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Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada's major broadcaster-streamer-distributor, aggressively building a homegrown content empire through its Northern Lights production strategy, Crave streaming platform, and newly acquired international distributor Sphere Abacus.
Current mandate
Bell Media occupies a pivotal position in the Canadian media landscape as the parent of CTV, Crave, TSN, and RDS, and it is now executing an ambitious vertical integration play. The March 2025 acquisition of a majority stake in London-based distributor Sphere Abacus was framed by executives as a move to "own more of the television value chain" and push Canadian content into international markets. That deal, combined with the appointment of Sean Cohan as president in late 2023, signals a company reconfiguring itself from a domestic broadcaster into a globally oriented content business. The internal production strategy known as Northern Lights underpins this shift: Bell Media is actively seeking to own and control more of what airs on its own platforms rather than simply licensing from Hollywood studios.
The acquisition and development pattern over the past year reflects a clear thesis: bring high-profile Canadian talent back from Hollywood and attach them to projects that can travel internationally. Development and production deals with Seth Rogen's Point Grey Pictures (in partnership with Lionsgate), Elliot Page's Pageboy Productions, and Will Arnett are the most visible expressions of this. Elliot Page's deal produced the Slo Pitch comedy from Shaftesbury for CTV and Crave. The gay hockey romance series Heated Rivalry, developed for Crave, was picked up by HBO Max in the U.S., with Sphere Abacus handling international distribution. Co-commissions with U.S. partners are also part of the mix: Anna Pigeon, based on Nevada Barr's novels and adapted by Canadian showrunner Morwyn Brebner, is a co-commission with Versant's USA Network, produced by Cineflix Studios, December Films, and Seven24 Films.
Material reaches Bell Media primarily through established production partnerships, co-production arrangements with international broadcasters, and relationships with talent-attached production companies. The Northern Lights strategy means Bell Media is actively cultivating producer and talent relationships rather than passively acquiring finished product. Sphere Abacus handles outbound international distribution for titles including The Office Movers, Evolving Vegan, Late Bloomer, and Mark McKinney Needs a Hobby. No unsolicited pathway is documented in tracked deal activity; every observed deal has moved through named production partners, talent deals, or co-commission arrangements with other broadcasters.
Signature peaks
- Seth Rogen, Elliot Page, Will Arnett Hollywood Talent Repatriation — Bell Media has signed development and production deals with all three to make Canadian content for CTV and Crave.
- March 2025 Sphere Abacus Acquisition — Bell Media acquired a majority stake in London-based Sphere Abacus to expand global distribution of Canadian content.
- Heated Rivalry Crave Breakout to U.S. — The Crave-developed gay hockey romance series was picked up by HBO Max in the U.S., with Sphere Abacus distributing internationally.
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Not disclosed
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Every tracked deal involving Bell Media has moved through named production companies, talent-attached arrangements, or co-commission partnerships with broadcasters such as Versant's USA Network. The company's Northern Lights strategy means it actively cultivates relationships with Canadian production companies including Shaftesbury, Cineflix Studios, December Films, Seven24 Films, and Point Grey Pictures; these partnerships are the most consistently documented route by which material reaches Bell Media's development slate.
- Deal structure
- Bell Media structures deals as development and production agreements with talent-attached production companies, co-commissions with international broadcast partners, and majority-stake acquisitions of distribution infrastructure (as with Sphere Abacus). International distribution rights for Canadian originals are increasingly handled through Sphere Abacus on a selective basis, with Bell Media retaining Canadian rights across CTV, Crave, and its cable channels.
Recent acquisitions
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Sphere Abacus (majority stake)
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The Office Movers (Season 3 order)
Market context
Bell Media's acquisition of Sphere Abacus and its deals with Seth Rogen, Elliot Page, and Will Arnett signal a decisive push to own, control, and globally distribute Canadian storytelling at scale.
Bell Media occupies a pivotal position in the Canadian media landscape as the parent of CTV, Crave, TSN, and RDS, and it is now executing an ambitious vertical integration play. The March 2025 acquisition of a majority stake in London-based distributor Sphere Abacus was framed by executives as a move to "own more of the television value chain" and push Canadian content into international markets. That deal, combined with the appointment of Sean Cohan as president in late 2023, signals a company reconfiguring itself from a domestic broadcaster into a globally oriented content business. The internal production strategy known as Northern Lights underpins this shift: Bell Media is actively seeking to own and control more of what airs on its own platforms rather than simply licensing from Hollywood studios.
Common questions about Bell Media
Does Bell Media accept unsolicited scripts?
No unsolicited pathway is documented in tracked deal activity for Bell Media. Every observed deal has moved through named production companies, talent-attached arrangements, or co-commission partnerships with other broadcasters. The most visible route into Bell Media's development pipeline is through an established Canadian production company or a talent deal structured under the Northern Lights strategy. Writers are best positioned by attaching a recognized producer or production partner before approaching Bell Media.
What budget range does Bell Media typically work at?
Bell Media does not publicly disclose budget figures for its productions, and no specific dollar amounts appear in tracked deal data. The company operates across a wide range of formats, from comedy series like Slo Pitch and Tom Green's Funny Farm to higher-profile co-productions such as Anna Pigeon (co-commissioned with USA Network) and the Seth Rogen project with Lionsgate. The involvement of major U.S. partners on select projects suggests some productions reach premium cable budget tiers.
What festivals does Bell Media source content from?
Bell Media's tracked acquisition activity includes pickups reported from the Los Angeles Screenings market, where it acquired titles including Snake Oil and Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. The company's primary focus, however, is on developing and producing Canadian content through its Northern Lights strategy rather than acquiring finished festival titles. Co-commissions and talent deals are the dominant observed mechanism, meaning festival-driven acquisitions appear to be a secondary rather than primary sourcing route.
How do I get my script in front of Bell Media?
Based on observed deal patterns, the most documented route is through a Canadian production company with an existing relationship with Bell Media, or through a talent attachment that fits the Northern Lights mandate. Bell Media has structured deals with production companies including Shaftesbury, Cineflix Studios, December Films, Seven24 Films, and Point Grey Pictures. Attaching a producer from within that ecosystem is the most traceable path. No open submission portal or fellowship program is documented in current tracking data.
What genres is Bell Media currently acquiring?
Bell Media's current development and acquisition activity spans scripted comedy (Slo Pitch, The Office Movers Season 3, the Seth Rogen project), drama (Anna Pigeon, Heated Rivalry), and unscripted formats including game shows and reality (Snake Oil, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, Match Game). The Northern Lights strategy prioritizes content for CTV, Crave, TSN, and RDS, meaning both broad-audience network fare and premium streaming originals are in scope. Canadian stories with international travel potential are a clear priority.
Is Bell Media currently active in the market?
Yes. Bell Media's latest tracked signal is from August 2026, and the company has logged 29 total records in the past 12 months across its tracked activity. The March 2025 Sphere Abacus acquisition, a Season 3 order for The Office Movers, and active development deals with Seth Rogen, Elliot Page, and Will Arnett all point to a company in an expansionary phase. The Northern Lights strategy and Sphere Abacus distribution push represent ongoing structural commitments rather than one-off transactions.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
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Related reading
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