9 Story acquires Breakthrough kids slate

Breakthrough Entertainment’s Rocket Monkeys

Canada’s 9 Story Media Group has acquired producer and distributor Breakthrough Entertainment’s kids and family library and development slate.

Financial terms have not been disclosed but the agreement, for 757 half-hours of animated and live-action content, is expected to be completed within the next 30 days.

9 Story will also take over Breakthrough’s kids and family development slate and has the right to produce future seasons of those properties.

Breakthrough has agreed to a three-year non-compete deal in the kids and family space but will complete its current kids and family production slate.

Breakthrough’s kids and family division was launched as a result of the success of series The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon and includes a diverse mix of animated and live-action content.

Titles such as Rocket Monkeys, Jimmy Two Shoes and Captain Flamingo, book-based properties including Margaret Atwood’s Wandering Wenda and Gordon Korman’s Bruno & Boots, along with the acclaimed Anne of Green Gables movie series all appear on the slate.

“Breakthrough has built an impressive catalogue of popular animated and live-action kids and family content,” said Vince Commisso, president and CEO at 9 Story. “The acquisition adds significant depth and breadth to our distribution library and expands our development slate. In particular, the deal increases 9 Story’s live-action offering with top titles like Anne of Green Gables, Bruno & Boots and Max & Shred.”

“Breakthrough is honoured to have our award-winning kids’ content, produced over the last 33 years, become part of 9 Story’s high-quality kids and family library,” added Ira Levy, co-founder and president of Breakthrough.

Earlier this year, 9 Story acquired Out of the Blue Enterprises, the US prodco co-founded by Blue’s Clues co-creator Angela Santomero.