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Hasbro buys EntertainmentOne
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 23 August 2019
Toy company Hasbro has announced a deal to acquire content firm EntertainmentOne for $4 billion. Hasbro has particularly bigged up how, once said deal is done, it will own popular toy-friendly children’s TV shows like ‘Peppa Pig’ and ‘PJ Masks’. Although it also means it will be in control of long-running zombie apocalypse show ‘The Walking Dead’.
Enough about TV though, why is this of interest to the music industry? Well, in addition to all the TV stuff, EntertainmentOne also owns various music companies. There’s record label Dualtone, live firm Round Room, production music library Audio Network and a swathe of artist management operations – Last Gang, People’s Champ, Nerve, Quiet As Kept, Amelia Artists, WRC and Hardlivings. So that’s why. All those music set-ups are now owned by the company that makes My Little Pony.
“The acquisition of eOne adds beloved story-led global family brands that deliver strong operating returns to Hasbro’s portfolio and provides a pipeline of new brand creation driven by family-oriented storytelling, which will now include Hasbro’s IP”, says Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner, immediately honing in on the eOne assets with toy potential.
Though he doesn’t completely forget the zombies, adding: “In addition, Hasbro will leverage eOne’s immersive entertainment capabilities to bring our portfolio of brands that have appeal to gamers, fans and families to all screens globally and realise full franchise economics across our blueprint strategy for shareholders”.
OK, I don’t really know what any of that means, but let’s assume it had something to do with the zombies. Or maybe eOne CEO Darren Throop can help explain what his new boss is on about. He says: “Hasbro’s portfolio of integrated toy, game and consumer products, will further fuel the tremendous success we’ve achieved at eOne”.
OK, cool. He adds: “There’s a strong cultural fit between our two companies; eOne’s stated mission is to unlock the power and value of creativity which aligns with Hasbro’s corporate objectives. eOne teams will continue to do what they do best, bolstered by the access to Hasbro’s extensive portfolio of richly creative IP and merchandising strength”.
Yeah, these statements are just a load of corporate nonsense aren’t they? “In addition”, Throop goes on, “the resulting expanded Hasbro presence in Canada through eOne’s deep roots will bring world class talent and production capabilities to Hasbro”. Ah, country specific corporate nonsense! Good times.
Meanwhile, I await Hasbro’s My Little Zombie range with anticipation.
