Media Ranch unveils candidates for Horsepower format project

Sophie Ferron

Canadian producer and distributor Media Ranch has announced the eight candidates who will participate in Horsepower 2.0, its format incubation project.

Over 80 applications were received by Media Ranch and Quebecor Content, which formed a partnership for the initiative. The incubation process begins in January with six months of workshopping with the goal to create eight formats for broadcast and distribution.

The Horsepower 2.0 candidates are:

• Marianne Mercier-Lacombe: retail salesperson and communication student at UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal)
• Widmayer Edouard: debt collection agent and Instagram content creator
• Amélie Tintin: traveler, arts lover and communication assistant;
• Isabelle LaPerrière: writer, drama teacher and media coordinator;
• Alexandre Perras: folk musician and literature student at Montreal University;
• Gisèle Palancz: translation specialist, entrepreneur and author;
• Justine Salette: artist and fitness coach;
• David Bourgeois: young actor, student and author originally from remote Québec area les Iles-de-la-Madeleine

Media Ranch’s head of content & sorytelling Phil Kalin-Hajdu will provide mentorship support for the project with input from the company’s Amsterdam-based SVP, Tanja van der Goes, and Media Ranch founder Sophie Ferron. Format producers from the industry will provide additional mentorship.

The winning format will receive funding from Quebecor Content to develop their format for broadcast and Media Ranch will manage production and global distribution.

The winning format from Horsepower 1.0 was created by An Tran. Titled Family Tripped, the dating format is in co-development with Quebecor Content in Montreal.

Ferron commented: “From the first iteration, we found that new programme ideas can be born from all walks of life and we are excited to start this journey.”