Vancouver’s Vidatron Group has made its nine-month working relationship with veteran producer Larry Sugar more formal by acquiring 100% of Sugar Entertainment. Vidatron is swapping 20% of its company for the acquisition, a deal that is – depending on performance clauses – worth up to $5 million.

The acquisition gives Vidatron the rights to properties such as the Contemporary Classics series – developed by Sugar in partnership with Showtime and Hallmark. Vidatron already has the Canadian distribution rights to The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. and Ronnie and Julie, while three more Contemporary Classic shows are slated for 1997 including My Fair Lacey.

And Sugar recently completed principal photography of three episodes of the western sereis Dead Man’s Gun, also purchased by Showtime and Hallmark.

Sugar Entertainment will retain its corporate identity, but will be folded into the group of Vidatron companies as the entertainment division.