GlassBox

Glassbox Television Inc. was a Canadian broadcasting and media company founded in 2001 by Jeffrey Elliott. The firm specialized in operating multi-platform broadcast channels, video-on-demand (VOD) services, content production, and digital publishing. Its business model centered on creating and distributing media content across various platforms to a broad audience.

The company's initial focus was on short-form film and animation, launching its first channel, BiteTV, on March 5, 2005. BiteTV, targeting a male demographic aged 18-34, was notable for its interactive features and later won an International Emmy in 2007. A mobile-specific service, Bite To Go, was introduced in 2006. The company expanded its portfolio with the launch of Aux TV, a music channel, in 2009 and the acquisition of the Travel + Escape channel from CTVglobemedia in November 2010. Throughout its operation, Glassbox was a venture-capital-backed entity, securing a significant $5 million in a 2008 financing round involving prominent Canadian media industry veterans. Raja Khanna joined Jeffrey Elliott as co-CEO in 2008.

In a pivotal shift, upstart media company Blue Ant Media, led by former Alliance Atlantis executive Michael MacMillan, announced its intent to acquire a controlling interest in Glassbox Television on April 11, 2011. The acquisition proceeded in phases, with Blue Ant initially taking a 29.9% stake and later increasing it to a majority holding after receiving approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on September 14, 2011. Blue Ant Media completed the outright purchase of Glassbox in the summer of 2012. By 2013, the Glassbox Television name was phased out, and its channels and operations were fully integrated into Blue Ant Media, marking the end of its existence as an independent entity. Founder Jeffrey Elliott subsequently co-founded a new over-the-top (OTT) venture called TableRock Media.

Keywords: Glassbox Television, Canadian broadcasting, media company, Jeffrey Elliott, Blue Ant Media acquisition, BiteTV, Aux TV, Travel + Escape, video-on-demand, VOD, content production, digital publishing, Raja Khanna, Michael MacMillan, multi-platform media, specialty channels, Canadian media, broadcast channels, interactive television