Halifax-based Cochran Communications is ceasing operations and halting production after more than 12 years as an anchor of the East Coast production community.

According to founder Andrew Cochran, who is responsible for the creation of Theodore Tugboat, Pit Pony and the doc series Life on the Internet, the company’s closing can be attributed to ‘money-draining’ initiatives outside of production.

‘There are two types of companies – those in the rights business and those in the fees business,’ says Cochran. ‘We determined that we wanted to be in the rights business, stay and grow in that area. As we grew we kept expanding, doing not only our own television distribution, but expanding into licensing and merchandising. We found that was an expensive undertaking and required more and more demands for capital.’

Cochran’s properties spawned merchandise, videos, books, interactive components and live events.

Cochran has appointed Halifax-based Goodman Associates as receiver, and at press time, the firm was looking at various strategies to deal with its closing. ‘Most if not all of our assets will be for sale in some form or another,’ says Cochran.

Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation executive director Ann MacKenzie has been fielding calls asking whether the Cochran closing is indicative of a negative turn in Nova Scotia-based production. MacKenzie says this is an isolated case and production in Nova Scotia continues to thrive.

‘Cochran Entertainment has made a big contribution in the past years in developing the local film industry, but I also have to add that it’s not representative of the sky falling,’ says MacKenzie. ‘There are some very particular things about Cochran that are not representative of the rest of our production companies. It’s very sad, but it’s not all over the place.’

-www.cochran.com