What Duo Productions does

Duo Productions Inc. is a privately-held Montreal-based television production company founded by writers Anne Boyer and Michel d'Astous, whose collaboration dates to 1986 and has yielded more than 800 hours of primetime fiction. The company produces original scripted drama series, documentary, and docu-reality formats for Quebec and Canadian broadcasters and streaming platforms, with a portfolio spanning historical sagas (Nos Étés), family dramas (Yamaska, L'heure bleue / Eclipse), relationship docu-reality (Si on s'aimait and its spin-offs), police and espionage thrillers (Le gentleman, Classé Secret, Piégés), and documentary (Divergentes).

Production is built on a thin in-house creative and development team (1-10 employees) working in a writers' production-house model, with on-screen execution outsourced to directors, crews, and co-production partners (Cirrus Communications, Sphère Média, JPL Productions, Encore Télévision, Boat Rocker Studios, Québecor Contenu, Poutine Studios). Multiple-series, multi-season formats (Yamaska 7 seasons, L'heure bleue 5 seasons, Si on s'aimait 4+ seasons) are paired with high production values in cinematography, sound, and visual effects, and have been recognized with numerous Prix Gémeaux awards and international festival selections (Berlin International Film Festival, Festival de la Fiction).

Duo's revenue model is B2B content licensing and co-production financing: projects are pitched and sold as completed productions or developed under co-production arrangements with broadcasters and institutional funders (Canada Media Fund, Québecor Fund). Buyers are concentrated in the Quebec/Canadian broadcaster ecosystem — TVA Group, Radio-Canada, Bell Média (Crave, Noovo, Vrak), Club illico, ADDIK TV, AMI-Télé, and ICI TOU.TV — with pricing negotiated on a per-project basis. The company has no direct-to-consumer product, no app, and no public consumer pricing, and is sustained by long-term relationships, public funding access, and the founders' sustained creative output.

Name

Duo Productions

Legal name

DUO PRODUCTIONS INC.

Website

https://duoproductions.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Duo Productions is a privately-held Montreal-based television production company founded by writers Anne Boyer and Michel d'Astous, producing original scripted drama, documentary, and docu-reality series for Quebec and Canadian broadcasters and streaming platforms including TVA, Radio-Canada, and Bell Média.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Unscripted/Reality TV Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAC)

Keywords

• Television production
• Scripted drama series
• Documentary production
• Content licensing
• Broadcast content

