NORTHERN LIGHTS AND MONTE BROOKS MERGE
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Northern Lights Direct Response Television Inc. has merged with Monte Brooks Productions, also of Toronto, to expand their U.S. operations. The new company will be called Monte BrooksXNorthern Lights and will be headed by Linda Brooks, president of Monte Brooks, and Ian French, president of Northern Lights. The firm will focus on producing infomercials and short-form direct response television for American clients as well as Canadian companies wanting to market in the U.S. The Northern Lights Direct Response Television Inc. banner will be retained for the company's operations in Canada. The merged company is already working on its first project: a skin care infomercial for Spenco Medical of Waco, TX, which will air this fall. "We're looking forward to tackling a wider range of projects," said French. Northern Lights' projects in the past were more brand-based whereas Monte Brooks' were product-based, he said. "Linda has a great reputation in health and beauty infomercials. And, between us, we've worked in almost every category, including fitness, health and beauty, housewares, plus brand-based DRTV for companies like Bell Sympatico, Panasonic and Altamira."