Sony is Acquiring Peanuts

In yet another major acquisition deal for the entertainment industry, Sony has gained majority ownership of the Peanuts franchise after taking indirect control of Canadian media company WildBrain’s 41% stake in Peanuts Holdings LLC to the tune of $457 million. Sony already held a roughly 38% stake via Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ), and the new acquisition leaves Sony with a whopping 80% share of the Peanuts brand, pending closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Many were first introduced to the Peanuts courtesy of creator Charles M. Schultz’s original comic strip that debuted across United States newspapers on October 2, 1950. Over the years, more characters were introduced, and the popularity of the comic led to the creation of several animated films, a diverse array of merchandise, and even the inclusion of Peanuts characters at global theme parks. Undeniably one of the most beloved and prolific comic strip franchises of all time, the Peanuts are now under new ownership, though longtime fans shouldn’t be too worried about any major changes, at least for the time being.

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Sony Buys Majority Ownership of the Peanuts for $457 Million

First reported by Variety, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has “entered into a definitive agreement” with WildBrain that grants Sony control of the Canadian company’s shares of Peanuts Holdings LLC. SPE and SMEJ’s joint stakes total to roughly 80% of all shares of the Peanuts parent company, while the remaining 20% is held by the Charles M. Schulz family. Peanuts Worldwide, a subsidiary of Peanuts Holdings LLC, will retain management duties over the Peanuts branding and related business affairs, and SMEJ will partner with SPE to take over leadership of Peanuts Holdings LLC itself. Shunsuke Muramatsu, president and group CEO of SMEJ, stated that Sony is “thrilled to be able to further elevate the value of the ‘Peanuts’ brand by drawing on the Sony Group’s extensive global network and collective expertise.”

For WildBrain, the deal wipes out existing debts and now allows the company to focus more heavily on its other IPs, which include Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies, and gives WildBrain more financial stability to focus on digital content for YouTube and other ambitions towards technological innovations. WildBrain will continue to provide partnership services to the Peanuts brand, including content distribution and licensing assistance. As for existing deals with other companies, it is presently understood that a recently renewed partnership with Apple TV for the creation of a Peanuts animated feature film and additional shows and specials will be unaffected by the Sony acquisition. Other deals involving Peanuts merchandise like Snoopy collectibles and video games starring Charlie Brown and his friends are also unlikely to be impacted by the deal, though audiences will want to await any official announcements on the future of the Peanuts.

A number of technology giants, particularly those within the video game industry, have shown a recent interest in expanding across the entertainment landscape. The surge in popularity of video game adaptations in the form of feature films and television shows has already proven profitable for companies. Microsoft and Bethesda’s Fallout series on Amazon Prime Video has already snagged the accolade of Best Adaptation at The Game Awards 2024, and PlayStation Productions’ The Last of Us HBO drama has boosted Naughty Dog’s game sales and earned multiple awards. Nintendo is among the most prominent gaming juggernauts to heavily invest in new forms of entertainment, with its powerhouse Super Mario Bros. Movie and multiple Super Nintendo World theme park lands across the United States, Japan, and soon to be added to Singapore.

Theme parks have proven to be particularly lucrative, making Disney billions of dollars a year and now adding extra income to Nintendo’s pockets. Whether Sony sees the Peanuts as a starting point to introduce more Sony-owned first-party IPs into other realms of entertainment remains unknown at this time, but the Japanese company is due to start raking in the profits from the Peanuts presence at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, along with all the merchandise earnings. Sony has already started investing more heavily in video game TV and movie adaptations, and the new possibilities opened up with its Peanuts acquisition will definitely be worth keeping an eye on for fans across the entertainment spectrum.