Lionsgate Canada

Lionsgate Canada is the Canadian entertainment operation descended from the company formerly known as Entertainment One, or eOne. It is based in Toronto's Entertainment District and operates within Lionsgate Studios, the film and television studio business separated from Lionsgate's Starz-related operations in 2024. Its principal activities are the acquisition, development, production and distribution of film and television content, although its present structure reflects substantial changes to the former eOne business. The company began on June 1, 1973, as Records on Wheels Limited, a Canadian music distributor founded by brothers Vito and Don Ierullo. The business later became associated with the CD Plus retail chain and was renamed ROW Entertainment. Darren Throop, who had entered the organization after CD Plus acquired his Nova Scotia record-store chain, became president and chief executive. ROW expanded beyond music distribution through the acquisition of the American music and home-entertainment distributor Koch Entertainment in 2005. The business repositioned itself as an entertainment company during the 2000s. It became Entertainment One and pursued a broad acquisition strategy covering film distributors, television producers, music businesses and international rights companies. Important Canadian additions included Montreal-based Seville Pictures and Alliance Films. These transactions gave the company greater control over film acquisition and distribution, while purchases such as Blueprint and Barna-Alper strengthened television production. Expansion also reached the United Kingdom, Benelux, Australia and the United States. During the 2010s, eOne increasingly emphasized production, intellectual property and international exploitation rather than relying exclusively on third-party distribution. It acquired or invested in companies including The Mark Gordon Company, Astley Baker Davies, Secret Location, Phase 4 Films, Paperny Entertainment, Force Four Entertainment, Renegade 83 and a range of music companies. Its investment in Astley Baker Davies connected the group with the children's property Peppa Pig, while its investment in Amblin Partners and other production ventures increased its participation in internationally oriented film and television projects. Hasbro acquired Entertainment One for approximately US$4 billion in December 2019. The transaction placed eOne inside Hasbro's broader strategy of developing entertainment around owned brands, while Canadian operations were structured to preserve eligibility for Canadian-content purposes. Under Hasbro, eOne took on content-development and distribution responsibilities for properties associated with Hasbro, but the parent company subsequently reduced its exposure to entertainment assets outside its core children's and franchise businesses. The music division was sold to Blackstone in 2021 and became MNRK Music Group. The company also reduced staff and closed theatrical distribution operations in Canada and several other territories, while retaining non-theatrical acquisition and content activities in affected markets. Hasbro announced in 2022 that it intended to sell most of eOne's film and television assets. The family and brands business, including assets closely connected with children's franchises, was excluded and moved into Hasbro's own entertainment and consumer-products structure. Lionsgate agreed to acquire the relevant eOne film and television assets for US$500 million in 2023, and the transaction closed on December 27, 2023. The acquired operations were reorganized: eOne Films was placed under Lionsgate Films, eOne Television was combined with Lionsgate Television, and unscripted activities were moved into Lionsgate Alternative Television. The Canadian operation initially used the eOne Canada name during the transition and subsequently adopted the Lionsgate Canada identity. Accordingly, Lionsgate Canada is best understood as the current Canadian cont…

Lionsgate Canada traces its corporate history to Records on Wheels Limited, a Canadian music-distribution company established on June 1, 1973 by Vito and Don Ierullo. Its later combination with the CD Plus retail organization produced ROW Entertainment, with Darren Throop becoming president and chief executive after CD Plus acquired his Nova Scotia-based retail business. The company expanded into American music and home entertainment through the 2005 acquisition of Koch Entertainment and subsequently operated as Entertainment One Income Fund before adopting the eOne identity. A major strategic transformation began in 2007, when the company used public-market financing and acquisitions to build an integrated entertainment group. It purchased Seville Pictures and Contender Entertainment Group, followed by RCV Entertainment, Blueprint, Barna-Alper and Oasis International. These deals broadened its capabilities from music and home entertainment into film distribution, television production and international rights management. The company listed on London's Alternative Investment Market in 2007 and later on the London Stock Exchange. Through the early and middle 2010s, eOne continued international expansion. It acquired Australian distributor Hopscotch, bought Alliance Films, invested in Secret Location, acquired Phase 4 Films, Paperny Entertainment and Force Four Entertainment, and purchased or invested in production, music and management companies. The Alliance transaction was particularly significant in Canada because it expanded eOne's portfolio of distribution rights and strengthened its position in the Canadian film market. The company also acquired a majority interest in The Mark Gordon Company, later purchasing the remaining stake, and invested in Amblin Partners and other production ventures. The company increasingly shifted toward owned or controlled content and production relationships. It consolidated film and television studios in 2017, invested in Makeready, expanded its unscripted-production portfolio and acquired businesses connected with children's entertainment, including a majority stake in Astley Baker Davies, the studio associated with Peppa Pig. It also maintained extensive music interests through acquisitions such as Dualtone Music Group, Last Gang and Audio Network. These activities made eOne a diversified entertainment group rather than a conventional Canadian distributor. Hasbro's acquisition, completed on December 30, 2019, changed the strategic context. eOne became a wholly owned Hasbro subsidiary and was expected to serve as a content arm supporting Hasbro properties, while Hasbro retained the consumer-products and merchandising role. The company later reduced its non-core activities. It sold the music division to Blackstone in 2021, resulting in MNRK Music Group, laid off a portion of its film and television workforce, and closed theatrical distribution operations in Canada and other territories. These measures reflected Hasbro's effort to concentrate investment on strategic franchise brands and children's intellectual property. Hasbro announced in 2022 that it would sell most of eOne's film and television assets. The family and brands activities were excluded and moved into Hasbro's own entertainment structure. After a competitive sale process, Lionsgate was selected as buyer. The transaction closed on December 27, 2023, for US$500 million. The acquired film business was placed under Lionsgate Films, the television business was integrated into Lionsgate Television, and unscripted production assets were transferred to Lionsgate Alternative Television. The Canadian organization initially operated through a transitional eOne Canada structure and later became Lionsgate Canada. In May 2024, Lionsgate separated its film and television operations into Lionsgate Studios, which became the parent group for the Canadian business.

