DHX Media

DHX Media Ltd.
Public
Traded as TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B
NASDAQ: DHXM
Industry Television production, broadcasting
Predecessors Decode Entertainment
Halifax Film Company
Studio B Productions
Cookie Jar Group
DIC Entertainment
Founded 2006 (2006)
Headquarters 1478 Queen Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2H7
Number of locations
 10[1]
Key people
Number of employees
 est.1000 (2015)[2]
Divisions
  • DHX Studios
  • DHX Brands
  • DHX Distribution
  • DHX Television
Subsidiaries
Website dhxmedia.com

DHX Media is a Canadian media production, distribution and broadcasting company. Formed in 2006 by the merger of Decode Entertainment and the Halifax Film Company, the company is a prominent producer and international distributor of children's television.

Following a number of acquisitions, its library grew to include those of Cookie Jar Entertainment (which, in turn, consisted of the libraries of Cinar, DIC Entertainment, Coliseum and FilmFair), Epitome Pictures, Ragdoll Productions, Studio B Productions, WildBrain, Nerd Corps Entertainment, Colossal Pictures and Iconix Brand Group along with those of DHX's two predecessors, Decode Entertainment and Halifax Film Company. DHX Media is the largest independent owner of children's television programming in the industry.[3]

In 2013, DHX entered the broadcasting industry with its acquisition of the Canadian specialty television channel Family Channel, and its three spin-off services, from Astral Media as part of Astral's acquisition by Bell Media.

History

Decode Entertainment

Decode Entertainment
Industry Television production, broadcasting
Fate Merged with Halifax Film Company and rebranded as DHX Studios Toronto
Successor DHX Media
Founded 1997 (1997)
Defunct 2011 (2011)
Owner DHX Media
Website www.dhxmedia.com

Decode Entertainment was established 1997 by Steven DeNure, Neil Court and John Delmage. This company produced shows such as Radio Free Roscoe, Weird-Oh's, Naturally, Sadie, The Zack Files, Angela Anaconda, Undergrads, The Hoobs, Chop Socky Chooks, Waybuloo, Bromwell High, Planet Sketch, The Adrenaline Project, Be the Creature, The Blobheads, Grandpa in My Pocket, How to Be Indie, The Latest Buzz, Our Hero, That's So Weird, Clang Invasion, Delilah and Julius, Dudson's Modern Tales, Freaky Stories, Girlstuff/Boystuff, Kid vs. Kat, King, Rastamouse, Naughty Naughty Pets, Olliver's Adventures, Rainbow Fish,The Side Show Christmas, Urban Vermin, Watership Down, Little Ninjas Karate, What About Mimi?, Animal Mechanicals, Bo on the Go!, Dirtgirlworld, Franny's Feet, The Mighty Jungle, Poko, Poppets Town, The Save-Ums and Plumo's Mysteries. Since Then, the company has grown to become one of the largest and most important international suppliers of television and interactive programming for children and youth.

Under their current name. DHX Toronto currently co-produce Super WHY! with New York City-based Out of the Blue Enterprises for PBS Kids in the USA and Kids' CBC in Canada. They also currently co-produce Emma's Theatre for Disney Junior in the USA & Kids' CBC in Canada.

Halifax Film Company

Halifax Film Company
Private
Industry Television production, broadcasting
Fate Merged with Decode Entertainment and rebranded as DHX Studios Halifax
Successor DHX Media
Founded 2004 (2004)
Defunct 2010 (2010)
Owner DHX Media
Website www.dhxmedia.com

Halifax Film Company was established by former Salter Street Films executives Michael Donovan and Charles Bishop in May 2004.[4] The company produced television shows such as the satirical comedy This Hour Has 22 Minutes (begun as a Salter Street production); children's stop-motion series such as Poko and Lunar Jim; CGI productions such as Bo on the Go!, The Mighty Jungle and Animal Mechanicals; as well as the dramas The Guard and North/South.

