TV & Film News – Lionsgate to acquire eOne in $500M deal

Lionsgate has confirmed it will acquire eOne from Hasbro in a transaction valued at approximately $500 million. Under the agreement, Lionsgate acquires eOne’s 6,500-title film and television library, including features and series like 1917, Atomic Blonde, Green Book, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and Designated Survivor, as well as its film division, and scripted and unscripted television business, powered by The Rookie TV franchise, Showtime’s Yellowjackets, and long-running reality series Naked & Afraid. As part of the deal, Lionsgate also acquires film development rights to Hasbro’s Monopoly, based on the iconic board game. Lionsgate says the eOne acquisition will allow it to continue to scale its operations in the UK and Canada, where it has recently launched production partnerships with BBC Studios (Ghosts), Channel Four (Motherland), CBC (Son of A Critch), Rogers’ CityTV (Wong & Winchester) and Bell Media. Read more here.

WildBrain Television has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC putting forward an “undue” preference allegation against Bell. Heavily redacted, the complaint to the commission is in regard to the distribution of Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrain TV and Télémagino, alleging “disadvantageous treatment of the WildBrain services by Bell.” The application notes the highly competitive landscape for children’s programming, including foreign streaming services and Bell’s own CRAVE service, asserting that “by creating this disadvantage for the WildBrain Services, Bell is providing a direct advantage to the sole direct competitor to these services in English markets,” namely Corus Entertainment. The deadline for interventions is Sept. 8.

TIFF has announced Academy Award–winning directors Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee as the first honourees of this year’s Tribute Awards. Almodóvar will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant, and Lee, a cultural icon who has influenced generations of filmmakers, will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award. The 2023 Tribute Awards will take place Sunday, Sept. 10 during the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival at Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Now in its fifth year, past honourees include Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Chastain, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, and Taika Waititi, among others. 

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will air its eighth roadblock fundraising special, supporting research and new treatments for cancer, Saturday, Aug. 19. Debuting in a new format, the televised celebration entitled “How It Started, How It’s Going” will recognize SU2C’s impact and progress over the last 15 years. Celebrities making a special appearance include Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel, Don Cheadle, Katie Couric, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Julianne Moore, Tig Notaro, Jimmy Smits, and Justin Timberlake. A special segment will also feature Canadian broadcast personalities Yannick Bisson (CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries), Johnny Garbutt (Q107), Danielle Michaud (Sportsnet), and Sandie Rinaldo (CTV National News), who share their personal connections to cancer. The biennial special will air simultaneously on more than 50 participating media platforms across Canada and the U.S. with broadcasters carrying the show donating one hour of simultaneous commercial-free prime time. The telecast will also be available on-demand on several streaming platforms.

Boman Martinez-Reid is set to star in newly-ordered Crave Original comedy series, Made for TV with Boman Martinez-Reid. The six-episode, 30-minute comedy series is produced by Alibi Entertainment. Fusing elements of sitcoms, mockumentaries, and reality shows, each episode follows Martinez-Reid as he tackles a new genre of television with the help of celebrity advisors and “real” people. The Canadian actor and producer’s TikTok persona and parodies of reality TV have catapulted him to 2M followers and landed him a judging spot on Canada’s Drag Race. The series is set to shoot on location in Toronto, with additional casting details to be announced.

WildBrain is announcing new deals across distribution and consumer-products licensing for Emmy Award-winning animation action-adventure series Carmen Sandiego, produced by HarperCollins Productions and WildBrain’s animation studio in Vancouver. In distribution deals, WildBrain has inked new partnerships for seasons one to four (33 x 30’ total) with RTS (Switzerland), TVNZ (New Zealand), BIGI Channel (Israel), Edel Music and Entertainment (Germany), and SIC K and Txillo (Portugal). In global consumer products, WildBrain CPLG, the company’s licensing agency, has signed a new partnership with Threadless for a wide range of products across apparel, home décor, bedding, headwear, bags, accessories, hosiery, skateboards and decks; a deal with The Loyal Subjects for fashion dolls and figurines, and a new digital audio product with Tonies. 

Big Brother Canada, Global and Insight Productions have opened casting for Season 12. Coming to Global in Spring 2024, you can apply online at BigBrotherCanada.ca for the opportunity to become a #BBCAN12 houseguest. Season 25 of Big Brother is currently airing three nights a week on Global and STACKTV, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

TSN+, the new stand-alone digital streaming service from TSN, has introduced subscription options at $8/month or $80 annually. Access to TSN+ is included for those who subscribe directly to TSN through TSN.ca or the TSN app. The new subscription options are being made available in advance of the start of the 2023 NFL season. TSN+ is also the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live in Canada, providing more than 4,300 hours of coverage of PGA tournaments, highlighted by the FEDEXCUP Playoffs, taking place throughout the month of August and culminating with the Tour Championship beginning Aug. 24. 

A Beachcombers 50th Anniversary reunion will be held at Molly’s Reach in Gibsons, B.C., Sept. 15-17. Hosted by former cast member Jackson Davies and Friends of the Beachcombers, the event is open to former cast, crew and fans. Events will include screenings, meet and greets, location tours, and more.