WildBrain

Corporate History and Evolution

WildBrain originated in May 2006 from the merger of Toronto's Decode Entertainment and Halifax's Halifax Film Company, forming DHX Media. The new public company aimed to leverage capital for expansion and establish a consumer products licensing division. Early acquisitions set the stage for growth, including Bulldog Interactive Fitness in 2008 and the American animation studio WildBrain Entertainment in 2010, which later inspired the corporate rebrand. A major deal occurred in 2012 with the CA$111 million acquisition of Cookie Jar Group, which greatly expanded DHX's library and made it the world's largest independent owner of children's television content. This was followed by the purchase of Ragdoll Worldwide in 2013, bringing properties like Teletubbies and In the Night Garden into the fold.

The company diversified into broadcasting in 2014 by acquiring four children's specialty channels from Bell Media, including Family Channel. This move marked DHX's first entry into television network ownership. Further studio acquisitions that year included Epitome Pictures, known for Degrassi, and the computer animation studio Nerd Corps Entertainment. A significant strategic shift came in 2017 with the US$345 million acquisition of Iconix Brand Group's entertainment division, granting DHX an 80% stake in Peanuts Worldwide and full ownership of Strawberry Shortcake. Following this deal, the company faced increased debt and undertook a strategic review, ultimately deciding against a sale and choosing to prioritize digital content investments.

In August 2019, under new CEO Eric Ellenbogen, DHX Media announced a corporate rebrand to WildBrain, aligning itself with its successful London-based multi-channel network. The change was finalized at the December shareholder meeting. The company continued to refine its portfolio, acquiring distribution rights to Jay Ward Productions in 2022 and the Toronto pre-production studio House of Cool in 2023. A significant strategic pivot began in late 2024, as WildBrain announced the sale of a majority stake in its television operations and, following carriage disputes with Bell and Rogers, decided to close all its Canadian linear specialty channels in 2025. This exit from broadcasting allowed the company to focus on its core production and licensing businesses and simplified its share structure by removing foreign ownership restrictions.

Major Acquisitions and Portfolio Growth

WildBrain's expansive library and brand portfolio are the direct result of a series of calculated acquisitions over nearly two decades. Each purchase added significant intellectual property and production capability, transforming the company from a production studio into a global entertainment leader. The strategy focused on securing well-known franchises with enduring appeal and cross-generational recognition. Key acquisitions that built the WildBrain library include:

• WildBrain Entertainment (2010): Acquired for its production capability and shows like Yo Gabba Gabba!, the studio's name would later inspire the corporate rebrand.
• Cookie Jar Group (2012): This CA$111 million deal was a landmark, making DHX the largest independent owner of children's TV and adding libraries including Inspector Gadget.
• Ragdoll Worldwide (2013): Purchased for US$27.7 million, this brought global rights to popular preschool brands Teletubbies and In the Night Garden.
• Iconix Brand Group Entertainment Division (2017): The US$345 million acquisition granted an 80% stake in Peanuts Worldwide and full control of Strawberry Shortcake.
• House of Cool (2023): Acquired for CA$18.3 million, this Toronto-based pre-production studio specialized in design and storyboards.
• Personality AI (2026): Acquired for US$11 million, representing a move into new technology areas.

The company also strategically managed its stakes in major properties. In 2018, it sold a 39% stake in Peanuts to Sony Music Entertainment Japan for US$185 million to reduce debt. Later, in December 2025, WildBrain sold its remaining holdings in Peanuts Worldwide to Sony Pictures for US$457 million, granting Sony full ownership outside of the Schulz family's stake. As part of this agreement, WildBrain retained its role in producing Peanuts content for Apple TV+ and its licensing agency continued to represent the brand in key international markets.

