TORONTO – 9 Story Media Group is buying Breakthrough Entertainment’s kids and family library and development slate in a move that will boost its total distribution library to more than 3,500 half hours.
Financial terms were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close within the next 30 days.
Under the terms of the agreement, 9 Story will acquire 757 half hours of animated and live action kids and family content, plus take over Breakthrough’s kids and family development slate and have the right to produce future seasons of these properties.
Breakthrough’s kids and family division was launched on the worldwide success of the series The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon and other properties include hit animated shows like Rocket Monkeys, Jimmy Two Shoes (pictured) and Captain Flamingo, book based properties such as Margaret Atwood’s Wandering Wenda and Gordon Korman’s Bruno & Boots, along with the acclaimed Anne of Green Gables movie series. The company has agreed to a three-year non-compete in the kids and family space but will complete its current kids and family production slate.
“Breakthrough has built an impressive catalogue of popular animated and live action kids and family content,” said 9 Story president and CEO Vince Commisso, in the news release. “The acquisition adds significant depth and breadth to our distribution library, expands our development slate and production opportunities, and solidifies our position as one of the industry’s top suppliers for kids and family content internationally. In particular, the deal increases 9 Story’s live action offering with top titles like Anne of Green Gables, Bruno & Boots and Max and Shred.”
“Breakthrough is honored to have our award-winning kids content, produced over the last 33 years, become part of 9 Story’s high quality kids and family library,” added Ira Levy, co-founder and president of Breakthrough Entertainment. “9 Story’s excellence in kids’ media is the perfect fit to continue the legacy of Breakthrough’s kids and family catalogue both domestically and in the international market.”
With facilities in Toronto, Dublin, and Manchester, 9 Story Media Group is a creator, producer and distributor of kids and family focused intellectual property.
