Atlantis Communications

The company made its start in April 1978, first as Birchbark Films Limited, then as Atlantis Films Limited by Queen's University students Michael MacMillan, Janice L. Platt and Seaton S. MacLean, and it was started on $150, making documentaries.[1] A year later, the company is setting up operations in Toronto to produce films for industry and government.[1]

In 1980, the company started making dramas with an adaptation of The Olden Days Coat.[1] Three years later, the company hit big when the short Boys and Girls won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.[1] In the mid-1980s, the company entered television production with Ray Bradbury Theater and the fourth season of Airwolf.[1]

In 1983, the same year the company founded, it started Atlantis Television International to serve as international distributor for Atlantis productions and later distributes outside projects, which in 1987 became Atlantis Releasing, and establishes offices in Toronto, Amsterdam, London and Sydney.[1][2]

In 1986, it launched a partnership with P.S. Production Services to set up Cinevillage, which was a 4-acre film and video production center in Toronto.[3][1]

In 1993, the company pushed its operations in the United States, with several made-for-cable movies, such as an adaptation of A Life and His Dog,[4] and two years later, the company get into the cable with the launch of Life Network, which in 1996, took control of the network.[5] Also that year, it teamed up with Universal Television to produce the series TekWar.[6]

The company previously held an interest in the YTV network, for which it owned a minority interest in 1994.[7] Also that year, the company had acquired Soundmix Ltd., which was an audio post-production facility in Toronto, and also has interests in Great North Communications and Salter Street Films.[8] In 1995, a minority interest of the company was sold to the Interpublic Group of Companies.[1][9][10]

In 1996, the company was an applicant for a Canadian version of HGTV, which would later launch in 1997.[11]

In 1997, the company had signed a distribution deal with CBS Broadcast International to begin distributing content or the Canadian market, for $10 million.[12] Also that year, the company gained 50% interest in Calibre Digital Pictures, a visual effects company.[13]

Later that year, the company had acquired Ironstar Communications, in order to expand Atlantis' distribution operations in the United States, and hired Ironstar executive Derek McGillvay to join the company as VP of sales.[14]

In 1998, the company would get onto the network television business, by teaming up with Beth Sullivan to produce dramas, and produce its UPN series Legacy.[15] Later that year, it merged with Alliance Communications, forming Alliance Atlantis Communications.[16]