As DHX Media

In 2006, Decode Entertainment and Halifax Film Company merged to form a public company known as DHX Media; the name derives from the combination of the names Decode and Halifax from the 2006 merger between Decode Entertainment and Halifax Film Company.[5][6] Studio B Productions got acquired by, and became a subsidiary of DHX Media on December 4, 2007.[7]

A reverse merger deal with Entertainment One was considered in 2008, but got dropped in 2008 as well.[8] On March 25, 2008, DHX Media acquired Bulldog Interactive Fitness.[9] On September 8, 2010, all related subsidiaries and divisions were rebranded under the label DHX Media.[10] On September 14, 2010, DHX Media acquired WildBrain.[11]

On August 20, 2012, it was announced that DHX Media would acquire Cookie Jar for $111 million, a deal which would make DHX the world's largest independent owner of children's television programming.[12][13] The acquisition of Cookie Jar Group by DHX Media closed on October 22, 2012.[3]

In May 2013, DHX introduced three premium, subscription-based channels on YouTube; DHX Junior, DHX Kids, and DHX Retro. DHX executive Michael Hirsh explained that the offerings were meant to leverage the company's library and the growth of digital distribution in the children's television market. DHX was among the first 30 content partners for YouTube's premium channel platform.[14][15]

Ragdoll Worldwide, a joint venture between Ragdoll Productions, BBC Worldwide and an investment group that manages and licenses Ragdoll programming, was bought by DHX on September 16, 2013 for $27.7 million.[16]

On November 28, 2013, DHX announced that it would acquire four children's specialty television channels from the former Astral Media for $170 million, consisting of Family Channel, Disney Junior (English), Disney Junior (French), and Disney XD. The networks were being sold as a condition of Bell Media's 2013 acquisition of the remainder of Astral Media's assets; its purchase of the networks marked DHX's first foray into television broadcasting.[17][18] The deal was approved by the CRTC on July 24, 2014, and closed on July 31, 2014.[19] The channels were incorporated into a new unit, DHX Television.[20]

In early 2014, DHX Media acquired Epitome Pictures, the producers of Degrassi, but Epitome did not own international distribution rights. In November, DHX purchased the rights to 117 titles from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, the US distributor that owned the international distribution rights to Degrassi, Instant Star and The L.A. Complex, two other Epitome productions plus 117 children’s and family series consisting of about 1,200 half-hours and another 34 series' distribution rights. Other shows in the purchase included Lunar Jim, Beast Wars: Transformers and Emily of New Moon.[21] Nerd Corps Entertainment, a Canadian animation studio founded by former Mainframe Entertainment producers Asaph Fipke and Chuck Johnson, also the makers of Slugterra, was acquired by DHX Media on December 24.[22]

In April 2015, Corus Entertainment announced that it had acquired Canadian rights to the program library of Disney Channel and its associated brands as part of a deal with the Disney–ABC Television Group; DHX's existing deal with Disney, which covered programming across the four DHX Television services, ended in January 2016. DHX's Disney-branded channels were re-branded as Family Jr., Family Chrgd, and Télémagino.[23][24][25]

In August 2015, DHX reached an output deal with AwesomenessTV; the deal includes rights to its programming for Family Channel, along with plans to co-develop new, original content for DHX to distribute and merchandise internationally.[23][26]

In December 2015, DHX reached an output deal with DreamWorks Animation, which included Canadian rights to its original animated television series, and a pact to co-produce 130 episodes of animated programming for the Family networks, with DHX handling Canadian distribution and DreamWorks handling international distribution.[27]

On December 15, 2015, DHX signed a deal with Mattel, to handle global sales of Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Little People and Polly Pocket, DHX would also produce new productions on the properties.[28]

On September 21, 2016, DHX cut a deal with Air Bud Entertainment (founded by Robert Vince) distribute the Air Bud library of 15 films, including the newest Air Bud production Pup Star.[29]

On May 10, 2017, DHX announced that it had acquired the entertainment division of Iconix Brand Group for $345 million. The purchase was closed on June 30, 2017, gives DHX rights to the Strawberry Shortcake franchise, and also, more prominently, the 80% majority stake of Peanuts Worldwide, the owner of the Peanuts franchise.[30]

