Bell Media’s CTV has acquired the one-hour animated special A Paw Patrol Christmas (pictured) for its slate of holiday programming, with a premiere set for Friday (Nov. 28).

Elevation Pictures released the holiday-themed special from Spin Master Entertainment’s hit kids’ franchise in select theatres earlier this month.

CTV has also picked up the limited-series reality competition Next Level Baker for its holiday slate.

Gordon Ramsay fronts this spin-off of his Next Level Chef format, which pits professional and amateur bakers against each other with a $25,000 cash prize on the line. The three-week event series launches on CTV2 on Dec. 4.

Sinking Ship Entertainment

Toronto’s Sinking Ship Entertainment (SSE) has locked a number of international sales for titles across its kids and family slate.

Australian pubcaster ABC has acquired the animated comedy series Superbuns (39 x 7 minutes), about a rabbit superhero who saves the day with kindness. SSE acquired worldwide distribution rights to the series earlier this year from the show’s producers, Yowza! Animation and Tricycle Films.

ABC has also licensed the tween media literacy series Media Stamped, which SSE created in partnership with international advocacy organization Global Citizen.

In Europe, RTL Netherlands has acquired the tween/teen series Phoenix Rise (produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions), while Prime Video Germany has picked up Dino Dex, the latest series from SSE’s dinosaur franchise.

Back in Canada, CBC has licensed seasons one and two of SSE’s Dino Dana as well as the company’s Odd Squad: Mobile Unit for streaming service CBC Gem. Both titles were originally commissioned by TVOKids.

Epic Story Media

Toronto-based kids’ franchise company Epic Story Media (ESM) has secured a commission from Warner Bros. Discovery for a second season of the short-form animated preschool series Clawlolo for the EMEA market.

The new 26 x 3-minute season will air exclusively across Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids’ networks and platforms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as its global Cartoonito YouTube channels.

WBD has also licensed the first season of the show for its broadcast nets and streaming services, after previously acquiring it for its YouTube channels as well as the Cartoonito App in Italy.

Produced by Cyprus-based Rymanco Ventures, Clawlolo follows the underwater adventures of Eric the Crab and his aquatic friends. ESM holds exclusive distribution rights to the series.

The deal was negotiated by ESM’s Jessica Labi and Aurélie Wack, acquisitions and coproductions senior manager, kids and family EMEA at Warner Bros. Discovery.

Raven Banner Releasing

Genre-film distributor Raven Banner Releasing has acquired Canadian theatrical rights to the Toronto-set thriller Sway, with a January 2026 release targeted.

The film stars Playback 10 to Watch alum Emmanuel Kabongo as a Black community leader who becomes the target of a blackmail plot, at the same time that his family is being threatened by a mysterious gang. The cast also includes Lovell Adams-Gray (Power Book II: Ghost), Brittany Raymond (The Next Step), Paul Amos (Murdoch Mysteries), Karl Campbell (The Umbrella Academy) and Tony Ofori (Ghostwriter).

Kabongo, who made his debut as a producer on the project, secured the distribution deal with Raven Banner in September. He also inked an international distribution deal for the film the same month with Philadelphia-based Breaking Glass Pictures.

Sway is directed by Charlie Hamilton and Zach Ramelan, with Hamilton also serving as writer. Alongside Kabongo, the producers are Daniel Govia of Toronto’s Magic Button Films, James Stewart of Geneva Film, and Eric Yensu. Executive producers include Mishael Morgan, Sari Colt and Chris Morsby.

Image courtesy of Elevation Pictures