TAGGED AS DHX MEDIA LTD.
CanCon producers silent on CBC-Netflix rift
Media | 10/09/2019 7:14 pm EDT
Organizations that represent important stakeholders in the field of Canadian content are staying relatively mum on the revelation that the CBC/Radio-Canada would stop collaborating with Netflix Inc., though the union representing Canada's English-language screenwriters has...
DHX rebranding as WildBrain
Media | 09/23/2019 4:22 pm EDT
Three weeks after announcing a new CEO with a background in developing family-based entertainment products, DHX Media Ltd. announced Monday -- alongside its 2019 fourth quarter results -- that it would rebrand as WildBrain and reorganize itself around family-entertainment. On August 30, the Halifax-based company announced that it was putting Eric Ellenbogen in charge of the company after stints at Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal and DreamWorks Animation. “Rebranding as WildBrain embraces our commitment to creativity, imagination and innovation, and our 360 [degree] approach to brand management. For many years, our WildBrain group has been at the leading edge of the digital media business,” Ellenbogen said in a release Monday. The company also announced a revenue increase of 12 per cent to $108.8 million in its fourth quarterly...
Eric Ellenbogen in as DHX CEO
Media | 08/30/2019 2:54 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. announced Thursday night that Michael Donovan would step down as CEO of the Halifax-based...
Content exporters ask consulting panel for CMF envelope they can access, match
Media | 03/12/2019 7:07 pm EDT
A trade association for Canadian-based television and content distribution...
CMF-funded kids content tops export sales for first time
Media | 08/28/2018 7:01 pm EDT
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) released its 2017-2018 annual report on Monday,...
OTT co-productions trending up: study
Media | 06/26/2018 12:41 pm EDT
Domestic and international content producers and over-the-top (OTT) services are continuing to partner...
DHX sells portion of Peanuts to reduce debt
Media | 05/14/2018 5:00 pm EDT
Halifax-based DHX Media Inc. announced plans on Monday to sell some of its ownership of the Peanuts brand to Sony Corp., in a $237 million cash deal.
The move comes only a year after DHX’s acquisition of Peanuts in May 2017. Sony will take over 49 per cent of DHX’s 80...
New CEO’s content background indicates shift at CBC: experts
Media | 04/03/2018 5:19 pm EDT
OTTAWA — Catherine Tait’s appointment as head of CBC/Radio-Canada is...
DHX’s CEO, CFO departures no surprise: analyst
Media | 02/26/2018 12:22 pm EST
Both Dana Landry, DHX Media Ltd.’s CEO, and CFO Keith Abriel are leaving the company, DHX said in a...
Bell asking employees to support FairPlay at CRTC: report
Media | 02/21/2018 12:53 pm EST
BCE Inc. is allegedly encouraging its employees to submit comments to the...
Cross-industry coalition calls for website-blocking
Media | 01/29/2018 6:21 pm EST
A broad coalition made up of Canada’s largest telecoms and broadcasters, as well as groups representing...
Gary Finnegan joins DHX Media
Media | 10/24/2017 3:56 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. has appointed Gary Finnegan as vice-president of programming strategy, it said in a press...
Analyst reaction largely positive to DHX review
Media | 10/02/2017 5:42 pm EDT
An announcement by DHX Media Ltd. Monday that it is launching a strategic review that could see its board...
Wow names John Vandervelde CFO
Media | 09/08/2017 1:46 pm EDT
Wow Unlimited Media Inc. has named John Vandervelde its new chief financial officer and corporate...
New OTT offerings pose threat to BDUs, opportunity for producers
Media | 08/17/2017 4:47 pm EDT
A proliferation of new streaming TV competition in Canada is set to benefit...
Disney going it alone with planned streaming services
Media | 08/09/2017 5:17 pm EDT
Walt Disney Co. will end its partnership with Netflix Inc. and launch two of its own separate streaming services in the next two years.
Beginning in 2018, the company will launch an ESPN-branded multi-sport video streaming service and will follow that up with a...
