Following the recent acquisition of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media, Genius Brands International has entered into an agreement to initially acquire a 28.6% interest in Your Family Entertainment AG,to be followed by a mandatory tender offer of the outstanding shares of YFE.
YFE is one of Europe’s largest distributors and broadcasters of high-quality programmes for children and families, which brings a global award-winning streaming and broadcast footprint on satellite, cable, OTT, and terrestrial networks.
YFE controls over 4,000 animated episodes and feature films, with distribution through its streaming and linear kids’ channels across 100 countries with more than 50M households reached, including free-to-air, pay TV and digital subscription channels in Germany, Austria & Switzerland.
The YFE transaction, alongside the recent announcement of the acquisition of WOW! Unlimited Media, will significantly expand the Genius Brands catalogue and give the company a streaming foothold outside the United States in Europe and the rest of the world, from which it expects to fuel growth.
The announcement was made today jointly by Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands, and Dr. Stefan Piëch, CEO of YFE.
YFE, subject to YFE shareholder approval, will be renamed Genius Family Entertainment AG, and will operate its children’s networks under the brand Kartoon Channel! Worldwide. YFE will maintain its independent listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and will be run by the current Management Board of Dr. Piëch and Bernd Wendeln.
Genius Brands and YFE share the goals of bringing “Content with a Purpose” to children worldwide. Dr. Piëch is a recognized world leader in developing and promoting children’s content that supports environmental causes, sustainability, and is non-violent.
Concurrently, it was also announced that Paul Robinson, former Managing Director of Disney Television International and Senior Vice President Disney Channel Worldwide, will become Managing Director of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide and oversee the international buildout and growth of Kartoon Channel!
