Blue Ant Media Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
"Fiscal 2026 is a transformation year for
Our second quarter results reflect integration-related costs, product mix, and a softer advertising market, which are impacting near-term margins. As previously disclosed, our results typically ramp up in the back half of the fiscal year, and we expect a similar trajectory in 2026, supported by a solid content pipeline. We remain well-capitalized, with a strong liquidity, modest leverage, and the recent receipt of the
Financial Highlights
- Q2 2026 revenue of
$70.0 million versus$38.4 million in the prior year period. - Q2 2026 Adjusted EBITDA1 of
$3.8 million versus$4.1 million in the prior year period. - Q2 2026 net loss of
$6.2 million versus$5.0 million in the prior year period. - Strong liquidity position, with
$50.7 million of cash atFebruary 28, 2026 , bank indebtedness2 of$41.7 million and$41.3 million of undrawn capacity under the Company's corporate credit facility. For further details, please refer to the table under "Cash and Indebtedness Summary." - Subsequent to quarter end, the Company received the full
$34.7 million Value Assurance capital contribution from Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited ("Fairfax")3 in connection with the reverse take-over transaction completed by the Company inAugust 2025 ("RTO"). As planned and previously disclosed, proceeds were used to repay a significant portion of the outstanding balance of a corporate debt facility that was used to fund theThunderbird Entertainment Inc. ("Thunderbird") acquisition.
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1 Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-IFRS measure. For more information on non-IFRS financial measures, see "Non-IFRS Measures." and "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures" in this news release and the Company's MD&A dated |
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2 The Company's bank indebtedness is listed under the 2025 Credit Agreement. It does not include interim production financing. For full details, please see "Note 8: Bank Indebtedness and interim production financing" in the Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended |
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3 Pursuant to a Value Assurance Agreement dated |
Operational Highlights
- On
January 28, 2026 , the Company completed its acquisition of Thunderbird by way of plan of arrangement. Integration is progressing as planned and the Company remains on track to achieve$7 million of synergies. - Strategically repositioned
Blue Ant Studios by introducing a genre-based operating model, streamlined studio branding, and a strengthened senior leadership team designed to accelerate growth across development, production, and global content monetization. Under the new structure,Blue Ant Studios is now organized around genre-based centres of expertise, being Kids, Family and Young Adult (YA), Unscripted, and large scale franchises and reality competition series underInsight Productions . Previous studio brandsThunderbird Entertainment , Great Pacific Media, and Proper Television have been sunset. This structure better reflects how content is developed, financed, and produced in the global market. - Secured several greenlights for long-running series Top
Chef Canada season 13 (Flavour Network), The AmazingRace Canada season 12 (CTV), both produced byBlue Ant's Insight Television, The Great Canadian Baking Show season 10 (CBC), and Emmy-winning series All-Round Champion season 7 (TVO), produced by Blue Ant Studios Unscripted. -
Blue Ant expanded its Pay TV channels in multiple territories including Love Nature on Canal+ inFrance , on INEA and Orange inPoland , onVivacom inBulgaria , and on Singtel inSingapore . Makeful launched on Singtel inSingapore and Magellan launched inLatin America on Millicom. - Media Pulse launched the first 3D campaign for Connected TV. As part of an exclusive Canadian relationship with 3Rock, a
U.K. -based Creative and 3D Production company, Media Pulse successfully created a no-glasses-needed 3D campaign for flat TV screen. - The Amazing Race Canada season 11 (CTV) was the top Canadian linear series of 2025 averaging 1.33 million viewers and continues to be the most watched summer series for 11 straight years.
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Blue Ant received 50 Canadian Screen Award nominations, illustrating the scale and power of the Company's newly expanded Studio. Key titles recognized with multiple nominations include Canada's Drag Race (Crave), Old Enough (TVO), TopChef Canada (Flavour Network), The AmazingRace Canada (CTV), The Great Canadian Baking Show (CBC), and Super Team Canada (Crave).
