Bell & Cirque du Soleil Form Content Development Outfit

MONTREAL: Bell has established a joint-venture company with the circus troupe Cirque du Soleil to develop content for TV, film, digital and gaming platforms.

The new company is headquartered in Montreal. Its activities will focus on the development of entertainment projects for licensing around the world. The outfit will incorporate Cirque du Soleil’s creative resources and infrastructure with Bell Media’s production experience, media platforms and distribution capabilities.

Projects will be inspired by the creative process of Cirque du Soleil, which combines circus arts and street entertainment. Cirque du Soleil will contribute its library of existing content and current projects to the partnership, including the company’s previous television productions as well as the upcoming 3D feature film Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away.

"Bell’s multi-million dollar investment with Cirque du Soleil represents two great Montreal companies coming together to further develop Québec’s world-renowned creative industry," said George Cope, the president and CEO of Bell and BCE. "Working closely with Cirque du Soleil aligns perfectly with Bell’s commitment to make Québec’s best content available to as wide an audience as possible."

Daniel Lamarre, the president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, added, "Cirque du Soleil has always put creative forces from Québec in the forefront. Like Bell joining with Astral, this commitment to invest in Québec content and job creation benefits not only consumers but the broader Québec creative and media industry as well."

"Bell’s partnership with Cirque du Soleil in this exciting new venture instantly strengthens our ability to share Québec’s creative savoir-faire with the world," commented Jacques Méthé, executive producer of Cirque du Soleil.

"Cirque du Soleil’s homegrown and globally admired brand is exactly the kind of unique and compelling Québec content we are eager to nurture," said Martine Turcotte, Bell’s vice chair in Québec. "This new alliance with Cirque du Soleil underscores how eager Bell is to bring the best of Québec to every screen."