WildBrain’s sharpened focus on licensing and branded partnerships is paying off in the company’s financial results. A Q1 report published this morning, the first since it shuttered its channels for good in October, included total figures with and without the broadcasting business. Here are the key takeaways:

Q1 revenue: US$89.5 million including Canadian TV broadcasting; US$86 million excluding Canadian TV broadcasting

Year-over-year change: Up 13%, or 16% with Canadian TV broadcasting excluded

Licensing powerhouse: Global licensing revenue shot up by 29% over last year to US$57.8 million, driven by growth for Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies and third-party revenue from WildBrain CPLG. 

Offsets: Content creation and audience engagement revenue dropped 3% from US$29.1 million in Q1 2024 to US$28.37 million this quarter. WildBrain attributes this to softening interest from buyers for content distribution, but notes that there is growth across YouTube and AVOD networks. 

2026 outlook: After pivoting away from domestic television, WildBrain CFO Nick Gawne reaffirmed to shareholders that the company expects to experience as much as a 20% rise in annual revenue by the end of its fiscal year. Surrendering its TV licenses also means the company is no longer subject to any Canadian control restrictions from the country’s Broadcasting Act. 

CEO’s remarks: “Our global licensing business continues to deliver strong growth, underscoring the enduring appeal of our core brands and the strength of our franchise strategy,” says president and CEO Josh Scherba. “With sustained demand across categories and territories, our licensing pipeline remains robust.”