Entertainment One acquires Canadian producers including Blueprint

Canadian film distributor Entertainment One has acquired a number of independent TV companies including producers Blueprint Entertainment, Barna-Alper and distributor Oasis International.

The deal allows listed company Entertainment One to expand its library of television content to over 2,800 hours and focus on international TV sales.

Entertainment One has paid C$51.5m (US$50m) for the three companies, marking the latest round of consolidation in the Canadian industry.

Blueprint produces shows such as comedy Kenny vs Spenny and Til Death Do Us Part, while Barna-Alper produces dramas including Da Vinci’s Inquest and factual fare such as Turning Points of History. Oasis International, which was acquired by Blueprint in 2007, distributes dramas such as ReGenesis and kids series such as Screech Owls.

Bosses at all three companies – Blueprint’s John Morayniss and Noreen Halpern, Barna-Alper’s Laszlo Barna and Oasis International’s Peter Emerson – will remain at the newly merged company.