Toronto-based Alliance Communications has purchased l.a. television production company Citadel Entertainment from Home Box Office and United Broadcasting & Entertainment.

The acquisition came about when hbo and ube decided not to renew their joint venture for Citadel in October, and began discussions with potential buyers.

Citadel has more than 100 hours of films in development or production, and expects all projects currently in production to be completed on schedule, and all existing development to continue to be supervised by the company and its producers. Among Citadel’s recent movies are Cinderella (abc), Rasputin (hbo) and Match Made in Heaven (cbs).

Alliance and Citadel had a one-year coventure agreement in 1987 and coproduced two tv movies, Trial and Error and Ordeal in the Arctic.

‘Alliance offers a creative and business environment that promises continued growth for Citadel in all media,’ says Citadel ceo David R. Ginsburg. ‘Because our two companies have continued to coproduce following our 1987 one-year joint venture, this acquisition is a natural next step.’