DHX shells out for Peanuts
Media | 05/10/2017 4:38 pm EDT
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Peppermint Patty are joining Halifax-based DHX Media Ltd.’s stable of properties, as the company announced Wednesday its bid to acquire the Peanuts brand from an American management company. The deal with Iconix Brand Group Inc. includes an...
Iristel, EBox, DHX among new lobby registrations
Media | 02/21/2017 9:54 pm EST
The start of the new year was marked by new registrations for new and not-so-new companies and groups in the federal lobbyists’ registry. Iristel Inc. registered to lobby the federal government as of Jan....
Industry association for CanCon exports formed
Media | 11/17/2016 10:45 pm EST
An industry association representing Canadian distributors and exporters of TV and digital content has been formed, with the intention of helping develop content at home and export it abroad. The Canadian Association of...
Family Channel advertising OK ‘clearly positive’: Canaccord
Media | 11/03/2016 8:35 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. announced Thursday it received approval from the CRTC to allow broadcast advertising on its specialty Family channel, a move that one analyst describes as “clearly...
CanCon review panel announcement draws mixed reaction
Media | 06/28/2016 9:19 pm EDT
Heritage Canada’s announcement of an expert advisory panel for its review of Canadian content in a digital age, which includes representatives from a number of broadcasters, was met with both praise and criticism Tuesday. The panel will “provide advice and ongoing feedback” to the Heritage Minister during the consultations and review, the heritage department said in a press release Tuesday. The 12 members of the panel “represent a cross-section of the Canadian arts and culture sectors,” the release added, noting members were “selected on the...
DHX launches multi-platform network subsidiary
Media | 04/26/2016 7:20 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. has launched a new subsidiary, Wild Brain Family International Ltd., which “operates a Multi-Platform Kids Network dedicated to connecting content owners with advertisers on platforms such as...
DHX teams up with Mattel in content deal
Media | 12/16/2015 3:12 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. said Wednesday that it has reached a long-term deal with toymaker Mattel Inc. to produce and develop content based on brands such as Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Little People and Polly Pocket. DHX said in a news...
DHX produces new kids TV show to air in Canada, U.K.
Media | 12/10/2015 2:57 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. announced Thursday it has been commissioned by BBC’s children's broadcasting arm, CBBC, in the U.K. to produce two seasons of Airmageddon, a new TV show for kids that features competitive radio-controlled...
DHX signs 5-year deal with DreamWorks
Media | 12/08/2015 3:15 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. announced Tuesday it has signed a five-year deal with DreamWorks Animation LLC to produce, broadcast and distribute content across several channels. DHX said in the press release that it will be co-producing 130...
DHX signs deal with 7 international broadcasters
Media | 11/19/2015 4:18 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. announced Thursday it has signed a distribution deal for one of its cartoon shows, called Endangered Species, with seven international broadcasters and video-on-demand (VOD) services. It said in the press release...
DHX revenues up 48% in Q1
Media | 11/16/2015 3:52 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. said in its 2016 first quarter results that its revenue in the three months ending Sept. 30 grew 48 per cent to $63.9 million from $43 million during the same period a year earlier. It said Monday that an increase in distribution accounted for 19 per cent revenue growth and "new...
Corus version of Disney XD coming in December
Media | 11/09/2015 2:57 pm EST
Corus Entertainment Inc. said Monday that its version of kids' specialty channel Disney XD will start broadcasting in Canada in December. It will join its other Disney-branded stations, such as Disney Channel and Disney...
Michael Serafini gets senior role with DHX TV
Media | 10/14/2015 3:34 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. announced last week it has appointed Michael Serafini as vice-president of programing at its DHX Television division, which oversees a stable of kids' channels under its Family brand. Serafini was most recently...