Libraries

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Profile: DHX Media Ltd (DHXb.TO)". Reuters.com. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/dhx-acquires-nerd-corps-to-create-700-employee-canadian-mega-studio-106483.html
  3. 1 2 Sylvain, Matthew (October 23, 2012). "DHX purchase of Cookie Jar completed". KidScreen. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  4. ↑ Bracken, Laura (September 13, 2004). "Salter team reborn at Halifax Film Company". PlayBack. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  5. ↑ DeMott, Rick (May 22, 2006). "DECODE and Halifax Film Go Public as DHX Media". Animation World Network. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  6. ↑ Stewart, Lianne (June 1, 2006). "Decode teams with Halifax Film Company to create DHX Media". KidScreen. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  7. ↑ Ball, Ryan (December 5, 2007). "DHX Media Acquires Studio B Prods.". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  8. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (2010-09-14). "DHX buys Wildbrain for $8 million". The Hollywood Reporter. AP. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ Rusak, Gary (March 24, 2008). "DHX purchases Bulldog Interactive Fitness". KidScreen. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  10. ↑ McLean, Thomas J. (September 9, 2010). "DHX Media Rebrands Across Divisions". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  11. ↑ Schneider, Michael (September 14, 2010). "DHX Media acquires Wildbrain". Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  12. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (August 20, 2012). "DHX Media expands by buying Cookie Jar Entertainment". KidScreen. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  13. ↑ Clarke, Steve (August 20, 2012). "DHX grabs Cookie Jar: Canuck kids' entertainment companies combine". Chicago Tribune (Variety). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  14. ↑ Zahed, Ramin (May 12, 2013). "DHX Media Sets Up Three YouTube Pay Channels". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ "YouTube’s 30 Pay-Channel Partners Run from Kid Fare to Cage Matches". Variety. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Wendy Goldman Getzler (2013-09-16). "DHX Media purchases Ragdoll for US$27.7 million". Kidscreen. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  17. ↑ "DHX Media to buy Family, other children’s channels". Toronto Star. November 28, 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  18. ↑ "DHX to acquire Family Channel, three others from Bell Media". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. November 28, 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  19. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (July 25, 2014). "DHX Media approved for Family Channel takeover". KidScreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  20. ↑ "DHX Media closes Family Channel acquisition and announces management changes". Canada Newswire. July 31, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  21. ↑ Franks, Nico (November 20, 2014). "DHX takes Echo Bridge titles". c21media. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  22. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (December 2, 2014). "Canada's DHX Media to Acquire Cartoon Maker Nerd Corps". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  23. 1 2 "DHX to Bring AwesomenessTV Shows to Canadian Television". Variety. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  24. ↑ Dickson, Jeremy (August 21, 2015). "DHX TV reveals fall skeds for rebranded channels". Kid Screen. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Corus Entertainment snaps up Disney content from DHX Media, plans to launch Disney channel in Canada". Financial Post. Postmedia Network. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Family Channel's new teen block F2N launches January 4 with the premiere of Degrassi: Next Class" (Press release). CNW. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  27. ↑ "DreamWorks Animation Inks Strategic Content Pact With DHX Media". Deadline.com. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  28. 1 2 "DHX Media and Mattel Launch Partnership on Kids Content". DHX Media. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  29. ↑ "DHX Media signs distribution deal with Air Bud Entertainment". Licensing.biz. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  30. 1 2 "DHX Media Acquires ‘Peanuts’ in $345 Million Purchase of Iconix". Variety. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  31. ↑ "Cookie Jar, DIC Entertainment to Merge". Broadcasting & Cable. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  32. ↑ "COOKIE JAR ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS BRAND PORTFOLIO, TALENT AND GLOBAL REACH WITH CLOSING OF DIC TRANSACTION". Cookie Jar Group. 2008-07-23. Archived from the original on 2009-05-31. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  33. ↑ "CINAR Completes Acquisition of FilmFair" (Press release). CINAR Films, Inc. 26 November 1996. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  34. ↑ Kelly, Brendan (February 9, 1999). "Cinar gets library, grows Viacom pact". Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  35. ↑ DHX Media acquires library of children's and family TV content
  36. ↑ "DHX Media Acquires 'Degrassi' Producer Epitome". www.dhxmedia.com. DHX Media. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  37. ↑ Houpt, Simon. "DHX Media Buys Degrassi TV Studio". www.theglobeandmail.com. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Canada's DHX Media to Acquire Nerd Corps". Toonzone. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  39. ↑ "Teletubbies owner bought by Canadian firm DHX Media". The Guardian (London). 16 September 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  40. ↑ DHX Media (December 4, 2007). "DHX Media acquires Studio B Productions Inc." (Press release). Canada Newswire. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  41. ↑ Ball, Ryan (December 5, 2007). "DHX Media Acquires Studio B Prods.". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  42. ↑ Loveday, Samantha (December 4, 2007). "DHX Media buys up Studio B". Licensing.biz. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  43. ↑ Schneider, Michael (September 14, 2010). "DHX Media acquires Wildbrain". Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  44. ↑ "DHX Media signs distribution deal with Air Bud Entertainment". Licensing.biz. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
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