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Content Licensing and Broadcast Rights: Duo Productions generates revenue by producing television series and licensing broadcast rights to Quebec and Canadian TV networks (TVA, Radio-Canada, Bell Média) and streaming platforms (Crave, Club illico, ADDIK TV). Series are sold as completed productions or developed in co-production arrangements with broadcasters and production partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Duo Productions is an independent Quebec television production company that creates, develops, and produces original scripted drama series, documentary series, and docu-reality programming. The company licenses completed productions and co-develops series with Quebec and Canadian broadcasters and streaming platforms (TVA, Radio-Canada, Crave, Bell Média, Club illico, ADDIK TV, AMI-Télé) on a per-project basis, often as multi-season franchises with co-production partners such as Québecor Contenu, Boat Rocker Studios, and Cirrus Communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Casse-Gueule Dramatic comedy series centered on a young chef and his team opening a restaurant, with kitchen-set interpersonal and professional drama. Licensed to Bell Média for broadcast on Crave.
• Convictions (Emprises) Drama series about a woman whose life is upended when her partner and son disappear. Available on ICI TOU.TV EXTRA (Radio-Canada).
• Divergentes Documentary series exploring neurodivergence (ADHD and ASD) in women, hosted by Coco Belliveau and Naadei Lyonnais. Licensed to AMI-Télé.
• Dernière Seconde (Last Second) Police drama series about a bomb technician confronting a criminal mastermind. Co-produced with Québecor Contenu and Boat Rocker Studios. Licensed to Illico + (TVA Group).
• Si on s'aimait célébrités (It's All About Love Celebrities) Spin-off docu-reality series featuring four single celebrities guided by relationship expert Louise Sigouin.
• Si on s'aimait encore (It's Still About Love) Docu-reality series where relationship expert Louise Sigouin helps couples improve their relationships. Available on TVA+ catch-up.
• Classé Secret (Season 2) Second season of the espionage thriller series Classé Secret, broadcast on ADDIK (Groupe TVA).
• Si on s'aimait (It's All About Love) Season 4 of the docu-reality relationship series following couples seeking to improve their relationships with expert Louise Sigouin. Available on TVA+.
• Nous (THEM) Drama series about five young adults born at the same time who discover their connected past. Available on Club illico (Groupe TVA), with Season 2 broadcast on TVA.
• Classé Secret (Season 1) Espionage thriller series about Canadian Security Service agents. Available on Club illico.
• Ma mère (Mother of Mine) Mini-series about a woman released from prison dealing with bipolar disorder, second part of a mental health collection. Broadcast on TVA.
• L'homme qui aimait trop (Too Much Love) Drama series broadcast on Noovo (Bell Média) and on Crave.
• Mon fils (Son of Mine) Drama mini-series broadcast on Club illico; selected for the Berlin International Film Festival Berlinale Series Market. Won Prix Gémeaux for lead actor (Antoine L'Écuyer).
• Si on s'aimait (Season 1) Original launch of the docu-reality relationship series hosted by expert Louise Sigouin, broadcast on TVA. Spawned multiple subsequent seasons and celebrity spin-offs.
• Yamaska Long-running family drama series (7 seasons, 169 episodes) on TVA, one of the company's flagship productions with over 1.2 million average viewers per episode in Season 1 and peaking at 1,462,666 average viewers in Season 6. Won multiple Prix Gémeaux awards.
• L'heure bleue / Eclipse Drama series (later titled Eclipse) that ran 5 seasons (2017-2021) on TVA, winning multiple Prix Gémeaux awards across photography, score, acting, and direction categories.
• Après (After) Drama series broadcast on ICI Tou.tv Extra, winner of Best foreign francophone series at the Festival de la Fiction.
• Piégés (The Mousetrap) Drama series from an original idea by director Yannick Savard, written by François Pagé. Selected at the Festival de la Fiction TV.
• Campus Youth-targeted drama series broadcast on Vrak (Bell Média).
• Baby-Boom Mini-series broadcast on Radio-Canada across 2 seasons.
• Le gentleman Undercover cop drama series that ran 3 seasons (2008-2013) on TVA. Won Prix Gémeaux awards for best sound and best supporting actress.
• Un sur 2 Romantic comedy series that ran 3 seasons (50 episodes) and was adapted for the Polish market. Won Prix Gémeaux for best text comedy and best lead actor in comedy.
• Nos étés Historical saga series (4 seasons, 26 episodes) co-produced with Cirrus Communications, broadcast on Radio-Canada/TVA. Won multiple Prix Gémeaux awards and the Ruban d'or 2007.
• Les Poupées russes Drama series about love and friendship that ran 6 seasons (108 episodes), co-produced with Sphère Média Plus and JPL Productions. Won Prix Gémeaux for best lead male and female drama.
• Tabou Drama series exploring family tragedy that ran 2 seasons, co-produced with Sphère Média Plus. Won Prix Gémeaux for best sets and best lead male drama.
• Le Retour Drama series (1996-2001) where Duo Productions served as associate producer alongside main production company JPL Productions. Won Prix Gémeaux for best lead female role (Rita Lafontaine).
• Sous un ciel variable Drama series (5 seasons, 124 episodes) broadcast on Radio-Canada (1993-1997). Won multiple Prix Gémeaux awards including best lead female role, best lead male role, and best drama.
• 2 Frères Drama series (1999-2001) co-produced with Sphère Média. Won Prix Téléfilm Canada at the Banff International Television Festival and Ruban d'Or 2000-2001.
• Les soeurs Elliot Drama series that ran 2 seasons (2007-2009). Won Prix Gémeaux for best photography drama (Yves Bélanger).
• Pour Sarah Drama series co-produced with Encore Télévision, with producers Anne Boyer, Michel d'Astous, François Rozon, and Vincent Gagné.
• Les grands procès Documentary series (1993-1995) covering famous Quebec trials (Abbot Delorme, Beaudry trial, Coffin trial). Won Prix Gémeaux best text drama series in 1994 for Abbott Delorme.

