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Studio TF1 America

Studio TF1 America is a Canadian-based television production and distribution company specializing in scripted films and series for global audiences, with a focus on genres including romance, thrillers, and content. Launched on May 6, 2025, through the rebranding and merger of Reel One Entertainment and Johnson Production Group, it operates as a key subsidiary of the media conglomerate via its STUDIO TF1 division, with additional shareholding from A+E Networks and Timothy O. Johnson. Headquartered in , , the company maintains a vast catalog exceeding 3,000 hours of scripted programming and plans to produce over 100 new hours of content in 2025, including movies, mini-series, and series, while emphasizing co-productions and international distribution. Under the leadership of Managing Director Timothy O. Johnson and Chairman Tom Berry, Studio TF1 America positions itself as one of the world's largest independent producers and distributors of TV movies, collaborating with global partners like Champlain Media to finance and acquire projects.

History

Predecessor companies

Reel One Entertainment was founded in 2001 by Tom Berry in , , initially operating under the name Première Bobine as a specializing in the financing, development, production, and global distribution of television movies and feature-length films. The company quickly established itself in the industry by focusing on high-quality, commercial TV content, including genres such as thrillers, romances, and holiday specials, with early operations centered in and expanding to offices in , , , and . Notable early productions included the 2004 sci-fi horror TV movie Decoys, which Berry executive produced, and the 2009 Arctic Blast, both exemplifying Reel One's emphasis on genre-driven television fare targeted at international broadcasters. By the late , Reel One had grown into one of the largest independent producers of TV movies, delivering content to major networks like Lifetime and Hallmark. Key milestones in Reel One's development included its acquisition by Newen, a of the media conglomerate , in 2019, which provided majority ownership and enhanced its European distribution capabilities. In 2021, acquired a 35% minority stake in the company, forming a to accelerate content and global sales, particularly for U.S. cable networks. These developments solidified Reel One's pre-merger identity as a bilingual, cross-border bridging North American and European markets. Johnson Production Group (JPG) was founded in 1992 by Timothy O. in , , as a response to inefficiencies in traditional studio production, aiming to deliver network-quality television content at optimized costs for distributors. , who had prior experience as Head of West Coast Programming for a major , built JPG around a model of efficient packaging, financing, and production, initially focusing on dramatic series and evolving toward family-oriented narratives. Early operations highlighted JPG's role in high-profile projects, such as producing seasons 1 through 5 of the CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman starting in 1993, which underscored its capability in handling large-scale, character-driven family dramas. Over the 2000s, JPG expanded its portfolio to emphasize wholesome, uplifting content, particularly holiday-themed TV films that became a hallmark of its output. By the early 2010s, JPG had produced a substantial volume of such content, establishing a reputation for reliable, viewer-engaging films distributed to major U.S. broadcasters like Hallmark and Lifetime, while maintaining a focus on cost-effective, high-volume production. This growth positioned JPG as a key player in the family entertainment niche prior to its later integrations.

Rebranding and establishment

In July 2024, TF1 Group's subsidiary Newen Studios acquired a majority stake in Johnson Production Group (JPG), a Vancouver-based financier, , and of TV movies, to complement the capabilities of its existing North American entity Reel One Entertainment, which had been under Newen ownership since 2019. This move strengthened TF1's footprint in English-language scripted content, particularly in the TV movie sector, by integrating JPG's expertise in North American production with Reel One's established distribution network. On May 5, 2025, JPG and Reel One officially rebranded as , forming a unified Canadian-based production and distribution arm headquartered in and . The rebranding was announced as part of 's broader strategy to position the entity as the world's largest producer and distributor of TV movies, leveraging the group's resources for co-productions and global market expansion. The rationale emphasized creating synergies between the predecessors—Reel One, founded in 2001, and JPG—to accelerate growth in English-language programming amid rising demand for premium TV movies and series. Post-rebranding, immediately consolidated its operations, resulting in a combined library exceeding 3,000 hours of English-language scripted content available for worldwide distribution. This integration enabled streamlined financing, production pipelines, and access to 's European talent and funding, marking the entity's establishment as a key pillar in 's global content strategy. Following the launch, Studio TF1 America bolstered its executive team and announced new projects, including the Lifetime thriller Shopping Cart Killer starring Lela Rochon and Jarod Joseph, as of October 2025.

