Mediapro Studio launches Stopwatch Media with Wachter
March 24, 2026
The Mediapro Studio, the independent content and production company, has announced the launch of a new production partnership, Stopwatch Media, in conjunction with Charles Wachter, Emmy Award-winning showrunner and producer.
Stopwatch Media will be headquartered in Toronto, establishing The Mediapro Studio production footprint in Canada and further expanding its global infrastructure. With a growing portfolio of creative labels, The Mediapro Studio has built a network of production hubs across key markets, and the launch of Stopwatch Media reinforces that scale. Under Wachter’s leadership, the new studio will tap into The Mediapro Studio’s international reach, resources, and partnerships to develop premium, scalable formats for both the US and international audiences.
Canada-based Wachter, who was instrumental in bringing hit series Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret, Amazon’s Beast Games, and Hulu’s Got to Get Out to Canada, as well as Netflix’s upcoming mega-series Win the Mall, is widely regarded as one of the top creatives in unscripted entertainment. With Wachter’s proven track record behind such large-scale hits, Stopwatch Media is positioned to become a powerhouse for ambitious, event-level entertainment.
“Capitalising on the trend of US shows coming to Canada, this is about putting a flag in the ground and building out the production infrastructure to deliver ambitious, globally relevant shows,” said Wachter. “With The Mediapro Studio behind us, we have the scale, freedom, and ambition to chase ideas that can break through in the US and beyond.”
“The Mediapro Studio has always sought to partner with bold creative voices who can push the industry forward, and Charles Wachter is exactly that,” said Pam Healey, Head of Unscripted, at The Mediapro Studio US. “His track record of delivering premium original formats with international resonance makes Stopwatch Media a natural extension of our global content strategy. With this launch, we are cementing our presence in Canada with one of the very best.”
“Collaborating with Charles on Stopwatch Media is a statement of how we see the future of unscripted,” added JC Acosta, Head of The Mediapro Studio US. “The priority is clear: develop and produce bold new global unscripted formats”.
The launch of Stopwatch Media comes at a pivotal moment in the industry, as networks and platforms seek high-impact, franchise-worthy formats that cut through a crowded marketplace. Backed by The Mediapro Studio’s infrastructure and production expertise, and Wachter’s creative leadership, Stopwatch Media aims to fill that demand with big ideas, fast execution, and premium production value.