to exploit content in our ecosystem that's been created, and then pairing that with the opportunity to build a distribution infrastructure that has the ability to finance projects just seemed like a recipe for great success,' Fraser said. Whether escalating tech innovation, including YouTube and artificial intelligence, industry consolidation, Wall Street market gyrations or just general belt-tightening among content consumers and creators, such economic headwinds and challenges were on the mind of media leaders on stage in Banff. But Gold House's Chen cautioned Banff delegates about getting too caught up in the current debate about whether YouTube can outlast Netflix as the most popular streaming platform amid continuing industry consolidation. We've been here before, he urged. 'Life is so cyclical. It contracts and expands. It contracts and expands, and narratively we are in a similar phase where we were literally a decade ago in 2014, where everyone thinks YouTube is the new hot thing because of time spent,' Chen remarked. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Cision Canada
09-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Bell Media to Make Strategic Investment in Blink49 Studios
– The two companies strike a production and distribution partnership on a slate of Blink49 projects – – The investment, made through Bell Ventures, is set to close this Fall – BANFF, AB, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Bell Media announced today that it is making a strategic investment in independent production company, Blink49 Studios. Based in Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, Blink49 is known for its robust production pipeline and partnership capabilities within Canada, U.S., and Europe. The investment, which sees Bell Media strike, alongside FIFTH SEASON, a production and global distribution partnership with Blink49, further enhances Blink49's capabilities as it continues to grow its slate of scripted and unscripted content. The deal is set to close this Fall. "This investment is another significant step in our continued efforts to enhance the reach of Canadian creatives and deliver impactful storytelling that resonates at home and abroad," said Sean Cohan, President, Bell Media. "John Morayniss and his team have a proven track record of bringing compelling content to the global market, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with them." "We're incredibly proud of what we've built at Blink49 in just a few short years, and this strategic investment from Bell Media marks an exciting new chapter in our growth," said John Morayniss, CEO, Blink49 Studios. "Under Sean Cohan's leadership and with the support of the talented team at Bell Media who share our commitment to compelling and entertaining storytelling, we're well positioned to significantly expand our slate across both scripted and unscripted content, strengthen our reach in Canada and internationally, and continue building meaningful partnerships that bring bold, creative visions to life." Founded in the fall of 2021, Blink49 Studios is a world-class full-service indie studio focused on the development, production, and distribution of scripted and unscripted television and made-for-TV movies. Bell Media and Blink49 Studios have recently partnered on docuseries QUEEN OF THE CASTLE, and scripted series including DON'T EVEN, LATE BLOOMER, SIGHT UNSEEN, and THE TRADES in addition to two newly announced projects, the upcoming reality series BLUE COLLAR and scripted drama YAGA. Other series produced by Blink49 include drama series WILD CARDS and international reality series BEAST GAMES, among others. Bell Media joins global entertainment leader, FIFTH SEASON, in making a strategic investment in Blink49. Bell Media's investment is made through Bell Ventures which supports Canadian entrepreneurship, helping to drive innovation and accelerate growth for its partners. About Bell Media Bell Media is Canada's leading media and entertainment company with a portfolio of assets in premium video, audio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. This includes Canada's most-watched television network, CTV; the largest Canadian-owned video streamer, Crave, with a premium add-on to include STARZ; a powerful suite of specialty channels; the most-trusted news brand, CTV News; Canada's cross-platform sports leaders, TSN and RDS; leading out-of-home advertising network, Astral; Québec's fast-growing conventional French-language network, Noovo; the country's leading radio and podcast app, iHeartRadio Canada; and a range of award-winning original productions, brands, and services. As a content leader and partner in Sphere Media, Montréal's Grande Studios, and Dome Productions, one of North America's leading production facilities providers, Bell Media is committed to keeping Canadians entertained and informed. Bell Media also offers best-in-class technology, marketing, and analytics support through Bell Marketing Platform, an omnichannel self-serve platform which includes Bell Analytics, Strategic Audience Management (SAM), and Bell DSP, in addition to advanced advertising solutions, including Linear Addressable TV, Addressable Audio, and ads on Crave. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. 1 Learn more at 1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bell Media to Make Strategic Investment in Blink49 Studios
