E1 Entertainment Canada

E1 Entertainment Canada refers to the Canadian film-distribution and production operation developed through the transformation of Records on Wheels and ROW Entertainment into Entertainment One. Its origins reach back to Records on Wheels Limited, a Canadian music distributor established in Toronto on June 1, 1973 by brothers Vito and Don Ierullo. After the business was acquired by the CD Plus retail chain in 2001, it expanded beyond music wholesale and home entertainment. Darren Throop, who had joined through CD Plus's acquisition of his Nova Scotian retail chain Urban Sound Exchange, became president and chief executive of the combined company. The company acquired the United States distributor Koch Entertainment in 2005 and subsequently operated as Entertainment One Income Fund. In 2007, a public-equity transaction backed by Marwyn Investment Management financed a major expansion and helped establish Entertainment One as an international film, television, music and home-entertainment group. Its Canadian screen business grew through the acquisition of Montreal-based Seville Pictures in 2007 and, most significantly, Alliance Films in 2013. The Alliance transaction expanded the Canadian operation's catalogue, distribution relationships and access to titles associated with companies including The Weinstein Company, Lionsgate, CBS Films, FilmDistrict and Focus Features. During the 2010s, eOne increasingly combined distribution with production, television sales and rights ownership. It also participated in a broad corporate acquisition programme involving companies in the United Kingdom, Australia, the Benelux region and the United States. Although the wider group operated internationally, Canada remained a central market and corporate base. In 2017, eOne consolidated its film and television studios as part of a strategy that placed greater emphasis on owned and produced content rather than simple acquisition and output-distribution arrangements. Hasbro completed its acquisition of Entertainment One on December 30, 2019, for approximately US$4 billion. Following the transaction, eOne became Hasbro's entertainment subsidiary, while its Canadian operations were structured to preserve eligibility for Canadian-content treatment. Hasbro subsequently reduced or reorganized parts of the business. The music division was sold to Blackstone in 2021 and became MNRK Music Group, while theatrical distribution operations in Canada were closed in 2022. The Canadian unit continued to acquire films for non-theatrical distribution after that closure. Hasbro announced in 2022 that it intended to sell most of eOne's film and television assets, retaining family and brands activities connected to Hasbro's consumer-products strategy. Lionsgate agreed to acquire the relevant assets in 2023, and the transaction closed on December 27, 2023. The former eOne film and television operations were reorganized within Lionsgate, with the film business placed under Lionsgate Films and television activities integrated into Lionsgate Television. The Canadian operation subsequently became associated with Lionsgate Canada. In May 2024, Lionsgate separated its studio business from Starz, creating Lionsgate Studios, the current parent of the former eOne Canadian screen assets.

The operation's history begins with Records on Wheels Limited, founded in Canada on June 1, 1973 by Vito and Don Ierullo as a music distributor. Its later acquisition by CD Plus in 2001 gave the business a larger wholesale platform and brought Darren Throop into its leadership. The combined organization adopted the ROW Entertainment identity and expanded into music and home entertainment, including the 2005 acquisition of Koch Entertainment in the United States. In 2007, the company accepted a public-equity transaction backed by Marwyn Investment Management and adopted the Entertainment One identity. It then pursued an international expansion strategy. Seville Pictures and Contender Entertainment Group were acquired in 2007, followed by RCV Entertainment, Blueprint Television, Barna-Alper Productions and Oasis International in 2008. The Canadian screen business was strengthened further by the acquisition of Alliance Films, completed in January 2013 after a bid announced in 2012. Alliance brought an established Canadian distribution operation and a portfolio of commercial and independent film relationships. The wider eOne group continued to acquire production, distribution and rights businesses through the middle of the decade. It invested in or acquired interests in companies including The Mark Gordon Company, Phase 4 Films, Paperny Entertainment, Force Four Entertainment, Astley Baker Davies, Amblin Partners, Sierra Pictures, Dualtone Music Group, Last Gang and various unscripted producers. In 2017, eOne consolidated its film and television studios, reflecting a strategic shift toward production and owned content. The Canadian operation formed part of this broader integrated screen-entertainment structure. Entertainment One was acquired by Hasbro on December 30, 2019. The Canadian operations were organized to retain Canadian-content eligibility, and eOne also became a development and distribution vehicle for programming connected with Hasbro properties. Hasbro later reduced the scope of the group: its music division was sold to Blackstone in 2021, and theatrical distribution in Canada was closed in 2022. The business retained some non-theatrical acquisition and distribution functions. Hasbro announced plans to sell most of eOne's film and television assets in November 2022. The transaction excluded the family-and-brands activities that Hasbro wanted to align with its consumer-products and licensing operations. After a competitive sale process, Lionsgate emerged as the buyer. The deal closed on December 27, 2023. The former eOne film and television operations were reorganized as Lionsgate businesses, with film activities placed under Lionsgate Films and television activities combined with Lionsgate Television. Lionsgate's studio assets, including the former eOne operations, became part of Lionsgate Studios after the studio separation in May 2024.