DHX kids shows land on Australian channel
Media | 10/13/2015 2:33 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. said Tuesday that it has reached deals with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that will see two of its main children's shows air on Australia's public broadcaster. DHX, a Canadian content producer and distributor, said in a press release the shows involved are Twirlywoos and the new version of Teletubbies. "Australia is a key market for us and one where our series perform very well, so we look forward to launching both Teletubbies and Twirlywoos with the ABC," Josh Scherba, DHX's senior vice-president of distribution, said in the release....
DHX in global deal to produce show based on hit movie
Media | 10/05/2015 3:10 pm EDT
DHX Media Inc. announced Monday it has signed a deal with Turner Broadcasting System Inc. for the rights to the new TV show, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: The Series. It said in a press release that the show, which is based...
DHX Media quarterly revenue more than doubles
Media | 09/28/2015 2:43 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. on Monday reported quarterly revenue that was more than double what it saw a year earlier. The company said in a press release that revenue for the fourth quarter ended June 30 was $71.2 million, up 139 per cent...
DHX to provide content for Alibaba’s Chinese VOD service
Media | 09/16/2015 1:55 pm EDT
DHX Media Inc. announced Wednesday it has signed a deal with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to provide more than 2,500 half-hours of content to its video-on-demand (VOD) service in China. “We are very happy to provide extensive kids and family content from our library for this new service in China. This deal underscores...
DHX snags 6 broadcasters for new show
Media | 08/26/2015 1:49 pm EDT
DHX Media Inc. announced Wednesday it has signed six broadcasters globally to air a new BBC-commissioned TV show called Twirlywoos. DHX said in a press release that the new channels include Lagardère in France, which will...
Canadian OTT startup looks to take on the world
Media | 08/17/2015 8:01 pm EDT
An emerging Canadian provider of over-the-top (OTT) video content hopes that reaching viewers around the world, and particularly those with very specific interests, translates into keys to success in the fast-changing television market. TableRock Media, based in Toronto with less than 10 employees, announced this month it will launch three online video subscriptions services in the new year — covering guitars, aviation and motorcycles — for worldwide distribution. Asked why it is targeting the whole world right off the bat, TableRock CEO and co-founder Jeffrey Elliott said in a...
Corus’ Disney Channel coming next month
Media | 08/11/2015 7:24 pm EDT
Corus Entertainment Inc. said Tuesday that its new Disney Channel will debut in Canada on Sept. 1. This follows news Corus announced in April that it had struck a deal with Walt Disney Co. for the rights to the U.S. company's content in Canada. Corus said in a press release Tuesday that the Disney Channel will feature shows such as K.C....
DHX announces Teletubbies deal for Italy
Media | 07/14/2015 3:48 pm EDT
Canadian television production company DHX Media Ltd. said Tuesday that an Italian broadcaster has acquired the rights to its Teletubbies children's series, including the new season currently in production and 14 past seasons...
DHX to start trading on Nasdaq
Media | 06/22/2015 8:07 pm EDT
DHX Media Inc. announced Monday the company was approved to list and start trading on the Nasdaq on Tuesday. “Listing on the Nasdaq represents a significant milestone in the continuing evolution of DHX Media,” CEO...
DHX reaches U.S. deal for Teletubbies with Nickelodeon
Media | 06/11/2015 1:39 pm EDT
DHX Media Inc. announced Thursday it has licensed the new Teletubbies series exclusively to Viacom Inc’s Nickelodeon division in the U.S. The press release said the popular children’s...
DHX to premiere new Degrassi show on Netflix
Media | 06/09/2015 1:33 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd., announced Tuesday that it will be premiering Degrassi: Next Class, a new series part of the Degrassi franchise, on Netflix Inc. The company stated in a press release that the show will be available on Netflix...
DHX expands licensing service to more countries
Media | 06/02/2015 1:56 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. announced Tuesday that its full-service international licensing agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG), will expand business offices to the Middle East, Turkey and Greece. The company said in a press...
DHX Media show to premiere on Hulu
Media | 05/28/2015 2:00 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. announced Thursday that it has signed a deal with Hulu to premiere Dr. Dimensionpants to its U.S. subscribers. Josh Scherba, senior vice-president of distribution at DHX, said in the press release that he is happy...
