Cannes, France: Regina-based Partners in Motion has acquired a majority interest in Toronto tv distributor Compass International.

‘We have turned over our documentaries for worldwide broadcast sales and are seeking coproductions together,’ says Ron Goetz, ceo of both companies.

Financial terms of the cash deal were not disclosed.

Goetz says that as a six-year-old Saskatchewan-based operation, there was a perception the company needed to be represented in Toronto, closer to many of its broadcaster clients. Cost and ‘the slow growth effect’ led to a decision to either merge or buy out an existing Toronto operation. ‘Merging was less interesting because you have to give up a lot of control,’ says Goetz. ‘And so in discussions with (Compass president) Patricia Scarlett, it was interesting because they were looking for a company to come in and give them a hand. We recognized quickly that this could be a really good marriage.’

pim recently set up Harmony Entertainment, a non-theatrical distribution entity.

Compass has about 300 primarily international children’s hours in its library. pim has about 50 hours, mostly documentary.

Compass is coproducing 26 x 15-minute episodes of the children’s series Dear Tildy and is distributing pim’s Mr. Airport, a new 52 x 15-minute educational and entertainment series.