• 2024

  Assets included in Lionsgate Studios

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The former eOne studio assets became part of Lionsgate Studios after Lionsgate separated its studio business from Starz.

• 2023

  Lionsgate acquisition completed

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Lionsgate completed the purchase of most of eOne's film and television assets.

• 2022

  Canadian theatrical distribution closed

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The company ended Canadian theatrical distribution while retaining selected non-theatrical activities.

• 2019

  Hasbro acquisition completed

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Hasbro acquired Entertainment One and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.

• 2017

  Film and television studios consolidated

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  eOne combined its film and television studios to emphasize production and owned content.

• 2013

  Alliance Films acquisition completed

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  eOne completed its acquisition of Alliance Films, substantially increasing its Canadian film-distribution capabilities.

• 2007

  Entertainment One expansion begins

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the Entertainment One identity and acquired Seville Pictures and Contender Entertainment Group.

• 2005

  Koch Entertainment acquired

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The company expanded into United States music distribution and home entertainment through its acquisition of Koch Entertainment.

• 2001

  Acquisition by CD Plus

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  CD Plus acquired the business, which later became ROW Entertainment under Darren Throop's leadership.

• 1973

  Records on Wheels established

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Vito and Don Ierullo founded Records on Wheels Limited as a Canadian music distributor.

A Canadian-based screen-entertainment operation focused on acquiring, producing, distributing and licensing feature films and television programming, with particular strength in independent and international content.

• Film distribution

  Feature-film distribution

  The Canadian operation acquired and distributed feature films, particularly independent and internationally sourced titles. Before the 2022 theatrical closure, this included theatrical activity; afterward, selected rights were handled through non-theatrical and licensing channels.

• Television

  Television production and distribution

  eOne developed, produced and distributed scripted and unscripted television programming through an international network of production companies and rights businesses. The Canadian operation formed part of the group's broader television structure, later integrated into Lionsgate Television.

• Home entertainment

  Home entertainment releases

  The business handled physical and related home-entertainment distribution for films and television programming in Canada and other territories through group-level agreements and regional operations.

• Content licensing

  Film and television catalogue licensing

  A significant part of the operation involved managing rights, licensing programmes and exploiting acquired catalogues across theatrical, home-entertainment, broadcast and digital outlets.

• 2023

  Sale of eOne film and television assets to LionsgateM&A

  Background

  Hasbro sought to focus its media investment on family and franchise brands and therefore put most of eOne's film and television assets up for sale.

  Action taken

  Hasbro sold the relevant assets to Lionsgate in a transaction announced at US$500 million and completed on December 27, 2023.

  Aftermath

  The former eOne film and television businesses were integrated into Lionsgate Films and Lionsgate Television, with the Canadian operation associated with Lionsgate Canada.

  Transaction value. US$500 million (announced August 2023; completed December 27, 2023)

  Source

• 2022

  End of Canadian theatrical distributionStrategy

  Background

  Hasbro was reducing eOne activities that were not closely connected to its family and franchise strategy.

  Action taken

  Entertainment One closed its theatrical distribution operation in Canada and shifted remaining Canadian acquisition activity toward non-theatrical distribution.

  Aftermath

  The Canadian screen business continued in a reduced form before the subsequent sale of eOne's film and television assets to Lionsgate.

  Source

1. 1Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org