Toronto-based Lone Eagle Entertainment has reached a deal with North American company Syndicado for the worldwide distribution rights (excluding Canada and the U.S.) to its feature-length documentary Offside: The Harold Ballard Story (pictured), about the infamous owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The doc is directed by Jason Priestley (Barenaked in America) and produced by Rachel Horvath. Executive producers include Lone Eagle’s Michael Geddes, Kevin Kimsa and Mark Slone. It follows the two-decade period in which Ballard ran the Maple Leafs according to his whims, drawing the ire of sports fans and non-sports fans alike, until his death in 1990.

A CBC Docs Original, Offside: The Harold Ballard Story is produced with the assistance of the Canada Media Fund and federal tax credits and with the participation of the Rogers Documentary Fund and Ontario Creates Film Fund. It premiered theatrically as an official selection at the 2022 Whistler Film Festival.

The agreement between Lone Eagle and Syndicado also includes more than 100 hours of premium TV series for VOD distribution, including the Food Network series You Gotta Eat Here! with John Catucci.

W Network

The W Network has secured a number of Corus Exclusives for its 2023 Countdown to Christmas programming with the Hallmark Channel. The titles, which were acquired separately from Hallmark Channel’s program slate, include Christmas at the Chalet (CMW Horizon Productions) and How to Fall in Love by Christmas (CME Winter Productions) from distributor Reel One International; Annuit Coeptis Entertainment’s Merry Mystery Christmas and Laughing All the Way; and Bar None Productions’ Mistletoe Connection (produced in association with Larry Levinson Productions) and Dial S For Santa.

The TV movie premieres kicked off on Oct. 20, while the full holiday programming event begins on Nov. 1.

Gusto TV

Canadian streaming TV app RiverTV has added Gusto TV, Tastemade and Tastemade Home to its core channel package.

Gusto TV is an international food channel featuring hundreds of hours of proprietary content and a culturally diverse lineup, while Tastemade boasts award-winning food and lifestyle programming and Tastemade Home features design shows and DIY-focused programming to inspire viewers. RiverTV is available on all major streaming video devices including Roku, Apple TV and iOS, Amazon FireTV, Android mobile, certified Android TV devices and Samsung and LG TVs.

Nelvana

Corus Entertainment-owned distributor, producer and licensing agent Nelvana is teaming with the Clifford Ross Company and Spanish fashion brand The Animals Observatory to launch a premium line of Babar apparel for kids, available internationally in stores and online. The capsule collection features vintage artwork designs of the iconic elephant on tops, pants, dresses, accessories and more.

Drawing inspiration from art, nature, and other elements, the Animals Observatory and Babar capsule collection is available via The Animals Observatory online store, as well as fashion stores that carry The Animals Observatory products.

With files from Kelly Townsend