Blue Ant grows AVOD footprint for several channels

Blue Ant is continuing to grow its footprint in AVOD space. The Toronto-headquartered company announced a pair of new agreements this week, including the launch of its FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channels, HauntTV and Crimetime, on Samsung TV Plus in Canada. HauntTV programming launching on Samsung TV includes Ghost Chasers (10 x 60 minutes), Ghostly Encounters (83 x 30 minutes) and World’s Scariest Hauntings (10 x 60 minutes), while Crimetime launches include In Ice Cold Blood (36 x 60 minutes), See No Evil (58 x 60 minutes) and Snapped: Killer Couples (10 x 60 minutes).

Elsewhere, Blue Ant’s wildlife and nature brand Love Nature launched on California-based VIZIO’s smart TV operating system, SmartCast, with titles such as Land of Gremlins, Secrets of Wild Australia (pictured) and Wildlife Icons.

Quebec industry launches Rolling Green initiative

More than two years after the Quebec audiovisual industry unveiled the Rolling Green, the sustainability initiative is officially underway. To kick off the initiative, which is headed up by Quebec Film and Television Council (QFTC), the Conseil québécois des événements écoresponsables (CQEER) and Québecor, five Quebec-shot productions are being asked to bear the Rolling Green seal. The first five projects are Bravo Fest! by L’Éloi Production for the Bravo! Record label; Chien blanc by Go Films; Single All the Way by Muse Entertainment for Netflix; L’Académie du Guide de l’auto by Viking Film; and as an untitled upcoming production by Metafilms. Each will receive support from CQEER as they implement specific sustainability initiatives on set. Rolling Green aims to reduce the carbon footprint of Quebec-made projects, with a focus on transportation of goods and personnel, catering, waste management, set design and reclamation, and energy and natural resource use.

Matt LeMay named to Canadian Geographic doc residence program

Canadian Geographic has named Métis filmmaker Matt LeMay as its inaugural Filmmaker-in-Residence. Pembrooke, ON-based LeMay has been involved in documentary for more than a decade, producing through his prodco LeMay Media. His credits include Great River, which follows a team of world renowned rock art experts as they gather to investigate the defacing of a sacred First Nations rock art site.