Court resurfaces with new venture

Former Decode Entertainment president Neil Court is joining forces with ex-Tricon executive Carrie Mudd to launch a new production company.

Neil Court

Toronto-based Peacock Alley Entertainment is a production house and distributor focused on developing primetime factual and scripted programming and digital content.

Court will be chairman of the fledgling indie and Mudd president.

Court has 25 years of experience in international coproduction and development, programme financing and international sales.

He cofounded Canada’s Decode Entertainment in 1997 and produced its hit children’s series including Angela Anaconda and Planet Sketch.

The company merged with Halifax Films to create DHX Media in 2006 and Court stepped down as president in 2009. Court remained on the board until last year and also acted as an adviser to Kudos Film and TV.

Mudd began her career with Encore Strategic Marketing and joined Tricon Films and Television in 2001 to launch its foreign sales division.

She oversaw the growth of the company’s library to more than 1,200 hours of content over the course of eight years before more recently working as senior VP of development and coproduction.

In that role she oversaw the development and financing of original series including Restaurant Makeover and Bitchin’ Kitchen. She left the company at the end of last year.

“I’ve long admired Carrie’s abilities and success as a producer and distributor. She’s got a very strong creative track record and a proven understanding of the global television market,” said Court.

Mudd added: “We recognize there are enormous opportunities in the ever-evolving television market for a nimble company willing to take creative chances and explore new financing models.

“Neil has an extensive entrepreneurial track record and his international background is a great complement to my own. We’ve known one another for a long time and his strategic thinking, international profile and contacts will be invaluable to Peacock Alley.”