PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Montreal, October 24, 2017 – Media Ranch, the award-winning Canadian TV production and distribution company has entered negotiations to acquire the assets of producer Salvail & Co. in partnership with Vivianne Morin, a leading professional in Quebec’s television industry and Salvail & Co.’s former General Manager.
The assets being purchased include the production activities and intellectual property of all current productions and a development slate of TV concepts. The purpose of the acquisition is to ensure that current productions that have thus far been under the Salvail & Co. umbrella can continue whilst also allowing Media Ranch to expand its offering in the Quebec television entertainment market.
Media Ranch president Sophie Ferron and Vivianne Morin are currently focused on delivering a successful transition and preserving the ongoing productions and protecting the related jobs. They are currently negotiating with the broadcasters of the programmes ‘Les échangistes’ (Radio Canada), ‘Coup de Foudre’ (Vtélé) and ‘Mariepier!’ (Bell Media) to determine their future.
Sophie Ferron and Vivianne Morin will establish a new company to oversee the transferred productions and development slate.
On completion of the acquisition, Salvail & Co. President Éric Salvail will no longer be involved in managing any facet of the transferred productions or associated in any way, severing all financial, management, and operational ties with Mr. Salvail.
Media Ranch Distribution, a division of Media Ranch, had been the international distributor of ‘Tipsy Recipes’ but will no longer represent the format. The terms and conditions of the transaction will remain confidential.
“When Vivianne Morin called me on Thursday to start working on the scenario we are announcing today, I had two priorities: crafting a well-thought-out redeployment that would be anything but cosmetic, and doing everything we can to protect the jobs of hundreds of professionals who had absolutely nothing to do with the recent controversy. We hope to bring this acquisition to a successful conclusion, despite its sensitive nature and the challenges it presents” said Media Ranch president Sophie Ferron.
Vivianne Morin said “Starting on Friday, I said verbatim to the employees that I would do absolutely everything in my power to safeguard as many jobs as possible, which would require a complete, multi-dimensional transformation of our operations. I worked with Sophie Ferron years ago and appreciated the synergy between our respective skills in international distribution and production and knew she had certain development goals, so I knew I was approaching the right business partner when I called her. With that in mind, I am confident that we will be able to regain momentum building on the solid foundation the Media Ranch family will provide.”
For further information regarding Media Ranch please contact Justin Crosby at Boom! PR
on + (0) 208 324 2260/ +44 (0) 7966 228361
Justin@boomdialogue.com
(In Quebec) Marie-Pier Côté 418-999-4847 mpcote@tactconseil.ca
About Media Ranch
Founded in 2008 by Sophie Ferron, Media Ranch distinguishes itself through its two-fold mission as both a creator and distributor of television entertainment formats. In addition to the activities of its production house, which specializes in docu-drama and reality television, Media Ranch owns a format agency that represents the global media giant Endemol Shine in Quebec. 2015 saw Media Ranch scoop a prestigious Rose d’Or award for TV format ‘Street Jungle’.
About Vivianne Morin
Before becoming Salvail & Co.’s general manager in 2013, Viviane Morin was vice-president of finance and administration and COO of Cavalia from 2008 to 2012. Before that, she was vicepresident of finance and business affairs of Motion International (Groupe Coscient) from 1991 to 1999 and then vice-president of finance and administration and executive producer of Cité-Amérique from 1999 to 2008.
