Wow Unlimited Media

Wow Unlimited Media Inc., styled as WOW! Unlimited Media, is a Canadian animation and media holding company focused on creating, owning, distributing, and developing entertainment for children, young audiences, and digital viewers. The company was established through a three-way combination involving Rainmaker Entertainment, Frederator Networks, and Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment. The transaction brought together an animation-production business, a network of digital and creator-oriented media properties, and a content and media investment operation under a single corporate structure. The combination was announced on October 26, 2016, and completed on December 16, 2016. Through the merger, Wow Unlimited Media gained access to a broad portfolio of animation studios, digital channels, online video networks, production labels, and related media assets. Frederator's portfolio included properties such as Frederator Studios, Channel Frederator Network, Cartoon Hangover, Frederator Films, Frederator Flux, and Frederator Books. Rainmaker contributed established animation and visual-production capabilities through the business that became Mainframe Studios, while Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment added media and entertainment expertise. Wow pursued a strategy that combined traditional production with digital distribution. Its assets and initiatives were oriented toward animated programming, online video, youth entertainment, creator networks, and branded content. The company also sought to expand into conventional television distribution. In 2017, it announced plans to acquire a Category B specialty television service from Bell Media. The service was subsequently identified as Comedy Gold, and Wow intended to use the licence as the basis for a channel aimed at children and young adults. The proposed arrangement also included content supply agreements for Bell Media's over-the-top services, including CraveTV. Bell agreed to receive common voting shares in Wow and to provide operational support while participating in content development. The television strategy did not ultimately result in a launched Wow channel. The sale of Comedy Gold was approved in July 2018, and Wow-branded preschool and children's collections became available on CraveTV in September of that year. In March 2019, Wow said that the transfer of the channel licence was being extended while it pursued sponsorships and partnerships. Comedy Gold ceased operations on September 1, 2019, and Wow later reported that it had completed the acquisition of the broadcast licence on August 30, 2019. The licence was revoked by the regulator on February 5, 2021, before the planned channel could launch. In October 2021, Genius Brands International, now known as Kartoon Studios, announced an agreement to acquire Wow Unlimited Media for C$66 million. The transaction closed on April 7, 2022, making Wow Unlimited Media a subsidiary of the American entertainment company. The acquisition placed Wow's animation, digital-media, and youth-content assets within Kartoon Studios' broader portfolio. Public reference material identifies the company primarily through its corporate holdings and production and distribution assets rather than through a single consumer-facing product line.

Wow Unlimited Media emerged from a 2016 consolidation of Canadian animation and media interests. On October 26, 2016, Rainmaker Entertainment and Frederator Networks announced a three-way merger that also included Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment. The transaction was completed on December 16, 2016, creating Wow Unlimited Media as a holding company with interests spanning animation production, digital networks, online video, publishing, and youth-oriented entertainment. The merger combined businesses with different but complementary capabilities. Rainmaker was associated with large-scale animation and visual-production work, while Frederator brought a portfolio of animation studios, digital channels, creator networks, and related entertainment properties. Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment contributed additional media and entertainment assets. The resulting group was designed to operate across both conventional production and newer digital distribution channels, reflecting the growing importance of online video and direct-to-audience programming. In June 2017, Wow announced that it intended to acquire an unspecified Category B specialty television service from Bell Media. Company president Randy Lennox later identified the service as Comedy Gold. Wow proposed transforming the service into a channel carrying programming for children and young adults. The agreement also involved content arrangements for Bell Media's over-the-top services, including CraveTV. Bell was to receive 3.4 million common voting shares in Wow, provide operational services, and participate in content development. Bell confirmed the arrangement in September 2017. Regulatory approval for the sale of Comedy Gold to Wow was received on July 9, 2018. The television plan was accompanied by early digital distribution activity: in September 2018, CraveTV launched the Wow! Preschool Playdate and Wow! World Kids collections. However, the planned linear channel experienced delays. On March 12, 2019, Wow said that the transfer of the channel licence was being extended while the company pursued sponsorships and partnerships. Comedy Gold itself was subsequently shut down on September 1, 2019. Wow later stated in its second-quarter financial reporting that it had completed the acquisition of the broadcast licence on August 30, 2019. The licence was revoked on February 5, 2021, before a replacement Wow channel could launch. During this period, Wow's identity remained tied to a portfolio model rather than a single flagship consumer service. Its associated assets included Mainframe Studios, Frederator Networks, Frederator Studios, Frederator Films, Channel Frederator Network, Cartoon Hangover, Frederator Flux, ChannelFrederator, The Leaderboard Network, Cinematica, MicDrop, Átomo Network, Frederator Books, Thirty Labs, and Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment. These assets covered animation production, online channels, publishing, music-related activity, digital experimentation, and international or multilingual video initiatives. On October 27, 2021, Genius Brands International announced that it had agreed to acquire Wow Unlimited Media for C$66 million. The transaction closed on April 7, 2022. Genius Brands subsequently operated under the Kartoon Studios name, and Wow Unlimited Media became a subsidiary of that American entertainment group. The acquisition integrated Wow's animation and digital-media assets into a larger children's entertainment portfolio. The available reference material does not establish a separate post-acquisition corporate strategy, leadership roster, or current consumer-facing product structure beyond the company's continued association with Kartoon Studios.

