Canuck rights firm buys Compact Media

Toronto-based publishing and rights management firm Ole has bought UK-based rival Compact Media.

Compact manages secondary audiovisual rights for more than 700 companies, and is joining a company that has investments worth US$550 million around the world.

Selling up to Ole means Compact will gain commercial, data and systems expertise, with Ole gaining a larger foothold of the audiovisual rights market.

Compact will retain its branding, with CEO David Johnson (pictured) staying in charge. The company’s staff in London, the LA and Sydney will join Ole.

“Ole is very excited to be adding Compact’s global capabilities as a leader in the AV rights management space, and we look forward to bringing the increased benefits to our mutual clients around the world,” said Ole chairman and CEO Robert Ott. “David and his team have built a formidable business and we welcome them to Ole.”

“Over the last few years we have built up a loyal and varied customer base which we believe will benefit greatly from this new combination with Ole,” said Johnson.

“The team at ole has impressed us with the quality and breadth of their service offering which we think will provide an even better platform for us to serve our client base with the personal and expert levels of service they are used to.”

Ole controls secondary for the likes of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Entertainment One, Nelvana, Miramax and MGM, plus music rights to many major singers and acts, while Compact has clients such as BBC Worldwide, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, FremantleMedia, All3Media, Zodiak Rights, A+E Networks and National Geographic.