International television industry veteran Noel Hedges has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Global Acquisitions and Content Strategy at Boat Rocker Studios. Based in London, Hedges will spearhead IP acquisitions, rights ownership deals, and co-production partnerships to maximize the studio's global portfolio value.
International television industry veteran Noel Hedges has found his next high-profile executive gig, taking on a pivotal role within the upper echelons of Canadian media production. Industry sources have confirmed that Hedges has officially joined Boat Rocker Studios as the company's new Senior Vice President of Global Acquisitions and Content Strategy. Operating out of Boat Rocker's prominent London, United Kingdom office, the seasoned executive steps into a newly created position designed to fortify the studio's international footprint and operational reach.
In his expansive new capacity, Hedges will assume direct responsibility for increasing the long-term value of Boat Rocker's extensive and diverse content portfolio. His mandate centers heavily on driving strategic intellectual property (IP) acquisitions, structuring sophisticated rights ownership agreements, and forging high-value co-production partnerships across global markets. Demonstrating the strategic importance of the appointment, Hedges will report directly to Jon Rutherford, Boat Rocker's President of Global Content and Rights, aligning his initiatives closely with the studio's broader corporate vision.
Timing is everything in the fast-paced global television marketplace, and Hedges is wasted no time stepping into the fold. He is slated to officially commence his tenure with Boat Rocker Studios in early October, setting the stage for an immediate and high-impact debut as part of the company delegation at the upcoming MIPCOM market in Cannes. His presence on the ground will signal Boat Rocker's aggressive stance in acquiring and developing premier international content.
Jon Rutherford expressed high enthusiasm regarding the addition of the veteran executive to the studio's executive ranks. "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," Rutherford stated in an official announcement. Highlighting the broader corporate strategy, Rutherford added, "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 timing of Hedges' arrival aligns with a period of robust creative and commercial activity across Boat Rocker's multi-genre slate. The studio's diverse production and distribution roster boasts major titles across global streaming platforms and traditional broadcasting networks, including high-profile projects like Netflix's Bet and Geek Girl. Additional marquee titles in the portfolio feature the BBC, Binge, and RTÉ co-production Mix Tape, alongside BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand series The Ridge.
Further cementing its status as a premier global player, Boat Rocker holds major stakes in Apple TV+'s critically acclaimed series Invasion and Palm Royale, the enduringly popular BBC America and CTV drama Orphan Black, and the beloved kids series The Next Step. Commenting on his new venture, Hedges emphasized his alignment with the studio's growth trajectory. "I'm excited to join Boat Rocker at a time when the company is investing so deliberately in distinctive, high-quality IP," Hedges noted. "I look forward to working with the team to source ambitious projects and strengthen and expand Boat Rocker's already impressive content portfolio."
The leadership expansion arrives on the heels of significant corporate restructuring within the broader organization. Earlier this week, industry reports revealed that Boat Rocker successfully landed the rights to Doula: A True Crime, an upcoming CBC documentary series slated to launch prominently in Cannes at the MIPCOM market. This acquisition underscores the studio's ongoing commitment to securing compelling non-fiction and true-crime content for global audiences.
These strategic moves follow Blue Ant Media's high-profile reverse takeover of Boat Rocker Media last year. In the wake of that transaction, industry leaders Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier, and John Young formed a new business entity to take over Boat Rocker Studios, effectively relaunching the enterprise with a refreshed operational framework. Today, the relaunched studio maintains a robust international presence with strategic offices spanning Toronto, London, Los Angeles, New York, and Hong Kong, positioning Hedges perfectly within a truly global network.
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