Insight Productions
Canadian media company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Insight Productions is a Canadian television production company based in Toronto, Ontario. It was established in 1970.[1] Insight is led by CEO John Brunton.[2]
| |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media Entertainment |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founders | Pen Densham John Watson |
| Headquarters | 135 Liberty Street Suite 401 Toronto, Ontario M6K 1A7 |
Key people | John Brunton (CEO) |
| Parent | Blue Ant Media |
| Website | www |
History
Insight Productions was established in 1970 by Penray "Pen" Densham and John Kingsley Watson.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby were awarded the Order of Canada in 2018.[7][8]
The company released the documentary film Life Times Nine in 1973 for which it was nominated for two Academy Awards.[1]
The company faces a class-action lawsuit over unpaid wages.[9]
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.[10]
In May 2018, Toronto-based Boat Rocker Media acquired a 70% majority stake in Insight Productions, with the company continuing to operate as an independent unit.[11] Boat Rocker Media would later announce a deal to acquire the remaining 30% in August 2024.[12]
On March 24, 2025, Blue Ant Media announced its intent to acquire Insight Productions from Boat Rocker Media as part of a larger reverse takeover arrangement.[13][14] As part of a reorganization in February 2026 following its purchase of Thunderbird Entertainment, Blue Ant Studios positioned Insight as one of its three main divisions (focusing on "premium" content), with its CEO John Brunton continuing to lead the studio.[15]
Filmography
Television
- A Russell Peters Christmas
- A Christmas Fury
- The Artistry of Torvill and Dean
- Canada Day 150
- Canada's Walk of Fame
- Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2021[27]
- Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2022
- Deal or No Deal Canada
- Eurovision Canada
- Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education[28]
- Hatching, Matching and Dispatching
- Heart of Gold
- The Goods
- How to Look Good Naked Canada
- Indigo
- It's Only Rock & Roll
- Jamie & David: A Golden Homecoming
- Jann Arden: Live at Last
- Joni Mitchell: Painting with Words and Music[29]
- The Jon Dore Television Show
- Juno Awards
- Kurt Browning: Ice Legends
- Kurt Browning: You Must Remember This
- Kurt Browning: Tall in the Saddle
- VJ Search
- Music Without Borders
- One World: The Concert for Tsunami Relief
- Test Pattern
- Saying Goodbye
- Scott Hamilton: Upside Down
- The Seán Cullen Show
- Seán Cullen Home for Christmas
- Sonic Temple
- Star Racer
- Stolen Hearts
- Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble
- The Truth About Alex
- Toller Cranston: A Tribute
- Wall of Chefs
- The Wave
Films
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney's Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure[30] | April 26, 1998 | Buena Vista International Television | co-production with Walt Disney Television |
| How to Save the World[31] | September 11, 2015 (United Kingdom) | Picturehouse Entertainment | co-production with MET Films[32] and BFI |
| Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind | April 27, 2019 | co-production with CBC Docs and Kinosmith Inc. |
- The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration
- Comedy Gold: The Hilarious Story of Canadian Comedy
Digital
- Joke or Choke
- But I'm Chris Jericho!
- Damaged