Consolidated Financial Summary
The following table provides selected financial information from the Company's consolidated statements of income/(loss):
|
(dollars, in thousands, except per share amounts) |
|
Three months |
Change |
|
Six months ended |
Change |
||||
|
|
2026 |
2025 |
$ |
% |
|
2026 |
2025 |
$ |
% |
|
|
Revenues |
|
69,961 |
38,377 |
31,584 |
82 % |
|
150,425 |
87,084 |
63,341 |
73 % |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
(6,181) |
(4,960) |
(1,221) |
(25) % |
|
(12,931) |
(3,742) |
(9,189) |
(246) % |
|
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
(151) |
(138) |
(13) |
(9) % |
|
(59) |
(19) |
(40) |
(211) % |
|
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders |
|
(6,030) |
(4,822) |
(1,208) |
(25) % |
|
(12,872) |
(3,723) |
(9,149) |
(246) % |
|
Net income (loss) per share attributable to shareholders - basic |
|
(0.23) |
(0.30) |
0.07 |
23 % |
|
(0.53) |
(0.23) |
(0.30) |
(130) % |
|
Net income (loss) per share attributable to shareholders - diluted |
|
(0.23) |
(0.30) |
0.07 |
23 % |
|
(0.53) |
(0.23) |
(0.30) |
(130) % |
|
Adjusted EBITDA* |
|
3,824 |
4,121 |
(297) |
(7) % |
|
8,818 |
10,473 |
(1,655) |
(16) % |
|
* This item is a non-IFRS measure. See definition and reconciliation to IFRS in "Non-IFRS Measures" and the "Reconciliation to Non-IFRS" table at the end of this news release. |
Q2 2026 Revenue was
Net loss was
Adjusted EBITDA was
The Company exited Q2 with a strong balance sheet and liquidity profile, providing significant financial flexibility to support continued growth and strategic initiatives.
Cash and Indebtedness Summary
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
50,747 |
34,027 |
54,477 |
|
Bank indebtedness |
(41,665) |
(540) |
(19,342) |
|
Interim production financing |
(55,126) |
(42,218) |
(52,144) |
Financial Summary by Segment
|
|
Three Months Ended February |
|
Six Months Ended |
||||||
|
|
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
|
2026 |
2025 |
Change |
||
|
Revenues |
|
|
$ |
% |
|
|
|
$ |
% |
|
Global Channels and Streaming |
22,070 |
17,367 |
4,703 |
27 % |
|
44,781 |
38,467 |
6,314 |
16 % |
|
Canadian Media |
10,485 |
12,183 |
(1,698) |
(14) % |
|
24,860 |
27,691 |
(2,831) |
(10) % |
|
Production and Distribution |
37,406 |
8,827 |
28,579 |
324 % |
|
80,784 |
20,926 |
59,858 |
286 % |
|
Segment Revenues |
69,961 |
38,377 |
31,584 |
82 % |
|
150,425 |
87,084 |
63,341 |
73 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Global Channels and Streaming |
4,891 |
3,246 |
1,645 |
51 % |
|
8,208 |
9,559 |
(1,351) |
(14) % |
|
Canadian Media |
2,216 |
2,371 |
(155) |
(7) % |
|
7,000 |
7,204 |
(204) |
(3) % |
|
Production and Distribution |
(130) |
(521) |
391 |
75 % |
|
(313) |
(4,071) |
3,758 |
(92) % |
|
Corporate |
(3,153) |
(975) |
(2,178) |
(223) % |
|
(6,077) |
(2,219) |
(3,858) |
174 % |
|
Adjusted EBITDA* |
3,824 |
4,121 |
(297) |
(7) % |
|
8,818 |
10,473 |
(1,655) |
(16) % |
|
*This item is a non-IFRS measure. See definition and reconciliation to IFRS in "Non-IFRS Measures" and the "Reconciliation to Non-IFRS" table. |
In Global Channels and Streaming, Q2 2026 revenue was
In Canadian Media, Q2 2026 revenue was
In Production and Distribution, Q2 2026 revenue was
Second Quarter 2026 Conference Call
DATE:
TIME:
WEBCAST: https://app.webinar.net/WpLVeg7eom1
RAPID CONNECT URL: https://emportal.ink/4kfX4Nv
DIAL-IN
: 416-945-7677 (
A link to the webcast will also be available on
Non-IFRS Measures
This news release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures including "Adjusted EBITDA" and other measures. These measures are not recognized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements that are prospective in nature and constitute forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of assisting the reader in understanding