DHX announces global publishing deal for Twirlywoos
Media | 05/20/2015 5:02 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. said Wednesday that it has reached a deal to license the global publishing rights to Twirlywoos, a TV show for preschoolers for which Halifax-based DHX produces, distributes and manages the marketing rights. The...
DHX revenue almost triples over 1 year
Media | 05/14/2015 2:35 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. said Thursday that revenue for its third quarter ended March 31 almost tripled from a year earlier to $85.6 million from $29 million, thanks to a major acquisition and gains in its distribution and production businesses. The broadcaster and TV-content producer said in a press release that much of that gain came from the acquisition of Family Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior from BCE Inc., which was announced in November 2013 and closed last year. The DHX Television unit created by this purchase contributed $20.4 million to quarterly revenue. David Regan, DHX's...
Corus strikes deal with Disney
Media | 04/16/2015 2:33 pm EDT
Corus Entertainment Inc. said Thursday it has signed a long-term licensing agreement with Walt Disney Co. giving it the rights to distribute Disney content across Canada in both official languages. Disney had a previous agreement...
DHX reaches international distribution deal with Orchard
Media | 04/02/2015 3:34 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd., a Canadian content creator specializing in children's television programming, said it has reached a deal with U.S. distribution company, The Orchard, that will give it a new path...
Telecoms will adjust to pick-and-pay regime, analysts say
Media | 03/20/2015 9:10 pm EDT
Financial analysts reacting to the CRTC’s new pick-and-pay rules say they don’t expect the decision to have a major impact on the industry, though the broadcasting side of the business is...
Digital advertising exchange adds 4 companies
Media | 02/19/2015 3:39 pm EST
A coalition called Canada's Premium Audience Exchange (CPAX) said Thursday that four new companies have joined the exchange, which allows website operators to sell digital advertising in real time. CPAX said in a press...
DHX reaches deal to buy Nerd Corps
Media | 12/02/2014 4:46 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. said Tuesday it has reached an agreement to purchase Vancouver-based children's content producer Nerd Corps Entertainment Inc. for $57 million. Halifax-based DHX, a broadcaster and producer of television programming, said in a press release that Nerd Corps is the creator of several popular children's shows, including Slugterra, one of the most popular programs on Disney XD in Canada and the United States. Assets gained by the deal include an animation studio in Vancouver, more than 200 half-hours of children's content, interactive apps and licensing opportunities...
CRTC approves DHX purchase of Astral kids’ channels
Media | 07/24/2014 7:29 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. has been approved to purchase four kids' television channels from BCE Inc., the CRTC said on its website Thursday. The channels being taken over by DHX are the English- and French-language versions of Disney Junior, Disney XD and Family Channel. DHX announced the $170-million deal in November. The sale...
Former CRTC vice-chair joins DHX board
Media | 05/21/2014 2:15 pm EDT
David Colville, a former vice-chairman and commissioner with the CRTC, has been appointed to the board of directors for television content creator and distributor DHX Media Ltd. The company said in a press release Tuesday that...
DHX Media buys Degrassi creator Epitome
Media | 04/04/2014 1:06 pm EDT
DHX Media Ltd. said Thursday it is has bought Epitome Pictures Inc., the Canadian television producer best known for its Degrassi franchise. DHX, based in Halifax, said in a press release it will pay about $33 million for...
DHX Media reports tenfold increase in earnings
Media | 02/14/2014 9:20 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. on Thursday reported net earnings for its last quarter that were about 10 times what it made one year earlier. The Halifax-based producer and licenser of television content said in a press release that net earnings...
Regulatory protection for content producers expected in DHX-Bell deal
Media | 11/28/2013 9:46 pm EST
DHX Media Ltd. will ensure other independent children’s TV producers maintain access to four former Astral Media Inc. channels after reaching a $170-million deal to purchase those channels from BCE Inc., DHX president Steven DeNure said. Halifax-based DHX said in a release Thursday that it had reached a deal to...