VisionTV has embarked on a joint venture with Toronto’s Ellis Entertainment to produce Canadian programs destined for international distribution. The announcement came on April 29 at the Hot Docs festival, where Vision president and CEO Bill Roberts and Ellis Entertainment president Stephen Ellis introduced the new company, VisionTV International.

Ellis has been named president of VTVI, which will primarily undertake non-fiction projects but will remain open to other genres of programming. Vision will be the first in line for broadcast rights, but VTVI will also work with other broadcasters and coproducers.

Mark Prasuhn, COO of Vision, says international expansion has been in development for two years. ‘Ellis brought the right combination of a long history in the business and a good track record of international presales,’ he says.

Vision, on the air for 15 years this September, is known for its focus on the cultural and religious diversity in Canada. Prasuhn insists that Vision will ‘remain Canadian’ and not transform itself into an international conglomerate as this venture is intended simply to ‘generate brand expansion’ on a global scale. Ellis identifies a growing international demand for faith-oriented services, and sees this burgeoning niche market as an ‘opportunity to create or brand a style of programming that will be known as the VTVI international brand over time.’

With other Canadian broadcasters quickly moving to take advantage of the recent multicultural trend in programming, Vision sees itself as ahead of the curve in terms of representing diversity.

The main goal of the company, Ellis says, is to ‘create high-end programs that will go to Vision for its first exposure and then internationally’ through presales so that there is some guarantee of airtime in both markets.

VTVI has a number of projects already in the works including a six-part series called Sacred Sites, which will revolve around a variety of religious spots located all over the globe. Other projects include Zarathustra: Prophet of Light, a four-part series on Zoroastrianism and Spirit Talker, a 10-part series on Nova Scotia psychic Alan Hatfield.

Prasuhn says all three projects will translate into 20 to 30 hours of programming that will reach the air sometime in the spring or summer of next year.

-www.visiontv.ca

-www.ellisent.com