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In brief: New Metric brews up new beer deal with Labatt

By Jordan Pinto
June 17, 2021
Plus: Brigitte Hubmann and Jennifer Price launch a new company, Ballinran Entertainment special set for Stageview.tv premiere and WildBrain CPLG hires a new North American lead.

pupperslager_473ml_3d_eng (1)Letterkenny‘s Puppers lager returning to liquor stores

Letterkenny‘s Puppers Golden Lager will return to liquor stores across Ontario ahead of Canada Day, after producer New Metric Media partnered with Labatt Breweries of Canada. New Metric president Mark Montefiore called the deal a “significant step in the evolution” of the Puppers brand, which first launched in 2017. The lager will be available by July 1 in Sobeys, beer stores and the LCBO in Ontario.

The announcement comes two weeks after Bell Media confirmed that two more seasons of the half-hour comedy (seasons 10 and 11) have gone into production. As well, a spin-off series, Shoresy, was commissioned by Crave. Letterkenny, which airs on Crave in Canada and Hulu in the U.S., is produced by New Metric in partnership with WildBrain and Playfun Games.

unnamed (3)Film Associates International

Brigitte Hubmann and Jennifer Price have co-founded Film Associates International, a boutique consulting agency specializing in international film promotion and marketing strategies and services. The company’s launch comes after Hubmann left Telefilm after almost 20 years. During that time, she was an important figure in shaping Telefilm’s international promotional strategies at festivals and markets, and the creation of Telefilm’s CANADA NOW. Price meanwhile is a B2B specialist with more than 20 years of experience.

Through the new company Hubmann and Price, based in Montral and L.A., respectively, will offer festival, exhibition and distribution support, business development support, and more.

“Moving forward, Brigitte and I will continue building on our innovative business and audience development models harnessing some of the changes that we have all witnessed in the past years,” said Price in a statement.

stratford signatures#3Ballinran’s Stratford Signatures set for Stageview.tv debut

Stratford Signatures, a two-hour special celebrating the role of Stratford, ON in Canada’s cultural scene, is set to premiere on June 19 on Stageview.tv, a new streaming platform focused Canadian performing arts content. The project is produced by Ballinran Entertainment in association with Stratford Arts and Culture Collective.

Hosted by Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath, the special features musical performances, comedy and conversations. In addition, each performer sits down with film, TV and stage actor and director Graham Abbey to talk about how they have responded to the challenges of the pandemic. The launch of the special coincides with the beta launch of Stageview.tv, with tickets for Stratford Signatures priced at $35 per device.

screen shot 2021-06-16 at 4.44.42 pmWildBrain CPLG hires North American lead

WildBrain CPLG has brought in Jasen Wright to drive its entertainment and lifestyle brands as VP and head of North America. Wright will focus on proprietary IPs including Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Teletubbies and Chip & Potato, as well as looking for opportunities to grow the company’s portfolio by expanding on existing relationships with outside partners.

Based in New York, he reports to EVP and managing director Maarten Weck, and will manage director of business development Alyssa Gourlay as she works to build new opportunities in California.

Wright joins the WildBrain CPLG team from Beanstalk, where he served as VP. And earlier in his career, he also held roles at Universal Music Group and Authentic Brands Group.

WildBrain’s strategic hire to expand its North American business follows on the heels of a number of EMEA deals that were inked last year. Hasbro expanded an existing agreement with the agency to represent its merchandise, publishing, promotions and short-term location-based entertainment interests in several new territories. And WildBrain CPLG also partnered with Spin Master to represent its core portfolio of brands, including Hatchimals, Toca Life, Zo Zo Zombie, Etch A Sketch, Tech Deck and Bakugan.