• 2022

  Acquired by Genius Brands

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Genius Brands completed its acquisition of Wow Unlimited Media on April 7, 2022.

• 2021

  Broadcast licence revoked

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Comedy Gold licence acquired by Wow was revoked before the proposed channel could begin broadcasting.

• 2019

  Comedy Gold closes

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Comedy Gold ceased operations on September 1, while the planned Wow replacement channel remained unlaunched.

• 2018

  Comedy Gold sale approved

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Approval was granted for Wow to acquire the Comedy Gold broadcast licence.

• 2018

  Wow collections launch on CraveTV

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  CraveTV introduced Wow! Preschool Playdate and Wow! World Kids programming collections.

• 2017

  Comedy Gold acquisition plan disclosed

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Wow announced plans to acquire a Bell Media specialty service and develop a channel aimed at children and young adults.

• 2016

  Merger announced

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Rainmaker Entertainment, Frederator Networks, and Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment announced a three-way combination that would create Wow Unlimited Media.

• 2016

  Merger completed

  [1]Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The three-way merger was completed on December 16, formally establishing Wow Unlimited Media.

A Canadian animation and youth-media holding company combining studio production, digital video networks, children's programming, and entertainment distribution.

• Animation studio

  Mainframe Studios

  An animation-production operation associated with Wow Unlimited Media through the Rainmaker business. Mainframe Studios represents the group's conventional studio and production capabilities, supporting animated entertainment and related visual-media work for television, digital platforms, and other distribution channels.

• Animation studio

  Frederator Studios

  An animation studio originating from the Frederator portfolio. It formed part of Wow Unlimited Media's production and intellectual-property base, complementing the company's online networks and youth-entertainment activities.

• Digital video network

  Channel Frederator Network

  A digital creator and animation-focused network associated with Frederator. It reflects Wow's emphasis on online video distribution and networked creator programming in addition to traditional television and studio production.

• Digital animation channel

  Cartoon Hangover

  An animation-oriented digital entertainment property in the Frederator portfolio. It was among the branded online channels and programming assets associated with Wow Unlimited Media's youth and creator-media strategy.

• Children's programming collection · 2018

  Wow! Preschool Playdate

  A preschool-focused programming collection made available through CraveTV in September 2018 under the content relationship between Wow Unlimited Media and Bell Media.

• Children's programming collection · 2018

  Wow! World Kids

  A children's programming collection launched on CraveTV in September 2018 as part of Wow Unlimited Media's digital distribution and youth-content initiatives.

• Animation and film label

  Frederator Films

  A Frederator-associated production label included among Wow Unlimited Media's animation and media assets.

• Publishing

  Frederator Books

  A publishing-related Frederator asset included in Wow Unlimited Media's broader entertainment portfolio.

• 2021

  Agreement to be acquired by Genius BrandsM&A

  Background

  Genius Brands sought to expand its children's entertainment and media portfolio through the acquisition of Wow Unlimited Media.

  Action taken

  Genius Brands agreed to acquire Wow Unlimited Media, with the transaction announced at a stated value of C$66 million.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition closed on April 7, 2022, and Wow became a subsidiary of the company now known as Kartoon Studios.

  Transaction value. C$66 million (Announced October 27, 2021)

  Source

• 2017

  Pursuit of Bell Media's Comedy Gold licenceM&A

  Background

  Wow sought to expand from animation and digital media into a conventional specialty television service targeting children and young adults.

  Action taken

  It announced an agreement to acquire Comedy Gold from Bell Media, alongside content and operational arrangements involving Bell's over-the-top services.

  Aftermath

  The sale was approved in 2018, but the planned Wow channel was delayed, Comedy Gold closed in 2019, and the acquired licence was revoked in 2021 before launch.

  Source

1. 1Wow Unlimited Mediaen.wikipedia.org