• 2024

  Integration into Lionsgate Studios

  [3]Lionsgate Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Lionsgate's film and television business is separated into Lionsgate Studios, the parent group of Lionsgate Canada.

• 2023

  Lionsgate transaction closes

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Lionsgate completes the acquisition of most of eOne's film and television assets from Hasbro.

• 2021

  Music business divestiture

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The former eOne music division is sold to Blackstone and later becomes MNRK Music Group.

• 2019

  Hasbro acquisition

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Hasbro completes its acquisition of Entertainment One for approximately US$4 billion.

• 2017

  Film and television consolidation

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  eOne consolidates its film and television studios to emphasize production and controlled content.

• 2015

  Investment in The Mark Gordon Company

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  eOne acquires a majority stake in The Mark Gordon Company as part of its push into United States production.

• 2013

  Alliance Films acquisition

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  eOne completes its purchase of Alliance Films, substantially strengthening its Canadian and international film-distribution position.

• 2007

  Expansion into film and television

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopts the Entertainment One identity, acquires Seville Pictures and Contender Entertainment Group, and begins a broader international expansion.

• 2005

  Koch Entertainment acquisition

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  ROW acquires the American music distributor and home-entertainment publisher Koch Entertainment.

• 2001

  CD Plus acquires the business

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The company becomes part of CD Plus and later operates under the ROW Entertainment name.

• 1973

  Records on Wheels is established

  [1]Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org

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

A Canadian production and content-rights business within Lionsgate Studios, combining local Canadian market knowledge with the resources, libraries and international distribution capabilities of a global film and television group.

• Film distribution

  Feature-film acquisition and distribution

  The operation acquires, manages and distributes feature-film rights in Canada. Its capabilities derive from the former eOne and Alliance Films distribution businesses and are now connected to Lionsgate's film organization. Following the 2022 closure of theatrical distribution operations in Canada, the business's market role has included non-theatrical rights and content exploitation rather than the former full theatrical-distribution model.

• Television production

  Scripted television production

  Lionsgate Canada participates in the development and production of scripted television through the television activities inherited from eOne. Those activities were combined with Lionsgate Television after the 2023 transaction, giving the Canadian operation access to Lionsgate's production infrastructure, international sales relationships and development pipeline.

• Television production

  Unscripted television production

  The former eOne unscripted portfolio included production companies and programming capabilities developed through acquisitions in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. After the Lionsgate transaction, these assets were transferred to Lionsgate Alternative Television, where they support factual, reality and other non-scripted formats.

• Content licensing

  Film and television rights licensing

  The business manages rights across film and television libraries, including licensing for broadcasters, streaming services, home entertainment and other non-theatrical outlets. Rights management and international exploitation became increasingly important as the former eOne group expanded from Canadian music distribution into a multinational content company.

• 2023

  Sale of eOne film and television assets to LionsgateM&A

  Background

  Hasbro sought to concentrate on strategic franchise brands and sell most of eOne's film and television operations.

  Action taken

  Lionsgate agreed to acquire the relevant assets for US$500 million; the transaction closed on December 27, 2023.

  Aftermath

  The assets were reorganized under Lionsgate Films, Lionsgate Television and Lionsgate Alternative Television, with the Canadian operation later adopting the Lionsgate Canada name.

  Transaction value. US$500 million (Announced and completed in 2023)

  Source

• 2022

  Closure of Canadian theatrical distribution operationsStrategy

  Background

  Hasbro was reducing entertainment activities that were not closely tied to its priority family and franchise brands.

  Action taken

  Entertainment One closed its theatrical distribution operations in Canada and reduced local staffing, while retaining non-theatrical acquisition activity.

  Aftermath

  The change narrowed the Canadian business's distribution role before the subsequent sale of most eOne film and television assets to Lionsgate.

  Source

1. 1Lionsgate Canadaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Entertainment Oneen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Lionsgate Studiosen.wikipedia.org