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Insight Productions

{{short description|Canadian media company}}

{{use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Insight Productions

| logo = Insight Productions.png

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Media
Entertainment

| founded = {{Start date and age|1970}}

| founders = Pen Densham
John Watson

| hq_location = 135 Liberty Street

| hq_location_city = Toronto, Ontario

| hq_location_country = Canada

| parent = Boat Rocker Media (2018–present)

| key_people = John Brunton (CEO)

| website = {{URL|https://www.insighttv.com/}}

}}

Insight Productions is a Canadian television production company based in Toronto, Ontario. It was established in 1970.{{cite web |title=Insight Productions {{!}} Media Commons |url=https://mediacommons.library.utoronto.ca/node/564 |website=mediacommons.library.utoronto.ca |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=28 March 2020}}{{dl|date=November 2024}} Insight is led by CEO John Brunton.{{Cite web|date=2013-09-11|title=John Brunton|url=https://variety.com/exec/john-brunton/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

History

Insight Productions was established in 1970 by Penray "Pen" Densham and John Kingsley Watson.{{Cite web|title=Insight Productions - Discover Archives|url=https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/insight-productions|access-date=2021-02-23|website=discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca}}

In December 1978, John Brunton, assistant editor and director with Insight, bought the rights to the company from Densham and Watson, becoming president and CEO.{{Cite web|title=Insight Productions |url=https://ontariocreates.ca/success-stories/insight-productions|access-date=February 23, 2021 |website=Ontario Creates|language=en}}

Insight has created programs in several genres (documentary, drama, sports, variety, comedy, music, reality), and has adapted to shifting tastes, technology and formats. Canadian Idol, an Insight-produced iteration of the successful international format, aired between 2004 and 2008 to record-breaking audiences.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quotcanadian-idolquot-emc |title="Canadian Idol" {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=February 23, 2021|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}

Insight is also credited with revamping Canada's national music awards, Juno Awards. By moving the show from a theatre to an arena setting, Insight was ultimately able to take the show on the road to cities across the country.{{Cite news|title=John Brunton |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/john-brunton/article4085942/ |access-date=February 23, 2021}}

John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby were awarded the Order of Canada in 2018.{{Cite web|last=General|first=Office of the Secretary to the Governor|title=Barbara M. Bowlby|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-10247|access-date=2021-02-23|website=The Governor General of Canada}}{{Cite web|last=General|first=Office of the Secretary to the Governor|title=Mr. John M. Brunton |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-9041 |access-date=February 23, 2021|website=The Governor General of Canada}}

The company released the documentary film Life Times Nine in 1973 for which it was nominated for two Academy Awards.

The company faces a class-action lawsuit over unpaid wages.{{cite news |last1=Ahearn |first1=Victoria |title=Insight Productions faces Ontario class action lawsuit over unpaid wages - CityNews Toronto |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/02/24/insight-productions-faces-ontario-class-action-lawsuit-over-unpaid-wages/ |access-date=28 March 2020 |work=toronto.citynews.ca |publisher=Citytv |date=February 24, 2020 |location=Toronto, Ontario}}

Recent productions include Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, Canada's New Year's Eve: Countdown to 2021, Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education, Juno Awards, Wall of Chefs, Battle of the Blades, Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, The Launch, Canada's Walk of Fame, Top Chef Canada, I Do, Redo, The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration, and Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble. On April 13, 2021, Amazon Prime Video announced Jay Baruchel will host a Canadian version of LOL: Last One Laughing to be produced by Insight.{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Amazon|title=Amazon Prime Video Announces Jay Baruchel as Host of the Canadian Edition of the Global Amazon Original Hit Format Lol: Last One Laughing Canada|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/amazon-prime-video-announces-jay-baruchel-as-host-of-the-canadian-edition-of-the-global-amazon-original-hit-format-lol-last-one-laughing-canada-823955590.html|access-date=2021-05-04|website=www.newswire.ca|language=en}}

In May 2018, Boat Rocker Media acquired a 70% majority stake in Insight.{{cite web |last=Benzine |first=Adam |date=May 17, 2018 |title=Boat Rocker buys Insight |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/boat-rocker-buys-insight/ |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website=C21Media}} Boat Rocker acquired the remainder of Insight in August 2024.{{cite web |last=Townsend |first=Kelly |date=August 15, 2024 |title=Boat Rocker to acquire full ownership of Insight Productions |url=https://playbackonline.ca/2024/08/13/boat-rocker-to-acquire-full-ownership-of-insight-productions/ |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website=Playback}}

On March 24, 2025, Blue Ant Media announced its intent to acquire Insight Productions as part of a larger reverse takeover arrangement.{{Cite web |title=Blue Ant acquires Boat Rocker production assets and goes public via reverse IPO |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/blue-ant-acquires-boat-rocker-production-assets-and-goes-public-via-reverse-ipo/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=C21media |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |date=2025-03-24 |title=Blue Ant Media Going Public Through Reverse Takeover Of Boat Rocker Media; Boat Rocker Studios Set For MBO |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/blue-ant-media-reverse-takeover-boat-rocker-canada-1236347560/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Filmography

=Television=

{{div col}}

{{div col end}}

=Documentaries=

=Digital=

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Archival records|title=Insight Productions fonds}}

  • {{official|https://insighttv.com/}}

Category:Television broadcasting companies of Canada

Category:Television production companies of Canada

Category:Companies based in Toronto

Category:Mass media companies established in 1970

Category:1970 establishments in Ontario

Category:Canadian companies established in 1970