Entertainment One (eOne) has released its full-year financial results for the year ending March 31, reporting a 2% revenue increase to CAD$1.538 billion (£803 million) compared to the previous year.
The growth for the company, which is traded on the London Stock Exchange, was driven primarily by its TV and family divisions, with eOne Television reporting growth of 27% with revenues of CAD$360.17 million (£188 million) and revenues for its family division increasing by 10% to $127.59 million (£66.6 million). The growth in the family division was attributed partly to the expansion of Peppa Pig‘s licensing and merchandising. Last September, eOne took a 70% stake in Astley Baker Davies, the company behind Peppa Pig, in a deal valued at CAD$284 million (£196 million).
eOne produced or acquired 998 half hours of new programming in the year, with 752 half-hours in 2015 proper.
The company did however see declines on the film side, with eOne’s film division seeing a 7% decrease in revenues to CAD$1.059 billion (£553 million). The reason for the drop was partially due to a reduced number of theatrical releases in 2015-16 (210) compared with the previous year (227), as well as under-performing titles on the roster. In the upcoming financial year, eOne expects to do 220 theatrical releases, including titles such as The BFG, Ricky Gervais’ David Brent: Life on the Road.
Also in the film division, eOne saw an increase of 189% in revenues generated through film production, with titles such as Sinister 2, Insidious: Chapter 3, Eye in the Sky and others generating global box office revenues of CAD$289.9 million (USD$220 million). In the upcoming year, investment in film production is expected to rise to CAD$134.11 million (£70 million), according to the report.
Elsewhere, the company saw a 22% decline in home entertainment revenues, which eOne attributed to a consumer migration from physical to digital formats, as well as having fewer theatrical releases.
The Toronto-based company’s music division also saw revenues of CAD$80.85 million (£42.2 million), an 11% increase from the year before.
Looking forward, the company said in the financial report that it expects to double the size of the business between now and 2020. The growth, read the report, will be contributed to by partnerships with Amblin Partners, Sierra Pictures and Renegade 83.
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