Corporate structure

Ownership

Studio TF1 America is primarily owned by through its Studio TF1 division, establishing it as a key North American subsidiary focused on English-language content production and . A+E Global Media holds a 35% equity stake in the entity, a position retained from its 2021 in Reel One Entertainment, which has facilitated enhanced co-production opportunities between TF1's and A+E's global content portfolio. Timothy O. Johnson also holds an additional share in the company. This ownership structure stems from TF1 Group's 2015 acquisition of a majority stake in Newen Studios, which laid the foundation for the current integrated operations. Within the broader ecosystem, Studio TF1 America maintains close ties to the former Newen Studios entities—now rebranded under Studio TF1—for international collaboration, including shared resources for script development and market expansion. Following the May 2025 rebranding of Reel One and Production Group into , the entity's contributions were reflected in Group's half-year 2025 financial results, with reporting €128 million in consolidated revenue, including €11 million from Production Group activities.

Leadership

is led by a management team that combines expertise from its predecessor companies, Production Group (JPG) and Reel One Entertainment, under the strategic oversight of . Tom Berry serves as Chairman of the Board, having founded Reel One Entertainment in 2001 and played a pivotal role in overseeing the 2025 rebranding to , which merged production and distribution capabilities to target global markets. Timothy O. Johnson acts as Managing Director, drawing on his experience as the founding president of JPG since 2003, where he specialized in family-oriented and holiday-themed content production, now guiding the company's expanded slate of over 100 scripted hours annually. In October 2025, Meghan Hooper White joined as Executive Vice President of Global Strategy and Co-Productions, bringing prior leadership from and Lifetime Networks to enhance international partnerships and content acquisitions. Key operational roles include Joseph Wilka as Head of Production, who manages the execution of the company's TV movie and series output, ensuring alignment with strategic goals for broadcast and streaming platforms. In , Sam Partner leads as Head of International from , overseeing sales across , , and other regions to drive global revenue streams, supported by a team including Anna Budashevskaya. These executives contribute to the company's strategic direction by integrating JPG's content focus with Reel One's . Note that while was used for initial identification, primary verification comes from company affiliations in production credits. The board's composition reflects influences from and , with decision-making processes shaped by TF1's oversight, including input from Group CEO Rodolphe Belmer and Studio TF1 CEO Pierre Branco, ensuring alignment with broader European and global media objectives. Ownership stakes, such as A+E's involvement, have directly influenced appointments to bolster co-production capabilities.

Operations

Production

Studio TF1 America plans to produce over 100 hours of original scripted content in 2025, encompassing TV movies, miniseries, and series, positioning it as a leading independent producer in the North American market. This output supports a robust pipeline tailored for television and streaming platforms, emphasizing high-volume creation to meet global demand for commercial scripted programming. The company's production focuses on genres such as romance, thrillers, and /holiday films, blending heartfelt narratives with suspenseful storytelling. Representative examples include the holiday mystery The Christmas Clues, which explores festive intrigue and premiered on November 2, 2025, and the Game of Love, centering on game designers navigating personal relationships. These genres draw from a mix of appeal and edge-of-your-seat , ensuring broad audience engagement across seasonal and year-round releases. Production workflows leverage facilities in , , and , enabling a North American-centric approach to development, filming, and post-production. Montreal serves as a key hub for creative operations inherited from Reel One Entertainment, while Los Angeles and Vancouver support talent acquisition and on-location shooting, facilitating efficient collaboration across time zones and production needs. Following the 2025 rebranding, which consolidated Johnson Production Group (JPG) and Reel One Entertainment under , the company shifted toward elevated output volumes by integrating JPG's expertise in family-oriented and holiday content with Reel One's specialization in . This synergy enhances narrative diversity, allowing for hybrid projects that combine wholesome themes with elements to expand market reach.

Distribution

Studio TF1 America serves as a key independent distributor of commercial television films and series, targeting broadcasters and platforms in the United States and internationally. The company leverages its expertise to position itself as one of the most prolific players in the sector, focusing on scripted content that appeals to global audiences through strategic sales and partnerships. The distributor manages a robust library exceeding 3,000 hours of scripted programming, which incorporates legacy content from its predecessor entities, Reel One and JPG Films. This catalog enables efficient packaging and licensing of titles across various formats, ensuring sustained revenue from established assets while integrating new productions. Primary markets include , where the company is headquartered, and , bolstered by its affiliation with the for enhanced regional access. Worldwide sales efforts extend to additional territories, exemplified by a three-year output deal with Hungary's Network4 broadcaster announced in June 2025. Monetization strategies emphasize bundling content for both streaming services and traditional linear television, contributing to Studio TF1's overall growth. In the first half of 2025, the Studio TF1 division reported €128 million in revenue, a 6.4% increase year-over-year, with distribution playing a pivotal role alongside contributions from its North American operations. By the first nine months of 2025, revenues reached €213 million, up 10.9%, underscoring the effectiveness of these approaches in a competitive landscape.

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