EOne expands unscripted portfolio with acquisition of Blackfin

Finding Escobar’s Millions

Production and distribution group Entertainment One (eOne), itself a recent acquisition by My Little Pony owner Hasbro, has struck a deal to buy US unscripted outfit Blackfin.

Geno McDermott, founder and CEO of the prodco, will now oversee US alternative programming for eOne as president as part of the deal, reporting into global unscripted TV chief Tara Long.

Blackfin was founded in 2014 and has been behind shows such as Finding Escobar’s Millions, as well as Primal Instinct and feature doc My Perfect World: The Aaron Hernandez Story. Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

It adds another string to eOne’s burgeoning unscripted division, following deals earlier this year for companies including UK outfit Daisybeck Studios. The company also recently named London-based execs Matt Pritchard and Matt Walton as exec VP’s of unscripted TV.

Long said eOne was “eager to bring Geno’s entrepreneurial hustle to the eOne team. I am excited to have Geno’s focus, drive and business acumen as part of our arsenal to continue building the future of eOne’s unscripted slate.”

Blackfin will join eOne’s unscripted division that already includes Creature Films, Marwar Junction Productions and Fired Up Films.

The deal comes just weeks after Hasbro acquired eOne in a surprise $4bn all-cash deal. The acquisition will see the US play and entertainment brand – which is the parent company of brands such as My Little Pony, Transformers and Power Rangers – adding eOne’s global brands such as Peppa Pig and PJ Masks to its portfolio, along with an extensive film and TV business that includes TV titles such as Sharp Objects, Deputy and The Rookie.