Noel Hedges has left Lionsgate and landed at Boat Rocker Studios, joining the company as Senior VP of Global Acquisitions and Content Strategy. The move brings a veteran dealmaker into a company that has spent the last year rebuilding after a major ownership change.
Hedges will base himself in Boat Rocker’s London office, where he will report directly to Jon Rutherford, the company’s President of Global Content & Rights. His role is newly created, and it carries a clear mandate: build the company’s library through buying intellectual property, securing rights deals and forming co-productions.
Hedges’s Track Record
Hedges arrives with more than 25 years in the international TV business. His resume runs through some of the biggest names in the business: DRG, ITV Studios, Cineflix and eOne, the latter of which was acquired by Lionsgate before he joined.
His exit from Lionsgate was first reported by Deadline, which noted that Boat Rocker’s hire follows that news closely.
What The Role Covers
Hedges’s job title tells you what he will do. He will work on increasing the long-term value of Boat Rocker’s content portfolio through IP acquisitions, rights ownership deals and co-production partnerships.
The role is global in scope, which means Hedges will spend time in multiple markets chasing deals. He starts with the company in early October and will be at MIPCOM with the Boat Rocker team.
Why Boat Rocker Matters Now
Boat Rocker has been busy since its owners took control last year. After Blue Ant Media’s takeover of Boat Rocker Media, Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier and John Young formed a new business to take over Boat Rocker Studios and effectively relaunched the company.
The company now operates out of Toronto, London, L.A., New York and Hong Kong. That footprint reflects the global ambition of the new leadership.
Boat Rocker’s slate includes a mix of streaming hits and broadcast series:
- Netflix has Bet and Geek Girl on its service.
- The BBC, Binge and RTÉ co-produce Mix Tape.
- BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand produce The Ridge.
- Apple TV has Invasion and Palm Royale.
- BBC America and CTV share Orphan Black.
- The kids series The Next Step rounds out the roster.
The Doula Deal
Earlier this week, Deadline reported that Boat Rocker had landed rights to Doula: A True Crime, an upcoming CBC doc series that will launch in Cannes at MIPCOM.
That deal fits the pattern of Hedges’s new job description. It is an IP acquisition that expands Boat Rocker’s non-fiction presence, and it arrives at a moment when the company is looking to invest in distinctive, high-quality content.
What Hedges Said
“I’m excited to join Boat Rocker at a time when the company is investing so deliberately in distinctive, high-quality IP,” Hedges said. “I look forward to working with the team to source ambitious projects and strengthen and expand Boat Rocker’s already impressive content portfolio.”
Rutherford offered his own view of the hire. “In addition to his wealth of experience, Noel is extremely well-regarded throughout the industry, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the Boat Rocker Studios team,” he said. “This is an exciting time for our company as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities, with a clear focus on investing in great IP and maximizing its value across our business.”
The Bottom Line
Hedges joining Boat Rocker is a signal of the company’s ambitions. He has spent his career closing deals across the globe, and his new role puts him at the center of a company that is actively building its portfolio.
The Doula deal shows the kind of project he will pursue. Boat Rocker now holds rights to a CBC doc series that launches at MIPCOM.
This is a significant move for a company that has been through a major ownership transition. The new leadership has brought in a proven dealmaker to help execute its strategy, and Hedges’s appointment is evidence of that commitment.
The coming months will show whether the Doula deal is the first of many. For now, the hire itself is the news.
Source material: “Noel Hedges Joins Boat Rocker Studios In Global Acquisitions Role,” Deadline.
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