Blue Ant Media sets top production & distribution team following Marblemedia deal

LR: Matthew Hornburg, Michael MacMillan & Mark Bishop

Blue Ant Media has set the management team that will oversee its yet-to-be named studio and rights business, which is being created following the acquisition of Marblemedia.

The enlarged entity will be led by Marblemedia’s co-presidents Mark Bishop, who will oversee scripted development, and Matthew Hornburg, who will head up unscripted development.

Diane Rankin, who had led Marblemedia’s sales arm Distribution 360, will now head up commercial strategy and content financing for the studio’s distribution and production business, working with development teams in all genres.

Race Against The Tide

She works alongside Ben Barrett, who oversees content financing and partnerships for unscripted.

Lilla Hurst, who joined Blue Ant in 2022 with Barrett following the sale of Drive, will continue to lead the distribution team’s global acquisitions and content strategy from the UK office.

Bryan Gabourie and Gerbrig Blanksma will lead all sales activities from originals, pre-sales, content licensing, co-productions and strategic partnerships in the Americas and EMEA, respectively.

The privately held Canadian firm is yet to appoint a head of international sales following news that Solange Attwood would be stepping down as EVP of Blue Ant International after almost a decade with the company.

Blue Ant development & production teams

Bishop and Hornburg, who co-founded Marblemedia in 2001, will report into Michael MacMillan, CEO & co-founder of Toronto-based Blue Ant.

Hornburg’s unscripted team includes: Jennifer Harkness, who oversees factual entertainment from the studio’s LA office; Kelsey Espensen, who leads development for unscripted entertainment; and Steve Gamester, who heads up specialist factual development. Espensen and Gamester both operate out of Toronto.

Bishop’s scripted team comprises Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy, who leads scripted drama & comedy with a focus on production, and Melissa Williamson, who oversees scripted development.

AJ Trauth leads the expanded Kids, Family and Young Adult division, based out of LA, with Josh Bowen overseeing the Toronto-based animation studio and its planned expansion.

Wildlife ER

At the helm of the production and post-production group is Donna Luke, who will work alongside the Bishop and Hornburg in producing the company’s slate.

Paul Kilback will continue to oversee factual series; Aileen Gardner leads production of unscripted, specialist factual and fact ent; and Stefanie Haist will head up unscripted entertainment productions.

Bishop and Hornburg said the team would be “dedicated to crafting compelling narratives for global partners and pushing creative boundaries.”

The duo added: “Together, [the team] brings a tapestry of expertise, innovation and passion, poised to elevate our super-charged studio to unprecedented heights.”

Blue Ant is behind shows such as Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks for Prime Video and docuseries Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies for Peacock, as well as true crime show See No Evil, Love Nature’s Wildlife ER and Gary And His Demons for Amazon FreeVee.

Aside from production and distribution, the company also operates linear and FAST channels under brands such as Love Nature, Cottage Life, Smithsonian Channel (Canada), BBC Earth (Canada), HauntTV, Homeful, Drag Race Universe, CrimeTime, TotalCrime, HistoryTime and Love Pets.

Marblemedia was known for shows such as Netflix’s Blown Away and Drink Masters, as well as  A Cut Above for Discovery, Race Against The Tide for CBC and the upcoming Hulu and Prime Video teen comedy Davey and Jonesie’s Locker.