Sony Pictures Television to Take CTV’s The Launch Global

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has secured international distribution rights for the new music format The Launch, which wrapped up its inaugural season on CTV last night.

As Bell Media and Big Machine Label Group’s exclusive partner, SPT will distribute The Launch format worldwide, excluding Canada. Its production company, Electric Ray, is on board to produce the format in the U.K. SPT will also distribute the finished Canadian series. 

The deal represents the first time a Bell Media original TV format for CTV has been sold for international distribution.

“We are delighted to have The Launch as our first acquisition under our newly formed Future Formats Team,” said Sarah Edwards, creative director of global formats at Sony Pictures Television. “As soon as we saw it we knew it was the music talent show we had been looking for. It is a unique and authentic look into what it takes to be a successful performer and recording artist in today’s music business and we are confident that audiences around the world will embrace it.”

“With Sony now on board, this is another huge milestone to the already resounding success The Launch has received for its inaugural season,” said Randy Lennox, the president of Bell Media. “This partnership reconfirms Bell Media’s commitment to producing high-caliber and innovative programming and a new TV format that we are sure will resonate with viewers around the world.”

“Season 1 of CTV’s The Launch exceeded our wildest expectations,” said Scott Borchetta, founder, president and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group. “We are fired up to announce a worldwide format agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Wow! I’m so grateful to Randy Lennox and all at Bell Media for sharing The Launch vision from the onset and I’m beyond thrilled to see the format earning the opportunity to travel the world with SPT. The goal from the beginning was to give artists a real-life and real-time opportunity like no other and we appear to have achieved that goal. A huge thanks to all of our season one superstar producers and mentors, our great artists, and the millions of fans who tuned in.”