Sphere Abacus snaps up Rocket Rights, rebrands as Rocket Booster

**Sphere Abacus Buys Rocket Rights, Renames Company Rocket Booster**

Sphere Abacus, the Canadian distributor of heated‑rivalry content, announced it has purchased digital rights seller Rocket Rights/Rights Booster and will now operate it as Rocket Booster. Founder Matthew Frank has taken the title of executive director, while former COO Cat Davie becomes managing director.

Both executives will report directly to Sphere Abacus CEO Jonathan Ford.

The deal positions Rocket Booster, a FAST‑ and VoD‑specialized digital rights business founded in 2021 by Frank and his late brother David, as a key component of Sphere Abacus’s broader strategy.

Sphere Abacus will handle traditional TV and licensing for both companies, while the newly merged entity aims to expand multi‑platform digital and social media distribution across their combined catalogues.

Sphere Abacus itself was acquired by Canada’s Sphere Media for $18.2 million two years ago and became part of Bell Media about a year later. The company’s portfolio includes titles such as *Heated Rivalry*, *Leaving Neverland* and the upcoming *Yaga*.

CEO Ford said the acquisition “is yet another step in the development of Sphere Abacus and highlights our ambition to further penetrate the global digital market.”

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## Background & Context

Rocket Booster was launched in 2021 by Matthew Frank and his brother David. The firm focuses on selling digital rights for free‑to‑air streaming services (FAST) and on‑demand video (VoD). Its experience in fast‑moving digital markets has made it an attractive partner for a company that traditionally deals with linear television licensing.

Sphere Abacus, which had already been absorbed by Bell Media, sought to broaden its reach beyond conventional broadcast.

The acquisition comes after Sphere Media’s purchase of the former Abacus Media Rights for $18.2 million and its subsequent integration into Bell Media’s distribution network.

With the new partnership, Sphere Abacus will now oversee both traditional and digital rights across a larger catalogue, reinforcing its presence in Canada’s competitive media landscape.

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## Looking Ahead

Under the new structure, Matthew Frank will guide Rocket Booster’s strategy as executive director while Cat Davie will manage day‑to‑day operations. Their reporting line to Jonathan Ford signals a unified leadership approach for the combined entity.

While specific future projects have not been disclosed, the partnership is expected to accelerate the deployment of multi‑platform distribution across both companies’ libraries.

Sphere Abacus’s portfolio already features high‑profile titles, and adding Rocket Booster’s digital rights expertise should position the company to capture a larger share of global streaming audiences.

As Bell Media expands its digital footprint, the combined catalogues are poised to offer a broader range of content to FAST and VoD platforms worldwide.

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