Media Ranch announces new hires, new deals, and new productions

Media Ranch is expanding its reach into two major markets, the U.K. and English Canada with the addition of two consultants: Rod Rodingo as Media Ranch’s U.K. business, and Owen Kelly as English Canada’s business development

 Rodingo held executive positions at Mar Vista, Gaumont, Global Agency and ICM, before starting his company in 2013 at Serendipity Media. He will report to Media Ranch’s Senior Vice President, Tanja van der Goes.  Overseeing English Canada’s business development is Owen Kelly, who before launching his company, Antigravity Entertainment, earlier this year, handled business affairs and financing for some of Canada's leading film and TV producers as well as major Canadian studio films productions.

Adding to this, the company announces a new deal for two factual Formats which were optioned, Big Love and Comedy on the Edge.

Big Love was optioned to Mustang Productions for French Canada and to 3BMG’s 3 Ball Productions for the USA, as the first deal stemming from the new partnership with ICM. Big Love offers an intimate look into the major challenges many couples experience over the course of a long-term relationship; complacency, unhealthy behaviors and weight struggles – issues that, if neglected, can all lead to disaster. This inspirational and emotional series will follow three couples – each unhappy with their current lifestyles and rapid weight gain – who take on the daunting task of shedding their bad habits and excess pounds, all within eight months, in an attempt to regain themselves and save their relationship.

DR’s entertainment program Comedy on the Edge continues its success with an option in France by producers WeMake; and a new season set to premiere in Canada, adapted under the title Still Standing. CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, announced today that Season 6 of Still Standing will premiere this fall on CBC TV and the free CBC Gem streaming service.  The beloved series stars comedian Jonny Harris as he travels across Canada to discover the hidden humour in small towns on the ropes. After immersing himself in the lives of local characters and unearthing the tall tales in these tiny towns, Jonny delivers a rousing original stand-up comedy routine - a toast, not a roast - for the whole community.

Media Ranch also announced the production for another one of its formats, The Story Of, which will be produced with Tuvalu Productions in The Netherlands. The Story of asks important life questions: where do we come from? what is our shared, common past? and how did we become who we are? Through 10 episodes, The Story Of takes viewers on a fascinating journey from the past and into the present.

Finally, the company acquired from Adare Productions in Ireland, 12 Star Hotel, where 12 celebrities finally experience what it is like to be on the other side of the hospitality industry when they take over a hotel and run it on their own for 16 days and nights. Will they handle it or will the hotel go down in flames? One season aired in Summer 2008 on RTÉ One Ireland; and The Day I was Born On a series where celebrities seek out the everyday people whose touching stories, heroism or hardships made the news on the day the celebrity was born.  Two seasons aired on TG4 Ireland in 2014 and 2017.

Ferron stated: ‘In these uncertain times, we are grateful at Media Ranch to have been able to stay the course. We’re rising to the challenge in part thanks to the most dedicated and talented team in entertainment history, premium content and fantastic partners. In addition to recent green-lit productions, new acquisitions and distribution deals, we are thrilled to have signed on two new representatives, Rod and Owen, who are helping with our long-term growth. Our recently new QTF slate (Quick Turnaround Formats) are HIGH quality formats with BIG ideas and SHORT prep – have proven to be timely in these challenging months since crucial once productions are back. We hope our colleagues, and the industry as a whole, will be back on track – -and better than ever -- once Covid-19 is under control'.