Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis was a Canadian media company active in film and television production, distribution, and specialty broadcasting before its businesses were acquired and separated in 2007.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Alliance Atlantis Communications was a Canadian media company whose activities combined film and television production, international program distribution, motion-picture distribution, and ownership or management interests in specialty television services. Based primarily in Toronto, the company also maintained offices and operating relationships in several international production and distribution centres, including Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon, Sydney, and Halifax. The company was formed in 1998 through the combination of Atlantis Communications and Alliance Communications. Atlantis had been established in 1978 by Michael MacMillan, Janice L. Platt, and Seaton S. MacLean, while Alliance began in 1984 as Alliance Entertainment under Stephen Roth, Denis Héroux, John Kemeny, Robert Lantos, Andras Hamori, and Susan Cavan. The merger brought together two of Canada's prominent independent screen businesses and created a company with capabilities spanning content creation, theatrical and home-video distribution, international sales, and specialty-channel operations. Alliance Atlantis developed a particularly important position in Canadian specialty television. Its channel interests and businesses included Showcase, History Television, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, BBC Canada, BBC Kids, Discovery Health Canada, National Geographic Channel Canada, Slice, IFC Canada, Séries+, Historia, and other services held with partners or through minority investments. Some channels were managed directly, while others were operated through joint ventures or ownership arrangements. The portfolio gave the company recurring broadcasting revenues in addition to the less predictable economics of film production and distribution. The company also expanded through acquisitions and commercial agreements. It acquired a controlling interest in Cineplex Odeon Films, established or acquired production labels including AAC Kids and AAC Fact, bought Great North Communications to strengthen documentary production, acquired Salter Street Films, and purchased selected libraries and assets from distressed distributors and studios. Alliance Atlantis secured Canadian or international distribution relationships for various film and television properties and was closely associated with the Canadian and international exploitation of the CSI television franchise. Over time, the company reduced much of its broader production activity as profitability became more concentrated in specialty broadcasting and the CSI-related business. In December 2006, it announced that it was examining strategic alternatives. In January 2007, a consortium involving Canwest Global Communications and Goldman Sachs-related investment entities was announced as the successful acquirer. The transaction separated the company's main divisions rather than preserving Alliance Atlantis as a unified operating company. Broadcasting assets went into CW Media, the motion-picture business continued as Alliance Films, the international television distribution operation was sold to Echo Bridge Entertainment, and entertainment and production assets were transferred through separate ownership arrangements. Alliance Atlantis therefore ceased to exist as an independent media group in 2007, although many of its channels, film titles, television programs, and libraries continued under new owners. Former broadcasting assets ultimately moved through Canwest, Shaw Media, and then Corus Entertainment. Alliance Films was later acquired by Entertainment One, whose relevant assets were subsequently acquired by Lionsgate in 2023. The company's legacy remains significant in the development and consolidation of Canada's specialty-channel and independent film-distribution sectors.
History
Alliance Atlantis was created from the 1998 merger of two Canadian screen-media companies. Atlantis Communications had been founded in 1978 by Michael MacMillan, Janice L. Platt, and Seaton S. MacLean. Alliance Communications began in 1984 as Alliance Entertainment, founded by Stephen Roth, Denis Héroux, John Kemeny, Robert Lantos, Andras Hamori, and Susan Cavan. Both companies developed production, distribution, and specialty-channel activities before combining their operations. The merger was announced on July 20, 1998, and completed on September 21 of that year. The combined company arranged merger financing of $545 million and reported more than $20 million in savings and synergies during the year following the combination. Integration included a workforce reduction of approximately 15 percent and the closure of Atlantis's former Amsterdam sales office. Robert Lantos continued a production relationship with the new company through his firm, Serendipity Point Films. Alliance Atlantis entered the merger with substantial broadcasting interests. Alliance had launched Showcase in 1995, while Atlantis had launched Life Network, later known as Slice. The companies subsequently introduced services including History Television and HGTV Canada. The merged company expanded its channel portfolio through ownership interests, partnerships, and