Canadian 'Teletubbies' owner buys four TV channels for $160 Million

Children's television is one expensive endeavor for the networks, and it makes sense considering the massive popularity of shows like Teletubbies and Disney programs. Well the owner of the Teletubbies franchise, Canadian kids content firm DHX Media, has now acquired four other TV channels from Bell Media for $160 million.

The Bell Media channels include both the English and French versions of Disney Junior, Disney XD and the Family Channel. The regulatory approved purchase by DHX Media will be paying for the channels with an expanded credit facility and cash.

If only kids knew how much work and money went into putting all of the popular, usually slightly bizarre shows on the air. Well the truth is, kids are the reason people like DHX Media's CEO Michael Donovan can pay for some of this acquisition in cash.

"The acquisition of these high-quality Canadian channels represents an exciting new addition to DHX, one that complements and enhances all areas of our business and positions us for our next stage of growth," said Michael Donovan.

The Family channel has about 5.7 million subscribers in Canada. Bell Media took over the Disney-branded channels in Canada earlier this year in a deal with Astral Media for $2.84 billion.

As The Hollywood Reporter stated, "Halifax-based DHX has been in acquisition mode, having earlier this year acquired Teletubbies owner Ragdoll Worldwide from BBC Worldwide and an investor group including founder Anne Wood for $27.7 million in cash."

Children's and family television is a huge industry, and it looks companies like DHX Media are reaping a lot of the benefits in Canada now.