Revenue generated by WildBrain in its first fiscal quarter (July to September) was up 5% over the same period last year to US$79.9 million, thanks to its focus on a few key brands and consumer products growth. 

Licensing agency WildBrain CPLG’s deal-making for Peanuts and proprietary brands Strawberry Shortcake (pictured) and Teletubbies contributed significantly to the Toronto-based company’s global licensing earnings climbing by 27% to US$45.3 million in Q1. 

Revenue for the content creation and audience engagement segment was down 14% to US$29.3 million, simply because there were fewer productions running through WildBrain’s studios. And growth in music licensing and YouTube revenue helped to mitigate what would have otherwise been a steeper drop. 

Strategically, WildBrain is focusing tightly on its key brands to maximize revenue, especially Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies. The company refinanced its debt in July, and the goal is to prioritize high-growth business segments such as global licensing. 

Looking ahead at the rest of its fiscal year, WildBrain expects the production and licensing verticals to drive revenue growth between 10% and 15%, says president and CEO Josh Scherba in a release.