Wow Unlimited Media

Wow Unlimited Media (stylized as WOW! Unlimited Media) is a Canadian animation and media holding company. It was formed as a result of a merger between Rainmaker Entertainment, Frederator Networks, Inc. and Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment (EHE).

Wow Unlimited Media Inc.
Public
Traded asTSX-V: WOW
IndustryAnimation
Media
FoundedOctober 26, 2016 (2016-10-26)
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Key people
Michael Hirsh (CEO and Chairman)
Bob Ezrin (Vice Chairman)
Fred Seibert (CCO and Director)
Neil Chakravarti (COO and President)
John Vandervelde (CFO)
Michael Hefferon (President, Mainframe Studios)
SubsidiariesMainframe Studios
Frederator Networks
Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment
Websitewww.wowunlimited.co

History

On October 26, 2016, a three-way merger was announced between Rainmaker and Frederator, with the addition of EHE.[1] On December 16 of that year, the merger was completed.

On June 7, 2017, the company announced its intent to acquire an unspecified category B specialty television service from Bell Media, later revealed by company president Randy Lennox to be Comedy Gold,[2] to form a television channel that will carry programs targeting children and young adults. The company also entered into agreements to provide content for Bell Media's over-the-top content services (including CraveTV). In exchange for the channel, Bell Canada will acquire 3.4 million common voting shares in the company.[3] Bell confirmed the deal in September 2017, further stating that it had agreed to provide operational services for the channel, and co-develop content.[4]

The sale of Comedy Gold to Wow Unlimited Media was approved on July 9, 2018,[5] and CraveTV launched "Wow! Preschool Playdate" and "Wow! World Kids" collections in September.[6] However, on March 12, 2019, Wow issued a press release announcing an extension to the transfer of the channel's license "to pursue sponsorships and partnerships".[7] On July 24, 2019, a representative of Bell Support revealed that Comedy Gold would be shutting down anywhere between August 30 and September 1;[8] Comedy Gold was ultimately shuttered on September 1, 2019. Wow would reveal in their Q2 financial report that they would have completed their acquisition of Comedy Gold's broadcast license on August 30, 2019.[9]

Assets

References
  1. "American, Canadian Animation Digital Studios Merge to Create Wow! Unlimited". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  2. "The Cartt.ca Interview: Bell Media president Randy Lennox talks rich uncles, teeter-totters and Ty Cobb". Cartt.ca. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  3. Reid, Regan (June 8, 2017). "Wow Unlimited to acquire channel from Bell Media". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. "Bell confirms Wow channel deal". C21media. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
  5. "Comedy Gold – Acquisition of assets". CRTC. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  6. "CraveTV adds two new collections filled with content for kids". MobileSyrup. 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
  7. "WOW! Announces Extension to Broadcast Licence Transfer From Bell Media". GlobeNewswire News Room. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  8. https://twitter.com/Bell_Support/status/1158089301403373568
  9. "WOW! Unlimited Media Announces Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2019". GlobeNewswire News Room. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  10. Spangler, Todd (18 February 2016). "Frederator, Anima Estudios Launch Spanish-Language YouTube Animation Network (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
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