Rainbow (company)

{{Short description|Italian studio}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Rainbow S.p.A.

| logo = Rainbow S.r.l. logo.svg

| trading_name = Rainbow

| former_name = Rainbow S.r.l. (1995-2018)

| logo_size = 200px

| type = Private

| foundation = {{start date and age|April 1995}}

| founder = Iginio Straffi

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Iginio Straffi (CEO)

| products = {{ubl|Television series|Films}}

| owner = Iginio Straffi

| subsid = {{ubl|Bardel Entertainment|Gruppo Iven S.p.A.|(Colorado Film)|Rainbow CGI|Moviement Talent Agency|Tridimensional|Witty Toys}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.rbw.it/|rbw.it}}

| location_city = Loreto, Ancona, Italy

}}

Rainbow S.p.A., trading as Rainbow is an Italian studio founded by Iginio Straffi and co-owned by Viacom (later Paramount Global) from 2011 to 2023. Rainbow has collaborated with Viacom/Paramount's other company, Nickelodeon, on multiple shows, including Winx Club and Club 57.{{cite web|url=https://www.produ.com/noticias/iginio-straffi-de-rainbow-tuvimos-una-influencia-muy-importante-en-la-historia-de-club-57|title=Iginio Straffi de Rainbow: Tuvimos una influencia muy importante en la historia de Club 57 para garantizar su atractivo en Europa|work=Produ.com|date=20 November 2018|last=Ramos-Weiner|first=Maribel|language=es}} The studio is based in Loreto, Marche and was founded by Straffi in 1995. Rainbow began as an animation studio, providing creative services for larger companies until it secured enough funds for original productions.

In February 2011, Viacom purchased 30% of the company for 62 million euros (US$83 million),{{cite web|url=http://www.videoagedaily.com/digitalissues/PDF/Video%20Age%20International%20September-October%202014/files/assets/common/downloads/page0024.pdf|title=Straffi's Rainbow: Europe's Largest Animation House Has Growing Pains|work=VideoAge International|date=October 2014|quote=In 2011, 16 years after Straffi founded Rainbow, Viacom gained 30 percent ownership of the animation division... for 62 million euro ($83 million), thus valuing the company at $277 million.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924205324/http://www.videoagedaily.com/digitalissues/PDF/Video%20Age%20International%20September-October%202014/files/assets/common/downloads/page0024.pdf|archive-date=September 24, 2017|url-status=live}} leaving the remaining 70% to Iginio Straffi.{{cite news|last1=Vivarelli|first1=Nick|title=Winx creator in the pink: Viacom draws on Italian animation shop|url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/winx-creator-in-the-pink-1118032886/|access-date=August 9, 2015|work=Variety|date=February 26, 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Serafini |first1=Domenico |date=November 5, 2014 |title=I dolori di Rainbow per arrivare prima in Europa |language=it |work=Millecanali |url=https://www.millecanali.it/i-dolori-di-rainbow-per-arrivare-prima-in-europa/ |access-date=May 23, 2017}} Viacom's Nickelodeon networks broadcast Rainbow's shows worldwide,{{cite web|url=http://espresso.repubblica.it/visioni/societa/2011/02/24/news/winx-le-fatine-fanno-il-botto-1.29024|title=Winx, le fatine fanno il botto|work=L'espresso|date=24 February 2011|last=Minardi|first=Sabina|language=it}} and Rainbow acts as the licensing agent for Nickelodeon's shows in Italy.{{cite web|url=https://kidscreen.com/content/pdf/51486.pdf#page=48|title=Rainbow to rep Nick, lands new master toy deal|work=Kidscreen|date=April 2011|last=Rusak|first=Gary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015145931/https://kidscreen.com/content/pdf/51486.pdf|archive-date=October 15, 2011|url-status=dead}} Nickelodeon's American studios have also collaborated with Rainbow on several productions, including Winx Club from 2011 to 2015 and Club 57 in 2019.

In 2015, Rainbow purchased fellow animation studio Bardel Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://kidscreen.com/2015/10/05/rainbow-buys-canadian-animation-studio-bardel/|title=Rainbow buys Canadian animation studio Bardel|work=Kidscreen|date=5 October 2015}} In 2017, Rainbow acquired a majority stake in Gruppo Iven S.p.A., which owns the production company Colorado Film.{{cite web |url=http://www.iginiostraffi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MF-Cinema-Rainbow-Viacom-compra-Colorado-21072017.pdf |title=Rainbow-Viacom compra la Colorado |work=MF Milano Finanza |date=21 August 2017 |first=Andrea |last=Montanari |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820135012/http://www.iginiostraffi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MF-Cinema-Rainbow-Viacom-compra-Colorado-21072017.pdf |archive-date=20 August 2018 |url-status=dead | accessdate=27 August 2023}}

In April 2018, Straffi and Viacom listed the company on the Italian stock exchange.{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/business/2018/04/12/winx-take-to-the-stock-exchange-2_f4eb0759-ac64-45b2-9510-34cefcb5461b.html|title=Winx take to the stock exchange|work=Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata|date=12 April 2018|quote=Rome: The shares will be put on sale by Straffi and Viacom Holdings Italia.}} The listing followed years of consideration regarding which country's stock market to enter (the United States or Italy).{{cite web|url=https://bebeez.it/2015/11/03/rainbow-ripensa-alla-borsa/|title=Rainbow ripensa alla Borsa|work=Bebeez.it|date=3 November 2015|language=it}} According to Straffi, this presented "a real dilemma" as Viacom was already listed on an American stock exchange, but Rainbow performed best in European countries. Straffi and Viacom withdrew Rainbow from the stock market in May 2018, citing a lack of suitable market conditions.{{cite web|url=https://www.miamarket.it/en/the-winx-withdraw-from-the-stock-market-2/|title=The Winx Withdraw from the Stock Market|date=22 May 2018|quote=The Rainbow studio based in Loreto, Marche, 30% of which belongs to Viacom, decided to go public... However, investors have not responded with the awaited enthusiasm}}

After almost 12 years of co-ownership, Paramount sold its stake back to Straffi in January 2023. While Nickelodeon will continue to be a broadcast partner for the studio, the purchase allows Straffi full control of Rainbow's new projects.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/viacom-takes-stake-in-rainbow-1118031575/|title=Viacom takes stake in Rainbow|work=Variety|date=4 February 2011|last=Vivarelli|first=Nick}}{{cite web|last=Bianchi|first=Nicole|title=Good Morning, Cinecittà!|url=https://cinecittanews.it/good-morning-cinecitta-6/|work=Cinecittà News|date=24 January 2023|language=Italian}}