Studio sets sights on live-action TV and signs separate co-production deal with DHX Media.

DreamWorks Animation has entered a five-year agreement with DHX Media to co-produce original animated children’s content. At the same time, DWA has appointed a new executive to oversee the expansion of its television business into the live-action genre.

The new deal with DHX will generate 130 episodes of original content that will air on DHX Television’s suite of channels including Family Channel, Family Jr., Family CHRGD and Télémagino. DHX will handle distribution for the content in Canada, and DWA will distribute to the rest of the world.

DHX Media has also licensed more than 1,000 half-hours of television programming from DWA to be broadcast beginning as early as June 2016 across DHX Television’s channels, making DHX Television the exclusive TV network for this DWA content in Canada. Some of the shows included in the deal are "All Hail King Julien," "The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show," "Dragons: Race to the Edge," "The Croods" and more.

DHX Media has also entered into an agreement with AwesomenessTV, which is majority owned by DWA, to license 300 half-hours of teen content for exclusive broadcast in Canada on Family Channel. The series included in the agreement will air on Family Channel’s evening teen block, F2N, which will launch in January 2016. DHX will also handle distribution for the AwesomenessTV content in Canada.

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome DHX to our family of world-leading broadcasters," says Ann Daly, president, DreamWorks Animation. "This pact with DHX will not only expand the footprint of our existing library, but also create new branded series in Canada with global appeal.” 

In a separate deal, DWA has appointed Katie O’Connell Marsh as head of global live-action, as the studio expands further into the live-action genre.

"Television has quickly grown into one of our most successful businesses and, as the demand for kids and co-viewing content continues to rise, extending the DreamWorks Animation brand to live-action TV in a strategic and financially disciplined way will spur even further growth," says Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive officer, DWA. "Katie's proven track record of developing hit live-action television programming, coupled with her success in quickly building television businesses from the ground up, makes her the perfect executive to lead us into this new genre."

Marsh joins DWA after serving since 2010 as the chief executive officer of Gaumont International Television, a division she built. Previously, Marsh was an executive at NBC, where she first served as senior vice president of development.

“Our move into live-action will enable DWA to further capitalize on the evolving television landscape by creating new opportunities on both traditional and emerging platforms for our branded series,” says Daly. “Moreover, live-action will give us yet another creative lens with which to explore our library of rich storytelling and memorable characters that have resonated with audiences for the past two decades.”