Insight Productions is a Canadian television production company based in Toronto, Ontario. It was established in 1970. Insight is led by CEO John Brunton.
History
Insight Productions was established in 1970 by Penray "Pen" Densham and John Kingsley Watson.
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.
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.
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.
John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby were awarded the Order of Canada in 2018.
The company released the documentary film Life Times Nine in 1973 for which it was nominated for two Academy Awards.
The company faces a class-action lawsuit over unpaid wages.
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.
In May 2018, Toronto-based Boat Rocker Media acquired a 70% majority stake in Insight Productions, with the company continuing to operate as an independent unit. Boat Rocker Media would later announce a deal to acquire the remaining 30% in August 2024.
On March 24, 2025, Blue Ant Media announced its intent to acquire Insight Productions from Boat Rocker Media as part of a larger reverse takeover arrangement. As part of a reorganization in February 2026 following its purchase of Thunderbird Entertainment, Blue Ant Studios positioned Insight as one of its four main divisions (focusing on "premium" content), with its CEO John Brunton continuing to lead the studio.
Filmography Television Title Years Network Notes Stars on Ice 1976–1981 CTV Ready or Not 1993–1997 Global Open Mike with Mike Bullard 1997–2003 The Comedy Network Sponk! 2001–2002 Noggin co-production with Sesame Workshop Canadian Idol 2003–2008 CTV co-production with FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment Falcon Beach 2006–2007 GlobalABC Family co-production with FremantleMedia and Original Pictures Project Runway Canada 2007–2009 Slice/Global co-production with FremantleMedia Are You Smarter than a Canadian 5th Grader? 2007 Global Battle of the Blades 2009–present CBC Top Chef Canada 2011–present Flavour Network co-production with Universal International Studios Intervention Canada 2011–2019 Slice/T+E co-production with A+E Networks and Open Door Co. Canada's Got Talent 2012–present Citytv Big Brother Canada 2013–2024 Slice/Global 2027 CTV iteraion produced Groupe Entourage Never Ever Do This at Home 2013 Discovery Channel Canada The Amazing Race Canada 2013–present CTV The Launch 2018–2019 CTV co-production with Sony Pictures Television, Eureka Productions and Big Machine Records I Do, Redo 2020 CTVNetflix Dark Side of the 90s 2021–present Vice TV co-production with Railsplitter Pictures LOL: Last One Laughing Canada 2022–present Amazon Prime Video co-production with Amazon MGM Studios Cook At All Costs 2022 Netflix co-production with Boat Rocker Studios and Eureka Productions Canada's Ultimate Challenge 2023 CBC co-production with The Gurin Company Dark Side of the 2000s 2023 Vice TV co-production with Railsplitter Pictures
A Russell Peters Christmas A Christmas Fury The Artistry of Torvill and Dean Canada Day 150 Canada's Walk of Fame Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2021 Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2022 Deal or No Deal Canada Eurovision Canada Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education Hatching, Matching and Dispatching Heart of Gold The Goods How to Look Good Naked Canada Indigo It's Only Rock & Roll Jamie & David: A Golden Homecoming Jann Arden: Live at Last Joni Mitchell: Painting with Words and Music The Jon Dore Television Show Juno Awards Kurt Browning: Ice Legends Kurt Browning: You Must Remember This Kurt Browning: Tall in the Saddle VJ Search Music Without Borders One World: The Concert for Tsunami Relief Test Pattern Saying Goodbye Scott Hamilton: Upside Down The Seán Cullen Show Seán Cullen Home for Christmas Sonic Temple Star Racer Stolen Hearts Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble The Truth About Alex Toller Cranston: A Tribute Wall of Chefs The Wave
Films Title Release date Distributor Notes Disney's Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure April 26, 1998 Buena Vista International Television co-production with Walt Disney Television How to Save the World September 11, 2015 (United Kingdom) Picturehouse Entertainment co-production with MET Films and BFI Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind April 27, 2019 co-production with CBC Docs and Kinosmith Inc.
The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration Comedy Gold: The Hilarious Story of Canadian Comedy
Digital
Joke or Choke But I'm Chris Jericho! Damaged
References
External links