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DHX Media to sell Halifax Animation Studio to focus and streamline its production operations

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From a media release:

DHX Media (or the “Company”) (TSX: DHX, NASDAQ: DHXM), a global children’s content and brands company, has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Halifax animation studio. The sale is part of the Company’s ongoing strategic shift to focus and streamline its production operations.

“The sale will generate operating efficiencies by consolidating animation production, and aligns with our objectives of rationalizing costs, simplifying our organization and focusing resources,” said Michael Donovan, CEO and Executive Chairman, DHX Media.

DHX Media is headquartered in Halifax. The sale does not include This Hour Has 22 Minutes, which continues to be owned by DHX Media and produced in Halifax.

The sale is expected to close on or about December 31, 2018, and is subject to customary closing conditions, applicable third party consents and the execution of certain ancillary agreements.

About DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX, NASDAQ: DHXM) is a global children’s content and brands company, recognized for such high-profile properties as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Inspector Gadget, and the acclaimed Degrassi franchise. One of the world’s foremost producers of children’s shows, DHX Media owns the world’s largest independent library of children’s content, at 13,000 half-hours. It licenses its content to broadcasters and streaming services worldwide and generates royalties through its global consumer products program. Through its subsidiary, WildBrain, DHX Media operates one of the largest networks of children’s channels on YouTube. Headquartered in Canada, DHX Media has offices worldwide.

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Industry News

CBC’s Heather Conway announces her departure

From a media release:

Heather Conway, Executive Vice President of CBC, has announced her departure from the public broadcaster to pursue other opportunities. She will remain in her role until December 7, 2018.

“Heather has been instrumental in spearheading CBC’s digital transformation on all of our platforms and across all genres, helping us meet our goal of doubling our digital reach, two years ahead of schedule,” said Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada. “She has been passionate about reflecting Canadian diversity in our content, ensuring that it is more distinctly and identifiably Canadian.

“It has been a privilege to serve Canadians and Canadian creators and to lead the incredible public broadcasters who work at CBC.  The experience and the CBC will be with me always, as the CBC always has been and should always be for all of us,” said Heather Conway.

“I am thinking about next steps in terms of how I will go about filling this very important position. In the meantime I look forward to continuing to work with Heather and her team over the next month to ensure a smooth transition,” concluded Tait.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

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Industry News

OMNI Television original Mangoes: A Slice of Life joins programming slate, premiering Nov. 11

From a media release:

Friendship is a bond that knows no borders. Based on the popular web series Mangoes, Mangoes: A Slice of Life tells a globally relevant story with a uniquely Canadian perspective. It follows the adventures of three millennials with South Asian backgrounds as they explore the true potential of life in Canada, premiering Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on OMNI Television (check local listings). Co-created, co-produced, and starring real-life brothers Adeel and Khurram Suhrwardy as Sami and Rakay, respectively, the six all-new 30-minute episodes are available in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi for OMNI’s multicultural audiences.

Mangoes: A Slice of Life follows the adventures, emotions and experiences of three unlikely friends, including Asha (Maha Warsi), a fiercely independent woman and psychology student from India; Sami (Adeel Suhrwardy), a sensitive, well-educated immigrant from Pakistan struggling to find a job in his field; and Rakay (Khurram Suhrwardy), a hopeless romantic – and often irresponsible – MBA student from Pakistan. Picking up two years after the web series dropped off, the new episodes see dramatic developments as Asha gets engaged to be married, Sami lands a job at a corporate firm, and Rakay settles down from his loose lifestyle. Through unrelated events, the trio connect in Toronto and navigate the unfamiliar challenges of being a young immigrant in a new country.

Based on one of the world’s most-watched Canadian web series, Mangoes: A Slice of Life is filmed in Toronto and with its diverse cast, the series will continue to bring light to the shifting makeup of Canada’s urban centres and growing class of multicultural audiences.

Audiences will have access to full episodes on OMNITV.ca next day post-broadcast, as well as on Rogers on Demand.

Mangoes: A Slice of Life is produced in association with OMNI Television, a division of Rogers Media. Co-created and co-produced by Adeel Suhrwardy and Khurram Suhrwardy.

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Industry News

Corus Entertainment announces retirement of EVP and Chief Operating officer, Barb Williams

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) (“Corus Entertainment” or the “Company”) today announced that Barb Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will be retiring from Corus Entertainment effective October 31, 2018, following the launch of another set of powerful fall schedules across Global and the Company’s many specialty television channels.

Since joining Corus Entertainment as part of the Company’s acquisition of Shaw Media on April 1, 2016, Ms. Williams has played a key role in the successful integration of the two companies and creating a compelling vision for the future. During her time with Corus Entertainment, Ms. Williams has also led and developed a strong and highly experienced leadership team, all of whom are now well positioned to lead the business into the future. As a result, Corus Entertainment will not be replacing the role of Chief Operating Officer.

Ms. Williams, a widely recognized and long-time leader in Canada’s broadcast industry, will be celebrated on November 8, 2018, with a Hall of Fame award for lifetime achievement from the Ontario Association of Broadcasters.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that creates and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. The company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses 44 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a global content business, digital assets, live events, children’s book publishing, animation software, technology and media services. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Canada, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, National Geographic, Q107, CKNW, Fresh Radio, Disney Channel Canada, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada.

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Industry News, Knights of Panterra

Link: The Jim Henson Company boards fantasy drama ‘Knights of Panterra’

From Etan Vlessing of The Hollywood Reporter:

Link: The Jim Henson Company boards fantasy drama ‘Knights of Panterra’
The Jim Henson Company, the puppet-based production house behind Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, has come on board Knights of Panterra, a Canadian live-action series based on the Dino Knights kids books by Jeff Norton. Continue reading. 

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