Business Divisions and Strategic Pillars

As of 2026, WildBrain has organized its operations into three core strategic pillars designed to drive sustainable growth: Franchise and Global Licensing, Content, and the WildBrain Network. This structure supports a 360-degree strategy for building fandom around its intellectual property through brand activations, consumer products, location-based entertainment, content production, and scaled distribution. The Franchise and Global Licensing pillar is a primary growth driver, managed by Executive Vice President Ben Peace, and it encompasses the direct management of WildBrain's owned franchises like Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, and Degrassi. This pillar also includes the global licensing agency WildBrain CPLG, which represents both WildBrain's brands and third-party properties worldwide, with Chief Commercial Officer Maarten Weck leading the agency's expansion and partnership efforts.

The Content pillar, led by Chief Content Officer Stephanie Betts, oversees all development and production, integrating WildBrain Studios in Vancouver, the digital studio, the House of Cool pre-production business, and live-action production. Leadership within this pillar was restructured in 2026, with Ricardo Curtis becoming Head of Creative, Animation and Wes Lui taking on the role of SVP, Business Development, Animation. This integrated approach aims to produce franchise-driven content at scale while responding to platform and audience trends, responsible for creating premium animation, live-action, and digital-first content for WildBrain's own brands and for global partners. The WildBrain Network pillar focuses on digital distribution, primarily through the WildBrain London multi-channel network, programming children's content on platforms like YouTube and representing a significant revenue stream and a direct channel to global audiences.

Production Studios and Global Operations

WildBrain's production engine is a fundamental part of its business, creating content that fuels its franchises and serves partner brands. The flagship production arm is WildBrain Studios, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, which consolidates the company's animation production capabilities. In early 2024, the company announced plans to downsize and relocate its Vancouver studio within 2026, citing the adoption of work-from-home practices, and the studio has produced numerous original series and continues to be a hub for premium animation. In July 2023, WildBrain completed the acquisition of House of Cool, a Toronto-based pre-production studio specializing in design, storyboards, and visual development for series, films, and commercials, with co-founders Ricardo Curtis and Wes Lui joining WildBrain as co-general managers.

WildBrain distributes television shows and specials from its library to various media platforms on a territory by territory basis. The company maintains distribution offices in Toronto, Beijing, Los Angeles, New York, London, and Paris. WildBrain CPLG is a third party entertainment, sport and brand licensing agency headquartered in London with offices around the world. This subsidiary became part of WildBrain during the acquisition of Cookie Jar Entertainment.

Notable Franchises and Intellectual Property

WildBrain is a global leader in franchise management and is home to franchises such as Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Inspector Gadget. The company owns the largest independent library of children's television programming, which includes assets from acquisitions like Cookie Jar Group and Ragdoll Productions. WildBrain's portfolio drives its content production, licensing, and digital engagement activities. Management of these owned properties is a central focus of the company's refined 2026 strategy.

• Strawberry Shortcake: Acquired in 2017, the brand approached its 50th anniversary in 2028 with new content and licensing partnerships announced in 2026.
• Teletubbies and In the Night Garden: Acquired via the Ragdoll Worldwide purchase in 2013, these are important properties for the preschool audience.
• Yo Gabba Gabba!: Originally produced by WildBrain Entertainment, this live-action music series remains a key brand.
• Inspector Gadget: This classic animated series came into the library through the 2012 acquisition of Cookie Jar Group.
• Degrassi: The long-running Canadian teen drama franchise, with rights acquired through Epitome Pictures in 2014.

In 2022, WildBrain acquired distribution, production, and licensing rights to the Jay Ward Productions portfolio. In 2016, DHX Media cut a deal with Air Bud Entertainment to distribute the Air Bud library of 15 films. WildBrain announced in December 2025 that it would sell the remainder of its holdings in Peanuts Worldwide to Sony Pictures. As part of that agreement, WildBrain will continue to produce and distribute Peanuts specials and films for Apple TV, and WildBrain CPLG will continue to serve as its licensing agent in the EMEA and Asia Pacific markets, excluding Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Financial Performance and Strategic Shifts

In May 2017, DHX Media acquired the entertainment division of Iconix Brand Group. Following this acquisition, the company's debt increased and it reported a net loss of CA 18.3 million during its fiscal fourth quarter. This prompted a strategic review of the company. The company's revenue grew from CA 298.7 million in its fiscal 2017 to CA 434.4 million in its fiscal 2018. The WildBrain Spark digital channel accounted for 70 million dollars of WildBrain's revenue in 2019.

