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Insight Productions

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Insight Productions
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryMedia
Entertainment
Founded1970; 54 years ago (1970)
FoundersPen Densham
John Watson
Headquarters135 Liberty Street, ,
Canada
Key people
John Brunton (CEO)
ParentBoat Rocker Media (majority)
Websitewww.insighttv.com

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]

History

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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]

Filmography

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Television

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Documentaries

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Digital

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Insight Productions | Media Commons". mediacommons.library.utoronto.ca. University of Toronto. Retrieved March 28, 2020.[dead link]
  2. ^ "John Brunton". Variety. September 11, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "Insight Productions - Discover Archives". discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Insight Productions". Ontario Creates. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  5. ^ ""Canadian Idol" | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "John Brunton". Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  7. ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Barbara M. Bowlby". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  8. ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Mr. John M. Brunton". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  9. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (February 24, 2020). "Insight Productions faces Ontario class action lawsuit over unpaid wages - CityNews Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. Toronto, Ontario: Citytv. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  10. ^ Canada, Amazon. "Amazon Prime Video Announces Jay Baruchel as Host of the Canadian Edition of the Global Amazon Original Hit Format Lol: Last One Laughing Canada". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  11. ^ Canada's New Year's Eve: A Countdown to 2021, retrieved March 4, 2021
  12. ^ "Every Child Matters: Reconciliation through Education". Decoda Literacy Solutions. September 30, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  13. ^ Tosoni, Joan, Joni Mitchell: Painting with Words and Music (Music), Brian Blade, Mark Isham, Greg Leisz, Joni Mitchell, retrieved March 5, 2021
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