Principal Media invests in Chesler/Perlmutter Productions
December 3, 2022
LA-based global content distributor Principal Media has announced a significant investment in Toronto-based Chesler/Perlmutter Productions (C/P), a world-renowned production company bringing over 30 years of experience in scripted TV production.
Through this strategic investment, Principal Media enhances its catalogue with a library of scripted content, while C/P expands development and production of original films and series targeting the holiday, romance, action, sci-fi and suspense genres. In addition to strengthening their core businesses, the collaboration will expand their portfolio of content offerings to include format sales and FAST channels featuring exclusive content and series.
“The opportunities for content creators are expanding quickly, making it the right time to find the right collaborative partner,” said Lewis Chesler, Co-Chairman of C/P. “We found that partner in Principal Media, a company that brings complementary skill sets and relationships to not only help meet marketplace demand for original content, but also pursue related revenue-generating opportunities with our catalog. Ultimately, we’re looking forward to getting even more great storytelling going through our team in Canada, servicing our core mission of creating the best movies for the best price.”
“When Principal Media set out to team up with original content creators, we could not have been more pleased to land on the extraordinary, long-running success story that is Chesler Perlmutter Productions,” said Gary Rosenson, Chief Executive Officer of Principal Media. “The movie magic they’re able to consistently deliver on with extremely reasonable budgets is unparalleled. This is a skill more relevant today than ever as platforms old and new are stretching production dollars further while still looking to deliver the same quality to their audiences.”
C/P is an independent TV and film production entities that develops, finances, produces and distributes to major networks and platforms worldwide. Their industry relationships are legendary, working with famous directors such as Kathryn Bigelow, Ivan Reitman and Paul Verhoeven. An impressive list of actors have appeared in C/P films, including Helen Hunt, Jason Bateman, Helen Mirren, Jim Carrey, Patricia Arquette, Rob Lowe and many others. The company’s first hit was multi-season series The Hitchhiker for HBO, which aired for six seasons. Since then, the company has produced over 250 films and episodes for all major US and Canadian broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms, including the most recent premiere Christmas on Mistletoe Lake, one of a slate of C/P holiday films premiering on Lifetime this holiday season.
Principal Media has nearly 20 years of experience distributing a vast array of TV programmes including food, lifestyle, documentaries, sports, and wildlife genres around the world. The partnership with C/P adds a deep library of scripted content ranging from holiday and romantic films to sci fi and thrillers, to Principal’s extensive nonfiction catalog. These iconic series and more will serve as the backbone to launch targeted FAST channels, as well as reimagining select franchises for format sales.