Investors Eye Alliance Atlantis Communications

In December Alliance Atlantis Communications confirmed that it was up sale. The Canada-based independent distributor co-produces the CSI franchise and handles the international distribution.

With their production partner on the auction block, CBS could become the sole owner of CSI if it bought out its partner’s stake in the franchise. It’s unclear whether the contract between CBS and Alliance Atlantis includes a provision for either partner to have a right of first refusal on the franchise if the other pulls out.

CanWest Global Communications is considered to be the front-runner in the purchase of Alliance Atlantis. CanWest has teamed up with U.S. private equity player Goldman Sachs to take a shot at the purchase. However, the company is spread thin financially and it’s unknown whether it would be able to come up with the $1.8 billion Alliance Atlantis is thought to be worth.

CSI is the highest-grossing American television series franchise in both domestic and international syndication. Domestically CSI:NY reruns pull in $2 million per episode. Internationally each of the three series brings in approximately $1 million per episode. The CSI portion of Alliance Atlantis’ holdings is estimated to be worth between $597 million to $682 million.

See two recent articles for more information: Variety Article 1 and Variety Article 2.

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