The strategic decision to exit linear television broadcasting in 2025 was driven by carriage disputes with major Canadian distributors Bell and Rogers, which declined to renew agreements. CEO Josh Scherba stated the loss of carriage impacted the commercial viability of the channels but would have a minimal effect on the more profitable production and licensing operations, and this move also freed the company from Canadian foreign ownership restrictions, allowing for a simplified share structure. By May 2026, WildBrain outlined a refined strategic focus centred on growing the long-term value of its intellectual property, stating it was investing with confidence supported by a clean balance sheet and a seasoned leadership team, with the sale of its remaining Peanuts stake in late 2025 for US$457 million providing significant capital. The table below shows key financial and strategic milestones from the company's recent history.

Questions about WildBrain

What is WildBrain known for?

WildBrain is best known as a global company in family entertainment, owning and managing a vast library of popular children's franchises. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget, and Degrassi. The company is recognized for its 360-degree strategy that builds fandom through content production, consumer products licensing, and digital distribution. It also operates one of the largest children's multi-channel networks on YouTube through WildBrain London.

When was WildBrain founded and what was its original name?

WildBrain was founded in May 2006 under the name DHX Media, following the merger of Decode Entertainment and the Halifax Film Company. The company went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Alternative Investment Market. The name DHX was derived from a combination of 'Decode' and 'Halifax'. It operated under that name for over a decade before undergoing a corporate rebrand to WildBrain in 2019, building upon the success of its digital network of the same name.

Does WildBrain own the Peanuts franchise?

WildBrain acquired an 80% stake in Peanuts Worldwide in 2017 through its purchase of the Iconix Brand Group's entertainment division. However, the company later divested its ownership. It sold a 39% stake to Sony Music Entertainment Japan in 2018 and sold its remaining holdings to Sony Pictures in December 2025 for US$457 million. As part of the final agreement, WildBrain continues to produce new Peanuts specials and films for Apple TV+ and its licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG, continues to represent the brand in many international markets.

What happened to the Family Channel in Canada?

WildBrain, then DHX Media, acquired Family Channel and three other children's networks from Bell Media in 2014. These channels became part of its broadcasting division, DHX Television. After carriage disputes with major Canadian distributors Bell and Rogers, who declined to renew their agreements, WildBrain announced in August 2025 that it would close all its Canadian linear specialty channels, including Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, and Télémagino. The company stated the loss of carriage impacted their commercial viability, and it chose to focus on its more profitable production and licensing businesses instead.

What are WildBrain's main business divisions?

As of 2026, WildBrain organizes its operations into three main strategic pillars. The Franchise and Global Licensing pillar manages owned brands like Strawberry Shortcake and operates the global licensing agency WildBrain CPLG. The Content pillar oversees all development and production across animation, digital, and live-action, including WildBrain Studios and House of Cool. The WildBrain Network pillar focuses on digital distribution, primarily through the WildBrain London multi-channel network on platforms like YouTube. This structure supports the company's integrated approach to building entertainment franchises.

Where is WildBrain headquartered?

WildBrain is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The company maintains production facilities in Vancouver, British Columbia, and a pre-production studio, House of Cool, in Toronto. Its global operations include distribution offices in Beijing, Los Angeles, New York, London, and Paris. The company's large licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG, is headquartered in London, England, with additional offices around the world. WildBrain's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'WILD'.

Sources and further reading

• WildBrain (Wikipedia)
• WildBrain provides an update on strategic focus to ... (wildbrain.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.