Quantifiable outcome

• Yamaska averaged over 1.2 million viewers per episode (Season 1) and grew to 1,462,666 average viewers by Season 6, with 138,766 Facebook fans at Season 7.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• Poutine StudiosnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2025Duo Productions and Poutine Studios announced a partnership on January 29, 2025, as noted in the news section of Duo Productions' website. Details of the partnership scope have not been disclosed in the available source material.
• Quebecor FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebecor Fund provides funding for film production projects through its Film Production Assistance Program and Export Assistance Program. Duo Productions has benefited from this funding. The Film Production Assistance Program granted nearly $20.5 million to 120 projects since its launch in September 2010.
• Québecor ContenucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuébecor Contenu collaborated with Duo Productions on the production of Dernière seconde (Last Second), a 2025 series, alongside Boat Rocker Studios. Québecor Contenu is a content production and development entity affiliated with Quebecor.
• Boat Rocker StudiosnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoat Rocker Studios was an associated production partner on Last Second (Dernière seconde, 2025), alongside Duo Productions and Québecor Contenu. Boat Rocker Studios is an international entertainment company.
• Cirrus CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuo Productions co-produced Nos Étés (2004-2008) with Cirrus Communications. Both companies were co-producers alongside Anne Boyer and Michel d'Astous as producers.
• Sphère Média / Sphère Média PluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuo Productions co-produced 2 Frères (1999-2001) with Sphère Média (as Sphère Média) and Tabou and Les Poupées russes with Sphère Média Plus.
• JPL ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuo Productions served as associate producers on Le Retour (1996-2001) and Les Poupées russes (2002-2007) with JPL Productions as the main production company.
• Encore TélévisionnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuo Productions co-produced Pour Sarah (2015) with Encore Télévision, alongside Anne Boyer, Michel d'Astous, François Rozon and Vincent Gagné as producers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Productions Casablanca: Quebec production house with a deep catalog of scripted dramas and teleromans for TVA and Radio-Canada. Comparable in producing multi-season French-language primetime fiction for the same broadcaster ecosystem.
• Sphère Média: Quebec production and distribution group that co-produced 2 Frères, Tabou and Les Poupées russes with Duo Productions. Comparable as a long-standing French-language scripted drama producer and co-production partner.
• Pixcom: Established Montreal-based producer of scripted TV dramas, documentaries and unscripted formats for French and English Canadian broadcasters. Comparable in scale, content mix, and customer overlap with TVA, Radio-Canada and Bell Média.
• Cirrus Communications: Quebec TV production company and long-standing co-production partner of Duo Productions on Nos Étés (2004–2008). Comparable as a French-language scripted drama producer serving Quebec broadcasters.
• Boat Rocker Studios: Toronto-based international entertainment studio that co-produced Dernière Seconde (2025) with Duo Productions and Québecor Contenu. Comparable as a scripted TV producer pursuing North American co-production partnerships, but at meaningfully larger scale and English-language footprint.
• Encore Télévision: Quebec-based producer that co-produced Pour Sarah with Duo Productions. Directly comparable as a Montreal-based producer of scripted French-language drama for Canadian broadcasters and streamers.
• Aetios Productions: Quebec-based production house producing French-language scripted series, documentaries and variety shows for TVA, Radio-Canada, and Crave. Directly comparable in genre breadth, broadcaster mix, and Quebec-market focus.
• JPL Productions: Major Quebec scripted TV production house that produced Le Retour and Les Poupées russes with Duo Productions. Directly comparable as a Montreal-based producer of French-language primetime drama and historical sagas for the same broadcaster set.

Broad incumbents

• Radio-Canada (CBC): Canada's public French-language broadcaster and one of Duo's largest customers (Emprises, Baby-Boom, Nos Étés, 2 Frères). Comparable as a dominant commissioning/buying platform for Quebec-original scripted content and a key funding partner.
• Québecor Contenu: In-house content arm of Quebecor that commissions and co-produces original French-language series for TVA, Club illico and ADDIK TV — including recent Duo Productions co-productions. Comparable as a content commissioning/production counterpart within the same broadcaster ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCypsMxbLfrCBQdwDiY6ZwFw
• Facebookfacebook.com/duoproductionstv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duo-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Duo Productions