Boat Rocker Studios’ Gia DeLaney on the Year Ahead

After a transformative year for Boat Rocker Studios—which returned to private ownership and acquired another production studio—the company has a packed schedule for 2026. With the launch of The Next Step spin-off The Next Step: Cheer, the continued rollout of Dino Ranch: Island Explorers, the introduction of Girl Troop vs Aliens and so much more, Boat Rocker Studios is set to serve children quality entertainment throughout the next 12 months (and beyond). Gia DeLaney, senior VP of global sales and content for kids and family, tells TV Kids Weekly about the growth opportunities Boat Rocker Studios is pursuing this year and what trends she foresees for the kids’ industry in 2026.

TV KIDS: We all heard the slogan “survive till ’25” leading up to last year. 2025 has now come and gone, and the kids’ industry is still very much trying to find its footing. What significant development throughout 2025 impacted your business the most?
DELANEY: In August, Boat Rocker Studios returned to private ownership following a senior management buyout. It was a pivotal moment for the company. Returning to operating as an independent, privately held business has given us greater creative freedom, faster decision-making and more flexibility in how we operate.

Another major milestone was our acquisition of a majority stake in the animation studio Industrial Brothers, which also included renewing our first-look co-production deal. This strengthens our animation capabilities and reinforces our long-term commitment to premium kids’ content.

At the beginning of this year, we also finalized an internal reorganization to better align the business with our strategic priorities as a newly private company. As part of this, my role expanded to include oversight of kids and family content, including presales and creative affairs for owned kids’ originals. I’m incredibly excited about this next chapter and look forward to working even more closely with partners in this capacity.

TV KIDS: How do you see those shifts affecting your kids’ distribution and production business in 2026?
DELANEY: What we’re seeing across the kids’ sector is more of a structural reset than a short-term correction. The “survive to ’25” mindset was really a checkpoint, not a finish line. Buyers are commissioning fewer shows and are much more targeted in what they’re looking for. That means distributors need in-depth market intelligence and strong global buyer relationships. It’s vital to understand exactly where a show fits and which platforms will give it real cut-through and engagement.

With experience partnering with public-service and commercial broadcasters, as well as AVOD, SVOD and FAST platforms, Boat Rocker has that knowledge. This is why our focus is increasingly on owned IP and rights management. We’re building a long-term strategy to create a world-class content creation and rights management business by investing in best-in-class IP—whether developed or produced in-house or acquired from third parties.

Kids’ distribution has evolved from simply selling a show to managing an entire ecosystem. It’s about thinking through the full life cycle of a property, planning multiplatform rollouts across linear, streaming, FAST and digital, and finding creative ways to finance projects from the outset.

TV KIDS: What growth opportunities are you pursuing this year?
DELANEY: Becoming private again has unlocked a wealth of opportunities. We’ve refreshed our business model with a clear strategic shift toward IP ownership and rights management, and we’re actively pursuing projects already in development or production with third-party partners.

On our owned slate, we have The Next Step: Cheer, which will premiere in the U.K. this year. It’s a spin-off from the hugely successful The Next Step, which ran for ten [seasons], and is commissioned by CBBC and BBC iPlayer.

We’re also rolling out Dino Ranch: Island Explorers, a spin-off from the hit Dino Ranch, which debuted on CBC in the fall and is launching globally across Amazon Kids+ and Warner Bros. Discovery.

In addition, we have a new live-action series called Girl Troop vs Aliens, which was commissioned by CBBC. We also recently acquired the rights to the preschool animation series Rocket Club, which airs on Sky in the U.K., ABC in Australia, Knowledge Network in British Columbia, CBC/Radio-Canada in French Canada and Mango TV in China. We also continue to see strong success with the live-action series Olga da Polga.

Looking ahead, we’re focused on growing our own IP to create franchises with multiple touchpoints, while also securing and announcing additional third-party agreements. It’s shaping up to be a very busy year.

TV KIDS: How are funding models changing amid continued disruption in the marketplace and global economy?
DELANEY: Funding models continue to evolve in response to both market disruption and broader economic pressures. One of the biggest shifts is that financing is now being shared more widely and strategically. Co-productions increasingly involve multiple partners—producers, commissioners, distributors and even brands—often across several territories, which makes financing structures more complex.

With fewer commissions available, acquisitions, prebuys and license deals have become more important. Multi-territory presales are also increasingly critical, with early sales helping to bridge financing gaps.

Deal structures themselves are changing too, with more windowed or non-exclusive rights, territory-by-territory deals and shorter license terms. These flexibilities allow producers to assemble financing from multiple sources while still building long-term IP value.

TV KIDS: Kids today have so many entertainment options beyond TV. How are you addressing discovery and audience engagement?
DELANEY: For us, this comes back to building and managing an ecosystem around each piece of IP. It’s no longer just about launch—it’s about meeting audiences where they already are, including on social platforms and YouTube, where we already have strong representation across our portfolio.

Live experiences are also incredibly important. They give fans a personal connection to a brand while creating organic marketing and PR moments. We’ve had great success turning The Next Step into a live experience that audiences can actively participate in.

Our The Next Step: Legacy Tour will be visiting Australia, Canada and the U.K. [beginning this month], and our long-standing partnership with London’s Pineapple Studios continues with new dance-based workshops tied to the choreography from the tour. These experiences bring fans closer to the action and extend engagement.

TV KIDS: What other trends do you foresee shaping the kids’ sector this year?
DELANEY: Known IP will continue to dominate. As producers and commissioners seek to secure standout hits, titles that have previous recognition have more chance of gaining cut through. Global appeal will also remain key. Buyers continue to prioritize shows that travel well across cultures and can be localized effectively.

Anime is another area to watch. While traditionally aimed at older audiences, we’re already seeing the genre’s global popularity grow, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more kids-focused content emerge that “down-ages” anime influences. The success of titles like KPop Demon Hunters shows how appealing this style can be.

It will also be interesting to see how social media legislation for kids evolves. With increased regulatory focus on age-appropriate protections and platform accountability, changes could significantly affect how kids discover, interact with and engage with content and brands. This will likely influence everything from creative strategies to monetization.

TV KIDS: With so much negativity in the market, what keeps you excited about working in kids’ content?
DELANEY: Despite the uncertainty, the kids’ industry remains fundamentally optimistic and purpose driven. Kids’ content really matters—it shapes how young audiences see the world and helps build empathy, confidence, creativity and understanding.

Kids will always want great stories and memorable characters. Our challenge—and what excites me—is finding new ways to deliver those stories. The industry has always faced challenges, and we’ve always adapted. Often, those challenges push us to be more creative and thoughtful.

At the end of the day, kids will always need stories. The industry’s ability to adapt, collaborate and keep that sense of play alive is what makes it such a rewarding space. It’s also filled with incredibly passionate, creative people who genuinely care about delighting young audiences, and I’m excited to continue working alongside friends and partners as we navigate this next phase together.

TV KIDS: Are there any specific titles you’d like to highlight?
DELANEY: Absolutely. The Next Step: Cheer, Dino Ranch: Island Explorers, Girl Troop vs Aliens and Rocket Club are all new titles coming in 2026. They represent a mix of expanding successful franchises like The Next Step and Dino Ranch, alongside introducing brand-new characters and worlds with Girl Troop vs Aliens and Rocket Club.