acquisitions, making specialty broadcasting its central business as broader production operations became less profitable. The company also pursued film and television distribution. In 1998 it acquired 75 percent of Cineplex Odeon Films. In 1999, Kinowelt acquired a stake in the company and in its United Kingdom distribution arm, which was renamed Momentum Pictures in 2000. Alliance Atlantis secured Canadian distribution rights for Destination Films and renewed a distribution agreement with Artisan Entertainment. It also launched AAC Kids in 1999 and AAC Fact in 2000, although both labels were later discontinued. Great North Communications was acquired in 2000 for documentary and nonfiction capabilities, and Salter Street Films was acquired in 2001. Salter Street's active projects were subsequently moved into Alliance Atlantis's own production and development operations. Alliance Atlantis later concentrated on specialty services and selected highly profitable production activities, especially the CSI franchise, which it co-produced with CBS-related partners. It acquired or invested in various film libraries and distressed-media assets, including interests associated with Norstar Entertainment, Telescene, Peace Arch, Cinemavault, Odeon Films, and Fireworks Distributing Corporation. The business therefore operated as a combination of broadcaster, producer, rights holder, and distributor rather than as a single-format entertainment brand. On December 20, 2006, Alliance Atlantis announced that it was considering strategic alternatives. A consortium involving Canwest Global Communications and Goldman Sachs-related investment entities was announced as the buyer on January 10, 2007. The transaction divided the company. Canwest and Goldman Sachs acquired the broadcasting division through CW Media; Goldman Sachs-related entities acquired the entertainment and production division; Motion Picture Distribution LP continued as the Alliance Films business under separate ownership; and international television distribution rights were sold to Echo Bridge Entertainment. The independent Alliance Atlantis corporate structure ended in 2007. After Canwest entered creditor protection, Shaw Communications acquired most of the former broadcasting assets in 2010, and Corus Entertainment acquired Shaw Media in 2016. Alliance Films was acquired by Entertainment One in 2013. Parts of the former television and children's libraries later moved to other distributors, while relevant eOne assets were acquired by Lionsgate in 2023. The Alliance name also survived for a time through the Alliance Cinemas banner, whose theatres later became part of Cineplex.
- 2007
Alliance Atlantis divided among purchasers
[1]The company's broadcasting, film, production, and international distribution activities were separated following the Canwest and Goldman Sachs-related acquisition.
- 2001
Salter Street Films acquired
[1]Alliance Atlantis acquired Salter Street Films and later transferred its active projects into Alliance Atlantis's production and development division.
- 2000
Great North Communications acquired
[1]The company acquired Great North Communications to develop its documentary and nonfiction production and distribution capabilities.
- 1998
Alliance Atlantis formed
[1]Alliance Communications and Atlantis Communications completed their merger and began operating as Alliance Atlantis Communications.
- 1998
Cineplex Odeon Films interest acquired
[1]Alliance Atlantis acquired a 75 percent interest in Cineplex Odeon Films, strengthening its Canadian motion-picture distribution business.
- 1984
Alliance Communications founded
[1]Alliance Entertainment, later Alliance Communications, was founded by Stephen Roth, Denis Héroux, John Kemeny, Robert Lantos, Andras Hamori, and Susan Cavan.
- 1978
Atlantis Communications founded
[1]Michael MacMillan, Janice L. Platt, and Seaton S. MacLean founded Atlantis Communications, one of the companies that later formed Alliance Atlantis.
Products and positioning
Canadian integrated screen-media company combining specialty broadcasting with film and television production, distribution, and international content sales.
Specialty television channel · 1995
Showcase
Showcase was a Canadian specialty service associated with Alliance's pre-merger broadcasting portfolio and later with Alliance Atlantis. It focused on dramatic television, films, and other programming aimed primarily at adult audiences. The channel exemplified the company's strategy of combining proprietary and acquired content with recurring specialty-broadcasting revenues.
Motion-picture distribution · 2007
Alliance Films
Alliance Films was the motion-picture distribution business separated from Alliance Atlantis during the 2007 breakup. It released English-language films under the Alliance banner and French-language titles under Alliance Vivafilm. The business was later acquired by Entertainment One and incorporated into eOne's film operations.
Television production and rights · 2000
CSI franchise production and distribution
Alliance Atlantis was associated with the Canadian and international exploitation of the CSI family of television series and retained a substantial production interest in the franchise. The CSI business became one of the company's most valuable entertainment assets and was handled separately from the broadcasting division during the 2007 transaction.
