Toronto-based Peace Point Entertainment Group has formed a joint venture with Bahrain-based Jeo Productions.

Operating in Toronto and Bahrain, the business will focus on developing, financing and producing global factual, lifestyle and reality non-scripted series.

Jeo, led by Joseph Tito (pictured, right) predominantly produces original English-language unscripted TV including Blending in with the Bahrainis, which was distributed by Endemol Shine, and Deals in the Desert, distributed by DCD Rights and which is available on Netflix.

Peace Point Entertainment, likewise, is known for lifestyle-based unscripted content, such as Colin and Justin’s Cabin Pressure for Cottage Life TV and Bake with Anna Olson for Food Network Canada and Scripps Networks Asia Pacific.

Peace Point president Les Tomlin (pictured, left) told Playback Daily the new partnership provides the companies with increased scale and opens up new market opportunities. Peace Point has traditionally dealt with North American and Asian buyers, while Jeo works extensively with European buyers.

“We’ve almost got the whole globe covered between us, why not share resources and most importantly creative juices and work on developing some global concepts that will sell internationally?” he said.

The companies are currently developing around five or six projects, several of which will be commissioned out of the U.S. in early 2018, though Tomlin could not provide more information.

Tomlin also added that working with a Bahrain-based company provides “flexibility” in how shows will be financed. “In Bahrain, you can put together a really great show with quality editorial team for a fraction of what you can in North America,” he said. “We can bring in Canadian tax credits if we want to go that route, or we can bring in a much cheaper labour pool through Bahrain if we want to go that way.”

In 2012, Peace Point launched an international distribution arm, Peace Point Rights, which was acquired by Boat Rocker Media in 2016.