MUMBAI: TCB Media Rights co-partners Paul Heaney and Dina Subhani have launched co-production and distribution company BossaNova Media.

Months after giving up the reins to their former venture, TCB, Subhani and Heaney are now looking to unite producers and buyers through BossaNova Media, which they hope will serve as an integrated hub to fast-track the commissioning and deal-making process. The outfit will closely work with producers and broadcasters to co-create shows by matching ideas.

The duo founded factual distribution company TCB Media Rights in 2012 as a two-person operation that grew to generate $20 million in revenue. The company was later acquired by Canada-based Kew Media Group in October 2017. But the fruitful relationship fell through earlier this year when Kew went belly-up.

After much wrangling, Heaney and Subhani secured their exit from the collapsed Candian TV company and sold TCB to Australian producer and distributor Beyond International in April 2020.

BossaNova Media intuitive to both producers and buyers

Heaney said: “We want BossaNova to be at the very center as far as the ideas and shows we work with are concerned. Our ambition is to be a significant help to platforms that have specific content needs and producers that need all of the above plus endorsement, experience and co-development of ideas."

Next on the company’s agenda is talking to the buying and commissioning communities over the coming weeks so as to kickstart the benefit chain for indies.

On their decision to launch BossaNova Media, Subhani shared: “There’s a lot of uncertainty and fear as we stumble through the wreckage of 2020, but Paul and I have done our due diligence and we see a clear gap in the market.”

Subhani explained that before starting the company, they spoke to buyers and producers to identify what they want from a production-distribution company, and plan to deliver on it.

“Call BossaNova what you will – distributor, agent, development platform, financier – but we believe this creative-finance model is what’s needed in today’s fast-moving world,” she concluded.

As one of the founding directors of TCB, Subhani played a key role in the company’s growth and management. She looked after accounts, marketing and financial planning. Subhani began her career in print and airtime sales.

Before launching TCB, Heaney was president and MD of Cineflix Rights, which he started in 2002. Prior to this, he worked at BSkyB and Southern Star.