TBI Weekly: Uncertainty ahead for DHX

After weak quarterly financials, Canada’s DHX Media is eyeing a sale or merger of the business, which owns kids hits from the Teletubbies to In the Night Garden. The move was a shock to the wider children’s TV community.

The Canadian company’s revenue of C$298.7 million (US$239 million) missed analysts lowest estimates for its fourth quarter results. DHX CEO Dana Landry said that the Teletubbies particularly had underperformed for the business.

To maximise its shareholder value, its board of directors may provide options such as “the sale of part of or all of the company”, an asset sale,“a merger or other business combination with another party, or other strategic transactions”.

DHX was formed in 2006 when Decode Entertainment merged with Halifax Film Company. It has a library of 13,000 half-hours of shows including Degrassi, Caillou and Inspector Gadget.

Also in the news…

Pick has brokered a deal with NBCUniversal for the exclusive UK premiere rights of new true crime docs Three Days to Live and Homicide For the Holidays.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment has signed a deal with Canadian pubcaster CBC for new thriller The Lock.

Italian market MIA revealed details of its 2017 event, with talent such as Daniel Dae Kim, Frank Spotnitz, Chris Brancato and David Levine confirmed to attend. There will also be an Italian screenings segment for the first time.

UKTV has acquired historical drama The White Princess from Lionsgate for its thematic channel, Drama.

Idris Elba comedy In the Long Run is set to become the latest Sky original production, arriving at Sky 1 in the near future.

Gaumont signed a first-look television deal with J.C. Chandor, the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, director and producer. In addition, the Narcos creator has made a deal with StyleHaul and Verizon’s go90 for millennial drama Relationship Status.

London-based Starline Entertainment will be in Cannes pre-selling six-part Irish docu-drama series Ireland’s Greatest Loves, which comes from Bo Media.

Armoza Formats singing competition The Final Four has been acquired in Turkey by Karga Seven Pictures.

Ovrture, the digital media and virtual reality division of 44 Blue Productions, is set to work with TV food personality Adam Richman for interactive travel VR miniseries Adam’s Highways and Byways.

DCD Rights has signed a deal with AMC Network’s channel WE tv for 30 hours of new reality content including Mama June: From Not to Hot.

Hat Trick International’s Rich House Poor House has been signed by SAT.1 in Germany, SBS6 in the Netherlands, Nice in Denmark, Newen in France and BlazHoffski in Belgium.

Mammoth Screen’s World on Fire has been commissioned by BBC One.

French animation company Xilam has licensed 400 half-hours of preschool and kids’ content to Discovery Italy’s kids channel K2.

FremantleMedia International has completed a global distribution deal (excluding the US) with Zero Point Zero for doc Wasted! The Story of Food Waste.

The week’s top TBI stories:

• The Grand Tour beat rivals across Europe
• DHX eyeing sale or merger after shares plummet
• Blue Ant made a host of EMEA hires
• Amazon to ‘increase content spend again’
• Netflix agreed C$500m originals deal with Canada