M ontreal’s Media Ranch and L.A.-based GRB Studios are entering into a joint venture partnership to create a new independent distribution organization.

The announcement was made by GRB CEO Gary R. Benz (pictured, left) and Media Ranch CEO Sophie Ferron (right) on Tuesday (Aug. 29). The new company will combine the content catalogues and formats of both companies, as well as years of entertainment business experience and principals, to create an entity with a broader reach and a deeper catalog than the two partners have on their own.

The company, GRB Media Ranch, will boast a portfolio of more than 5,000 hours of factual, unscripted, and scripted programming, as well as a number of formats across various genres.

The deal will see both companies retain their separate production and creative businesses. Creative and original production for GRB Studios will remain with GRB under the Benz’s management, while Media Ranch’s original IP and format development, including current paper formats, as well as its incubator Horsepower, will remain solely with Media Ranch under the management of Ferron and Philip Kalin-Hajdu, Media Ranch’s head of development and storytelling.

Under the leadership of Benz and Ferron, the GRB Media Ranch team will include people from both partners handling distribution. From GRB, Liz Levenson will cover Africa, Middle East, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe while Torquil Macneal will cover APAC, while Janel Downing will cover Latin America; and from Media Ranch, Tanja van der Goes will cover Europe for formats, while Alexa Jorizzo will cover Europe and Canada for finished programs.

“Sophie and I have known each other for over 10 years, partnering on various inspiring projects. Our companies and visions complement each other well, and we bring our creativity to deal-making into the evolving business of the content industry,” said Benz in a release. “Our joint venture is a natural and logical next step in our relationship to build a super independent distribution organization. Together, we will expand our global reach even further.”

“Gary and I have two strong teams that will become a unified and stellar sales force,” added Feron. “We are eager to contribute our skills to the new entity and reach even greater heights. The goal is to become an international distribution powerhouse offering a comprehensive marketing approach from formats to finished programs in all genres.”

This story originally appeared in Realscreen