Specialty television channel · 1997
HGTV Canada
HGTV Canada was among the specialty services associated with Alliance Atlantis after the merger. Its lifestyle, home, and renovation programming illustrated the company's strategy of holding focused Canadian services alongside general entertainment and factual channels. The service later passed through successor ownership structures.
Specialty television channel · 1997
History Television
History Television was a Canadian factual and documentary service launched before the Alliance Atlantis merger and included in the company's specialty-channel portfolio. It provided a platform for historical, documentary, and factual programming and later continued under successor ownership.
Children's production label · 1999
AAC Kids
AAC Kids was Alliance Atlantis's children's production label, launched in 1999. It was intended to expand the company's development, co-financing, and distribution activity in children's programming. The label entered European business arrangements, including a co-financing and distribution deal with TV-Loonland, but was dissolved in 2003.
Documentary production label · 2000
AAC Fact
AAC Fact was a nonfiction and documentary production label created as Alliance Atlantis expanded its factual-content activities. It complemented the company's acquisition of Great North Communications and its broader specialty-channel strategy. The label was dissolved in 2003 as the company concentrated its operations.
Specialty television channel
Food Network Canada
Food Network Canada was one of the branded specialty services in which Alliance Atlantis held an ownership interest. The service extended the company's portfolio into food and lifestyle programming and was later transferred through the successor ownership chain created after Alliance Atlantis was acquired.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000AAC Kids–TV-Loonland European co-financing and distribution deal
Europe · International
AAC Kids entered a European co-financing and distribution arrangement with German studio TV-Loonland AG, extending Alliance Atlantis's children's-content activities beyond Canada.
Outcome. The arrangement supported the company's international children's-content strategy, although AAC Kids was later dissolved.
Brand decisions
2010
Transfer former broadcasting assets to ShawM&ABackground
Canwest's creditor-protection proceedings affected the ownership of the former Alliance Atlantis channel portfolio.
Action taken
Shaw Communications acquired most of the relevant broadcasting assets after Canadian regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The channels became part of Shaw Media and later moved to Corus Entertainment through Corus's 2016 acquisition of Shaw Media.
2007
Sell and separate Alliance Atlantis businessesM&ABackground
The company was exploring strategic alternatives amid consolidation in Canadian media and differing valuations for broadcasting, film, and television rights assets.
Action taken
A Canwest and Goldman Sachs-related consortium acquired the company, after which broadcasting, film distribution, entertainment production, and international television distribution were placed under different ownership arrangements.
Aftermath
Alliance Atlantis ceased operating as an independent company. Its channels, film business, programs, and libraries continued through successor companies.
2000
Expand documentary and nonfiction capabilitiesStrategyBackground
Alliance Atlantis wanted greater control over factual content for its specialty channels and distribution operations.
Action taken
The company acquired Great North Communications and subsequently established AAC Fact.
Aftermath
The company gained an internal documentary and nonfiction platform, although AAC Fact was later dissolved.
1998
Merge Alliance Communications and Atlantis CommunicationsM&ABackground
The two Canadian companies sought greater scale across production, distribution, international sales, and specialty broadcasting.
Action taken
They combined their operations to create Alliance Atlantis Communications, completing the transaction in September 1998.
Aftermath
The merger created a broader integrated media group, generated reported operating synergies, and was accompanied by workforce and office consolidation.
Recent events
- 2023
Lionsgate acquires most relevant eOne assets[1]
M&A
Lionsgate completed the acquisition of most of Entertainment One's assets, including library rights connected with the former Alliance Atlantis film business.
- 2013
Entertainment One acquires Alliance Films[1]
M&A
Entertainment One acquired Alliance Films and its related subsidiaries, bringing the former motion-picture division into the eOne group.
- 2010
Former Alliance Atlantis broadcasting assets move to Shaw[1]
M&A · Regulation
Following Canwest's creditor-protection proceedings, most former Alliance Atlantis broadcasting assets were transferred to Shaw Communications after regulatory approval.
- 2007
Canwest and Goldman Sachs consortium selected to acquire Alliance Atlantis[1]
M&A
A consortium involving Canwest Global Communications and Goldman Sachs-related investment entities was announced as the acquirer, with the company's divisions subsequently separated.
- 2006
Alliance Atlantis announces strategic review[1]
M&A
The company announced that it was examining strategic alternatives, effectively beginning a sale process for its divisions and assets.
Sources1 sources
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