TORONTO – February 5, 2024 – 9 Story Media Group is pleased to announce that it has acquired Portfolio Entertainment’s library, production slate, and development projects. Portfolio Entertainment was founded in 1991 by Lisa Olfman and the late Joy Rosen, and quickly became a leading production, distribution, and animation company spanning factual, lifestyle, drama, and children’s programming.
Olfman will join 9 Story in an Executive Producer role and report to 9 Story’s President & CEO Vince Commisso. She will continue to oversee all active Portfolio projects and look to broaden 9 Story’s opportunities across key business areas. Lauren Evans-Bell, Associate Producer at Portfolio, will also be joining as a Development Manager/Associate Producer at 9 Story, working with Olfman to shepherd the Portfolio development and production properties forward.
As part of the agreement, 9 Story will take over production on Breaking Bear (8 x 22 min), an adult animated series currently in pre-production with Cartel Entertainment and Tom DeLonge’s To the Stars for Tubi. 9 Story will also take on Portfolio’s robust slate of development projects, including those in active development with broadcasters. Both Breaking Bear and broadcaster-led development projects will be led by Olfman.
The Portfolio distribution library features over 550 half-hours of content which includes popular kids and family titles such as The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, Hero Elementary, Addison, and Carl Squared along with several factual and lifestyle programs. Recent titles include the live-action family series Homeschooled, as well as the prime-time animated comedy Doomsday Brothers. The acquisition brings 9 Story’s total distribution library to almost 5,000 half-hours.
“We are so pleased to be working with Lisa to bring the Portfolio library and current slates under the 9 Story umbrella,” said Commisso. “Lisa and Joy created an incredible legacy of entertainment properties, and we are honored to continue this work in partnership with Lisa.”
“I am excited to join creative forces with the 9 Story team,” said Olfman. “9 Story has the talent, creative excellence, and robust infrastructure to best elevate the Portfolio properties for the global market. I am also looking forward to bringing new opportunities to the company and can’t wait to get started.”
About 9 Story Media Group
9 Story Media Group is a leading creator, producer and distributor of kids and family-focused intellectual property. Its award-winning animation studio, Brown Bag Films, is recognized around the world for best-in-class brands such as Doc McStuffins, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Octonauts, Wild Kratts, and Blue’s Clues iv& You. The company’s international distribution arm, 9 Story Distribution International based in Dublin, represents 4,400 half-hours of animated and live-action programming, seen on some of the most respected international channels and platforms. Its in-house consumer products division, 9 Story Brands, builds international entertainment brands for kids, with expertise across creative, brand marketing, and licensing. 9 Story’s Creative Affairs Group creates, develops, and produces award-winning branded properties using groundbreaking formative research. With facilities in Toronto, Dublin, New York, and Bali, 9 Story Media Group employs more than 1000 creative and corporate staff worldwide.