The forward-looking statements in this news release reflect management's current opinions, beliefs, estimates, expectations and assumptions and are based on information currently available to management, which includes assumptions about continued revenue based on historical past performance, management's historical experience, perception of trends and current business conditions, expected future developments, and other factors which management considers appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. As they are forward-looking in nature, forward-looking statements are subject to change. With respect to the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has made certain assumptions with respect to, among other things, the Company's integration strategy; the Company's ability to realize synergies from the Thunderbird acquisition; its product mix and segment margins; the performance of its business and operations; its ability to meet its future objectives and strategies; that its future projects and plans are achievable and proceeding as anticipated (including assumptions regarding renewals of existing series and greenlights of new projects), as well as assumptions concerning labour availability at budgeted rates and the length and impact of any labour unrest or strikes; the current geo-political landscape (including vis-à-vis the on-going global conflicts and the associated political and economic repercussions); general economic and market segment conditions, including whether or not the entertainment industry and/or broader market experiences a recession, currency exchange and interest rates, competitive intensity and consumer preferences (including continued demand for discretionary consumer products). There can be no assurance that management's underlying opinions, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct and that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes, or results anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements, including, but not limited to, the failure to satisfy the conditions to completion of the acquisition of Thunderbird, some of which are beyond the control of the parties; execute on its integration strategy and realize expected synergies from recent acquisitions, including the Thunderbird acquisition; shifts in consumer behaviour and content demand, including with respect to content buyer commissioning preferences, may reduce the Company's revenue or lead to outdated content and other business offerings; the imposition of tariffs by
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RECONCILIATION OF NON-IFRS MEASURES
Reconciliation from Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA
The following table presents the reconciliation from net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended
|
|
Three Months ended |
Six Months Ended |
||
|
|
2026 |
2025 |
2026 |
2025 |
|
Net income / (loss) |
(6,181) |
(4,960) |
(12,931) |
(3,742) |
|
Add back: |
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and intangible amortization |
3,668 |
1,446 |
6,379 |
2,808 |
|
Interest expense, net of interest income |
1,293 |
864 |
1,160 |
1,812 |
|
Income taxes |
781 |
2,983 |
2,735 |
4,083 |
|
EBITDA* |
(439) |
333 |
(2,657) |
4,961 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation1 |
1,441 |
466 |
1,698 |
1,051 |
|
Other finance costs2 |
431 |
316 |
761 |
569 |
|
Net (gains) losses on foreign exchange3 |
(593) |
792 |
(350) |
1,610 |
|
(Gain) loss on sale of assets4 |
(2,988) |
-- |
66 |
-- |
|
Loss on warrants5 |
-- |
152 |
-- |
152 |
|
Transaction and other related costs6 |
4,902 |
2,065 |
7,442 |
2,133 |
|
Restructuring costs7 |
1,070 |
(3) |
1,858 |
(3) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA* |
3,824 |
4,121 |
8,818 |
10,473 |
|
*This item is a non-IFRS measure. For more information on non-IFRS financial measures, see "Non-IFRS Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures" in the MD&A dated |
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1 Non-cash expenses associated with share-based compensation granted to certain officers, directors and employees. |
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2 Amortization of deferred financing costs and other finance-related costs outside the normal course of business. |
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3 Realized and unrealized net gains and losses on foreign currency exchange. |
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4 Gain on insurance settlement in the three months ended |
|
5 Change in fair value of warrants. |
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6 Professional and other fees associated with the acquisitions of Thunderbird and MagellanTV, and the RTO in the current year periods, and with the RTO and other non-recurring similar costs in the comparative periods. |
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7 Restructuring costs in the current year periods relate to personnel costs in the Global Channels and Streaming segment, along with other integration-related personnel costs associated with recent acquisitions. |
SOURCE