Knightscove Media Corp. and Entertainment One Television are to jointly develop the family TV drama Port Hope for the world market.

Leif Bristow, president and CEO of Knightscove, initially paired up with veteran TV writer Heather Conkie to create Port Hope, a family drama about the Gilbert family, who have their hands full as owners of the Mud Lake Animal Sanctuary while looking after their own and adopted children.

Entertainment One has jumped on board to develop the Canadian TV drama, after a string of primetime successes with Rookie Blue (ABC/CanWest), Hung (HBO), Call Me Fitz (HBO Canada) and Haven (Syfy/Showcase).

“We are extremely excited to embark on this series with Entertainment One,” Bristow said in a statement.

“It is our hope that Port Hope becomes the first in a group of creative projects that we will undertake between the companies,” he added.

Bristow has just come off his feature film Sophie having its world premiere at the Whistler Film Festival, ahead of a Canadian theatrical release in spring 2011.

Conkie’s Heartland series on the CBC, also a family drama, is currently in its third season.