– The two companies strike a production and distribution partnership on a slate of Blink49 projects – – The investment, made through Bell Ventures, is set to close this Fall – BANFF, AB, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Bell Media announced today that it is making a strategic investment in independent production company, Blink49 Studios. Based in Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, Blink49 is known for its robust production pipeline and partnership capabilities within Canada, U.S., and Europe. The investment, which sees Bell Media strike, alongside FIFTH SEASON, a production and global distribution partnership with Blink49, further enhances Blink49's capabilities as it continues to grow its slate of scripted and unscripted content. The deal is set to close this Fall. "This investment is another significant step in our continued efforts to enhance the reach of Canadian creatives and deliver impactful storytelling that resonates at home and abroad," said Sean Cohan, President, Bell Media. "John Morayniss and his team have a proven track record of bringing compelling content to the global market, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with them." "We're incredibly proud of what we've built at Blink49 in just a few short years, and this strategic investment from Bell Media marks an exciting new chapter in our growth," said John Morayniss, CEO, Blink49 Studios. "Under Sean Cohan's leadership and with the support of the talented team at Bell Media who share our commitment to compelling and entertaining storytelling, we're well positioned to significantly expand our slate across both scripted and unscripted content, strengthen our reach in Canada and internationally, and continue building meaningful partnerships that bring bold, creative visions to life." Founded in the fall of 2021, Blink49 Studios is a world-class full-service indie studio focused on the development, production, and distribution of scripted and unscripted television and made-for-TV movies. Bell Media and Blink49 Studios have recently partnered on docuseries QUEEN OF THE CASTLE, and scripted series including DON'T EVEN, LATE BLOOMER, SIGHT UNSEEN, and THE TRADES in addition to two newly announced projects, the upcoming reality series BLUE COLLAR and scripted drama YAGA. Other series produced by Blink49 include drama series WILD CARDS and international reality series BEAST GAMES, among others. Bell Media joins global entertainment leader, FIFTH SEASON, in making a strategic investment in Blink49. Bell Media's investment is made through Bell Ventures which supports Canadian entrepreneurship, helping to drive innovation and accelerate growth for its partners. About Bell MediaBell Media is Canada's leading media and entertainment company with a portfolio of assets in premium video, audio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. This includes Canada's most-watched television network, CTV; the largest Canadian-owned video streamer, Crave, with a premium add-on to include STARZ; a powerful suite of specialty channels; the most-trusted news brand, CTV News; Canada's cross-platform sports leaders, TSN and RDS; leading out-of-home advertising network, Astral; Québec's fast-growing conventional French-language network, Noovo; the country's leading radio and podcast app, iHeartRadio Canada; and a range of award-winning original productions, brands, and services. As a content leader and partner in Sphere Media, Montréal's Grande Studios, and Dome Productions, one of North America's leading production facilities providers, Bell Media is committed to keeping Canadians entertained and informed. Bell Media also offers best-in-class technology, marketing, and analytics support through Bell Marketing Platform, an omnichannel self-serve platform which includes Bell Analytics, Strategic Audience Management (SAM), and Bell DSP, in addition to advanced advertising solutions, including Linear Addressable TV, Addressable Audio, and ads on Crave. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. 1 Learn more at 1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections. For more information, please contact:Adam Morency, SOURCE Bell Media View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
ROMCON: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? OTT Release Date - When and where to watch chilling true crime documentary
ROMCON: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? OTT Release Date - It starts like every modern love story: a meet-cute on a dating app, charming texts, weekend getaways, and whispered dreams about forever. But what Heather Rovet didn't know was that she wasn't dating a man. She was dating a mirage - a con, a criminal, a chameleon. ROMCON: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? is the two-part docuseries that dares to ask the question every ghosted, gaslit, and gutted dater has wondered at least once: Who the f**k was I really talking to? This is a true crime documentary starting to stream from June 13 on Prime Video. This isn't catfish. This is war. Heather Rovet is not your typical victim. She's a successful real estate broker in Toronto. Smart, self-made, fiercely independent. So when she fell for a guy named 'Jace,' a laid-back handyman who seemed oddly perfect, she thought she'd finally hit the dating jackpot. For three whole years, she believed the fantasy: texts, cuddles, birthday cakes, the works. But the fairy tale cracks wide open when she discovers 'Jace' isn't Jace. He's Jason Porter, a man with a rap sheet long enough to wrap around the CN Tower. He's been in and out of jail, and the name he gave her? Completely fake. If this were a movie, you'd scream at the screen. But this is real. And Heather isn't staying silent. Real love, real lies and real consequences What makes ROMCON hit different is that it's not just about Heather finding out the truth. It's about what she does next. The woman grabs a metaphorical detective's badge and goes on a hunt, not just for Jason, but for the other women he's duped. Spoiler: there are a lot. Across two unflinching episodes, we watch her build a case. She pieces together his lies, talks to other victims, and lays bare a trail of emotional devastation that spans provinces. And the worst part? Jason Porter isn't some shadowy monster. He's a smiling, beer-drinking, boy-next-door. That's what makes this terrifying. Directed by Henry Roosevelt (The Vow, Take Care of Maya) and produced by Blink49 Studios, the series is backed by Amazon MGM Studios. Watch ROMCON: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? then maybe… delete that dating app for a while.