WildBrain's Path to Becoming a Global Leader in Children's Entertainment

WildBrain's journey to becoming a global leader in children's entertainment is a fascinating one. Founded in 2006, the company was originally known as DHX Media, and its roots in Canadian television production laid the foundation for its future success.

DHX Media's early focus on producing high-quality children's content led to the creation of popular shows like "Teletubbies" and "Yo Gabba Gabba!". These shows not only entertained kids but also helped establish the company's reputation for producing engaging and educational content.

By 2016, DHX Media had expanded its reach through strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Cookie Jar Entertainment, which brought with it a library of beloved children's shows like "Caillou" and "Arthur". This move marked a significant turning point in the company's growth.

WildBrain has its roots in the Canadian animation company, Cuppa Coffee Studios, founded in 2004 by Trevor Mackenzie and Victor Cournoyer.

The company's early success led to the creation of the animated series "Re Boot: The Guardian Code", which premiered in 2018.

In 2019, WildBrain acquired Moonbug Entertainment, expanding its global presence in children's content.

Cuppa Coffee Studios was rebranded as WildBrain in 2016, marking a significant milestone in the company's evolution.

WildBrain's acquisition of Moonbug Entertainment brought on board popular brands like Cocomelon and Little Baby Bum.

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WildBrain has expanded its presence in the global market through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.

The company acquired Moonbug Entertainment in 2021, adding popular brands like Little Baby Bum and Blippi to its portfolio.

This acquisition has helped WildBrain reach new audiences and increase its global presence.

WildBrain has also partnered with major companies like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime to distribute its content.

These partnerships have allowed WildBrain to reach a wider audience and increase its revenue.

The company has also expanded its operations into new markets, including the Middle East and Africa.

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WildBrain faced significant broadcasting challenges in 2025.

The company announced plans to sell a majority stake in its television operations to IoM Media Ventures, but this deal was put on hold after Bell and Rogers declined to renew their carriage agreements with WildBrain.

The loss of carriage from these two major Canadian television providers severely impacted the value and commercial viability of WildBrain's Canadian linear specialty channels.

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In August 2025, WildBrain announced that it would close all of its Canadian linear specialty channels, including Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, and Télémagino.

This decision was made after the company assessed that the channels were no longer commercially viable due to the decline in advertising revenue and subscriber erosion.

WildBrain's revenue from Canadian television broadcasting did experience a year-over-year increase of 22% to $11.8 million in its most recent quarter, but this growth was not enough to offset the broader industry trends.

The company has deliberately positioned its business to align with changing consumer habits, including a strategic exit from the declining broadcast space in Canada.

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WildBrain has made some significant business decisions in the past year. The company will shut down its broadcasting business, including Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, and Télémagino, due to failing to reach carriage agreements with Rogers Communications and Bell.

This move follows a ruling from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) that dismissed WildBrain's complaint against Rogers over its promotion of Disney+ content. The CRTC encouraged the parties to negotiate a solution independently.

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WildBrain's president and CEO, Josh Scherba, stated that the impact on the company's broader business is minimal and does not affect its go-forward strategy. The company has deliberately positioned its business to align with changing consumer habits, including exiting the declining broadcast space in Canada.

In fact, WildBrain's most recent quarter reported a Canadian television broadcasting revenue of $11.8 million, a year-over-year increase of 22%. However, the company's content creation and audience engagement and global licensing segments reported revenues of $57 million and $71 million, increases of 40% and 44%, respectively.

A similar situation occurred in 2025, when WildBrain announced that it would sell a two-thirds majority stake of its television operations to IoM Media Ventures. However, after Bell and Rogers declined to renew their carriage agreements, WildBrain decided to close all of its Canadian linear specialty channels.

CEO Josh Scherba stated that the loss of carriage from Bell and Rogers had impacted the value and commercial viability of the channels. The company will no longer be subject to foreign ownership rules imposed by Canada's Broadcasting Act, allowing it to adopt a simplified share structure.

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WildBrain is a Canadian media company that specializes in creating children's content.

They have a long history dating back to 1971 when they were founded as CINAR.

WildBrain has produced some of the most iconic children's shows in the world, including Yo Gabba Gabba and Pajanimals.

Their content is available in over 190 countries and has been translated into many languages.

WildBrain has a strong focus on creating educational and entertaining content for young children.

Their shows often incorporate music and movement to help kids learn and develop important skills.

WildBrain has a team of experienced producers and writers who work together to create engaging storylines and characters.