Insight Productions
Company typePrivate
IndustryMedia
Entertainment
Founded1970; 54 years ago (1970)
FoundersPen Densham
John Watson
Headquarters135 Liberty Street,
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Key people
John Brunton (CEO)
ParentBoat Rocker Media (majority owner)
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

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

Television

Documentaries

Digital

References

  1. ^ a b "Insight Productions | Media Commons". mediacommons.library.utoronto.ca. University of Toronto. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  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

External links

Archives at
LocationUniversity of Toronto Media Commons Edit this on Wikidata
SourceInsight Productions fonds
How to use archival material
Categories