Corus Studios has sold more than 200 hours of content in Q2 2023, offsetting a decrease in Corus Entertainment’s overall television revenue as the broadcaster contends with a dip in advertising spend.

The studio issued a news release on Wednesday (April 12) stating that 18 titles were sold across lifestyle, factual and scripted.

Revenues in Corus’ television segment were down 5% in the quarter, according to the Q2 financial report published on Thursday (April 13), due to an 8% decline in advertising revenue and 7% decline in subscriber revenue. It was partially offset by an increase of 28% in production, distribution and other revenue.

Hallmark Channel acquired all four titles from the W Network original film series The Love Club (Nikki Ray Media Agency), which Lisa Godfrey, SVP of original content and Corus Studios, said signifies the company’s “successful entry into the scripted space, which we look forward to further developing,” in a statement.

The distributor’s content deal with Hulu continued during Q2, with the U.S. streamer acquiring season three of Making It Home with Kortney and Kenny (Scott Brothers Entertainment; 10 x 60 minutes), season four of Crime Beat (The Global Television Network; 11 x 60 minutes) and Sarah’s Mountain Escape (Insight Productions; 10 x 60 minutes).

Quebecor Content also picked up a raft of content for French Canada, including Pamela’s Garden of Eden (Fireworks Media Group; 8 x 60 minutes), Trading Up with Mandy Rennehan (Scott Brothers Entertainment; 10 x 60 minutes), the second seasons of Project Bakeover (Entertainment One; 10 x 60 minutes) and Rock Solid Builds (Cineflix; 10 x 60 minutes), the third seasons of Big Food Bucket List (Lone Eagle Entertainment; 9 x 30 minutes) and Great Chocolate Showdown (Nikki Ray Media Agency; 16 x 60 minutes), and season four of Island of Bryan (Si Entertainment; 8 x 60 minutes).

Southeast Asian English-language television channel Rock Entertainment also picked up the first two seasons of Great Chocolate Showdown. The channel is a new licensee for Corus, said the release.

Pamela’s Garden of Eden and seasons three and four of Island of Bryan were additionally picked up In The Box TV for Vietnam and the Balkans, which also acquired the first two seasons of Buying the View (Our House Media; 26 x 30 minutes), Stitched (Forté Entertainment; 12 x 60 minutes), and season two of Wall of Chefs (Insight Productions; 10 x 60 minutes).

Rounding out the sales is Australia’s Foxtel, which acquired Sarah’s Mountain Escape as well as season of two Backroad Truckers (8 x 60 minute; Big Time Decent Productions) and Rust Valley Restorers (10 x 60 minute; Mayhem Entertainment), Deadman’s Curse (Great Pacific Media; 8 x 60 minutes), and season three of Salvage Kings (Media Headquarters; 8 x 60 minutes).

The sales were brokered by worldwide sales lead Rita Carbone Fleury, as well as Leyla Formoso, who represents sales for Latin American and select European territories, and Pooja Nirmal Kant, who reps sales in Asia and Central Eastern Europe.

Corus said advertising spend has scaled back in health and beauty, retail, financial services, government, toys, communications, direct-to-home and services categories, though there have been increases in gambling and travel ads. The company also pointed out that ad revenue has improved compared to recent quarters; it decline by 11% in Q1 and 14% in Q4 2022.

For the three months ended Feb. 28, Corus’ revenue was $343.9 million, a year-over-year decline of 5%. For the fiscal year to date, revenues at Corus are down 6%.

Expenses in the TV division were also up in Q2, due to increased original programming deliveries, a ramp-up of Canadian content, and the extension of long-term output deals.

Corus Studios is headed to MIPTV in Cannes, France next week with its catalogue in tow, including new titles such as Fireworks Media Group’s Pamela’s Cooking With Love (working title; 8 x 60 minutes), Renovation Resort (McGillivray Entertainment Group; 7 x 60 minutes) and Bryan’s All In (Si Entertainment; 10 x 60 minutes). MIPTV runs from April 17 to 19.

With files from Josh Kolm

Image courtesy of Corus Entertainment