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital Comedy Producer Stapleview Fuels North American Expansion With Investment From Blink49, Hires Jackie Sosa & Robbie Ezratty In Key Roles
EXCLUSIVE: Stapleview, the digital comedy production outfit founded by Sam Grey, is expanding its North American footprint with a strategic investment from Blink49 Studios as well as two key hires. The capital raise from Blink49 Studios, a Fifth Season-backed company, will fuel the growth of Stapleview's production and management divisions, particularly helping to scale the company's slate of scripted and unscripted comedy for a broader North American audience. More from Deadline Korea's Barunson E&A Unveils International Remake Deal With Indonesian Studio Imajinari Gold House Unveils This Year's A100 List Honoring Most Impactful Asian Pacific Leaders Blink49 Studios Adapting Debut Novel Of Eliza Reid, Former First Lady Of Iceland, As TV Crime Drama In particular, Stapleview and Blink49 will focus on co-producing long-form adaptations of Stapleview's digital comedy series and formats for the U.S. and Canadian markets. Stapleview will also launch a Canadian content hub to manage Canadian talent and develop original series and formats with the Canadian creative community. Stapleview, which launched in March of 2022, has already had an eye on expansion in the last year with the hire of co-founder and COO Daniel Lantsman. The company has been focused on growing the following for its online comedy shows Bareback Acres, Ad World, The Method, Clear the Air, and Beautiful Questions. 'This strategic investment is a formidable vote of confidence in our model and our company. Our team has shown an incredible ability to discover the next generation of comedic talent and showcase these emerging stars through a slate of truly hilarious series,' Lantsman said in a statement. 'This new round of capital is going to allow us to double down on our core competencies, grow our management business, create more original series, and expand our studio initiatives. We're excited about the future and look forward to solidifying our spot in the comedy ecosystem alongside John, Nelson, and the rest of the Blink49 team.' As part of the deal, Blink49 co-founder John Morayniss will assume a seat on Stapleview's board of directors. Blink49 joins an investor and advisor base that includes FirstGen Content, Guggenheim Brothers Media, Kate Capshaw, Joe Drake, Nick Meyer, Peter Schlessel, and Steven Spielberg, as well as newly appointed advisors Steve Mosko and Doug Herzog. 'We are thrilled to partner with Sam, Daniel, and their entire team as we continue expanding into the comedy space,' adds Morayniss. 'This collaboration opens up significant opportunities, from supporting Stapleview through Blink49's creative and production resources in both scripted and unscripted, to helping grow their bold slate through our Brand Studio and formats division. We're also excited about introducing the Canadian 'secret sauce' into the Stapleview strategy. Comedy has always been a standout strength in Canada, with the talent here consistently punching above its weight. With series like The Trades, Late Bloomer, and Run the Burbs already on our roster, this partnership further cements our commitment to the genre.' Additionally, Stapleview has announced two new hires to aid with this expansion. Jackie Sosa will be joining Stapleview as vice president, Head of Development and Production, and Robbie Ezratty will join as a talent and literary manager. In her role, Sosa will oversee Stapleview's broad programming slate, including scripted and unscripted originals, formats, sketch comedy, and podcasts. Most recently, she was the VP of Development for Chelsea Handler Productions, where she packaged and sold projects to FX and Peacock. She joined CHP after a seven-year tenure on the Talent & Development team at Comedy Central. Ezratty spent the last three years at Artists First, where he managed a stable of predominantly multi-hyphenate comedy clients. He began his career at ICM and Brillstein, the latter of which represented Fish Ladder, an AMC Networks based production company where he later served as creative executive. Several clients are expected to follow Ezratty to Stapleview. 'Welcoming Jackie and Robbie into the Stapleview family is a monumental step in our mission to elevate the next generation of comedic voices. They join us with a strong vision and proven track record of nurturing comedic voices and uplifting artists to be discovered,' Grey said in a statement. 'When Stapleview was relaunched, we knew that success would be built over time by following our creative partners' visions. By joining the team, Jackie and Robbie will not only allow us to expand on the creative goals across our digital-first strategy, but also more broadly across the entertainment and comedy landscape.' Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
