The deal includes its library, production slate, and development projects, with founder Lisa Olfman joining the media group to drive existing projects and expand 9 Story’s business opportunities.
9 Story Media Group has just announced the acquisition of Portfolio Entertainment’s library, production slate, and development projects. Portfolio Entertainment, founded in 1991 by Lisa Olfman and the late Joy Rosen, is a leading production, distribution, and animation company spanning factual, lifestyle, drama, and children’s programming.
Olfman has joined 9 Story as executive producer, reporting to the company’s president & CEO, Vince Commisso. She will continue to oversee active Portfolio projects while working to expand 9 Story’s business opportunities. Portfolio associate producer Lauren Evans-Bell also joins 9 Story as development manager/associate producer. She will work with Olfman to drive 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. In addition, 9 Story will also take on Portfolio’s slate of development projects, including those in active development with broadcasters.
Portfolio’s distribution library features over 550 half-hours of content, including popular kids' and family titles such as The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, Hero Elementary, Addison, and Carl Squared. 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.”
Source: 9 Story Media Group
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
