Peanuts Drives DHX Revenue Growth

The media company’s fiscal 2018 Q1 revenues were also higher within its licensing, production and distribution businesses.

NORTH AMERICA–DHX Media reported a massive increase in earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2018, which ended Sept. 30, 2017, primarily due to the acquisitive growth from Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake.

For the company’s first quarter, DHX reported revenue of $98.6 million, compared to $53.8 million in the year prior. According to the media company, 16 percent of the increase was due to organic growth while 67 percent was due to acquisitive growth from Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake.

In addition, the company has significantly grown the scale of its licensing business, including its in-house agency, CPLG, to 42 percent of total revenue. Although Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake played a massive role in its earnings, the company noted that “Teletubbies” continues to drive steady toy sales while extending into new product categories–including publishing and live events–and internationally.

Other highlights from the company’s first quarter earnings include: the production and distribution business grew 51 percent to $43.3 million; total production revenue rose 45 percent to $20.2 million and was comprised of 11 new proprietary half-hour programs; traditional distribution revenue rose 40 percent to $12.3 million; and the WildBrain YouTube network revenues were $10.9 million, which reflects a 79 percent in organic growth.

“We’re off to a good start for fiscal 2018, with 83 percent revenue growth, and we are on plan to achieve our annual growth targets,” says Dana Landry, chief executive officer, DHX Media. “We are encouraged by the organic revenue growth in our core production and distribution businesses, and the fact that the newly acquired Peanuts and Strawberry Shortcake assets significantly expand our consumer products portfolio. With this acquisition, we are now positioned to meet the unprecedented global demand for kids’ and family content.”