Canada’s Corus strikes overall deal with Dominion of Drama, launches Waterside Studios

Jeff Norton

Canada’s Corus Entertainment has struck an overall deal with UK-Canadian prodco Dominion of Drama and appointed its founder Jeff Norton as the head of its new label, Waterside Studios.

Waterside Studios is a new IP and production venture focused on bringing premium scripted Canadian content for youth and primetime audiences to the Canadian and international marketplace.

Norton has a long creative history with Corus, most recently serving as a consultant and previously as executive producer of Trucktown for Nelvana. He also co-wrote the novel Keeping the Beat, which was one of the launch titles for KCP Loft, Kids Can Press’ young adult imprint.

“Jeff’s creativity, business acumen, and international focus will help propel our content ownership strategy as we pursue production and distribution opportunities for Corus’ best-in-class creative content,” said Colin Bohm, EVP of content and corporate strategy, Corus Entertainment.

The deal with Dominion of Drama includes the option of several titles including The Last Wish Of Sasha Cade, Elements At War, The Wanderer, A Switch In Time, and Action Figures.

As well as working with independent producers, Waterside Studios will also join forces with Candadian children’s producer and distributor Nelvana, to bring a slate of live-action programming into Corus’ overall content offering for global audiences. Norton will also focus on adapting books for kids and youth audiences..

“Nelvana has experienced great success with our Emmy-nominated live action series The Hardy Boys, which engaged audiences around the world on Hulu, YTV and Disney+,” said Pam Westman, President of Nelvana. “We are excited to build on Nelvana’s 50-year legacy of producing best-in-class content for kids internationally as we further invest in producing live action content in collaboration with Jeff Norton and Waterside Studios.”

This latest deal for Corus follows its acquisition of a majority stake in Aircraft Pictures, the Toronto-based firm behind Hulu’s Holly Hobbie and animated feature The Breadwinner, earlier this year.