DHX Media and DreamWorks-owned AwesomenessTV have inked an original development and production agreement for content that will air on Family Channel in Canada. In addition, DHX has picked up distribution, merchandising and licensing rights, outside of the US, for all original content produced by the partnership.

The Canadian conglomerate has also licensed three current AwesomenessTV series to air on Family Channel: sketch comedy  AwesomenessTV (20 x half hours), reality series Make Me Over (pictured, 20 x half hours) and docu-series Cheerleaders (26 x half hours).

AwesomenessTV, in which Hearst Corporation also owns a 25% stake, operates under a large umbrella that includes a YouTube channel, MCN ATV Network and DreamWorksTV’s YouTube channel. Other content produced to date by AwesomenessTV includes feature film Expelled, movie-of-the-week Terry The Tomboy and  Richie Rich for Netflix.

This partnership follows DHX’s move to rebrand its suite of channels after the cessation of its output deal with Disney this past April. Rival Corus Entertainment is set to launch Disney Channel in Canada for the first time on Sept. 1.

DHX Television has been busy building up its original programming slate for  Family and its newly rebranded Family XTRM and Family Junior/Famille Junior channels. Shows recently commissioned by DHX Television for Family include Fresh TV’s Backstage, The Wonderful Wayneys (Aircraft Pictures and Dolphin Entertainment) and Lost and Found Music Studios ( Temple Street Productions).

From Playback Online.