Rainbow S.p.A.

Rainbow S.p.A.
FormerlyRainbow S.r.l. (1995-2018)
Company typePrivate
FoundedApril 1995; 29 years ago (April 1995)
FounderIginio Straffi
Headquarters
Loreto, Ancona, Italy
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Iginio Straffi (CEO)
Products
  • Television series
  • Films
OwnerIginio Straffi
Subsidiaries
  • Bardel Entertainment
  • Gruppo Iven S.p.A.
  • (Colorado Film)
  • Rainbow CGI
  • Moviement Talent Agency
  • Tridimensional
  • Witty Toys
Websiterbw.it

Rainbow S.p.A. is an Italian studio founded by Iginio Straffi and co-owned by Viacom (later Paramount Global) from 2011 to 2023. Rainbow has collaborated with Viacom/Paramount's other company, Nickelodeon, on multiple shows, including Winx Club and Club 57.[1] The studio is based in Loreto, Marche and was founded by Straffi in 1995. Rainbow began as an animation studio, providing creative services for larger companies until it secured enough funds for original productions.

In February 2011, Viacom purchased 30% of the company for 62 million euros (US$83 million),[2] leaving the remaining 70% to Iginio Straffi.[3][4] Viacom's Nickelodeon networks broadcast Rainbow's shows worldwide,[5] and Rainbow acts as the licensing agent for Nickelodeon's shows in Italy.[6] Nickelodeon's American studios have also collaborated with Rainbow on several productions, including Winx Club from 2011 to 2015 and Club 57 in 2019.[1]

In 2015, Rainbow purchased fellow animation studio Bardel Entertainment.[7] In 2017, Rainbow acquired a majority stake in Gruppo Iven S.p.A., which owns the production company Colorado Film.[8]

In April 2018, Straffi and Viacom listed the company on the Italian stock exchange.[9] The listing followed years of consideration regarding which country's stock market to enter (the United States or Italy).[10] According to Straffi, this presented "a real dilemma" as Viacom was already listed on an American stock exchange,[10] but Rainbow performed best in European countries.[10] Straffi and Viacom withdrew Rainbow from the stock market in May 2018, citing a lack of suitable market conditions.[11]

After almost 12 years of co-ownership, Paramount sold its stake back to Straffi in January 2023. While Nickelodeon will continue to be a broadcast partner for the studio, the purchase allows Straffi full control of Rainbow's new projects.[12][13]

  1. ^ a b Ramos-Weiner, Maribel (20 November 2018). "Iginio Straffi de Rainbow: Tuvimos una influencia muy importante en la historia de Club 57 para garantizar su atractivo en Europa". Produ.com (in Spanish).
  2. ^ "Straffi's Rainbow: Europe's Largest Animation House Has Growing Pains" (PDF). VideoAge International. October 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2017. In 2011, 16 years after Straffi founded Rainbow, Viacom gained 30 percent ownership of the animation division... for 62 million euro ($83 million), thus valuing the company at $277 million.
  3. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (26 February 2011). "Winx creator in the pink: Viacom draws on Italian animation shop". Variety. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. ^ Serafini, Domenico (5 November 2014). "I dolori di Rainbow per arrivare prima in Europa". Millecanali (in Italian). Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  5. ^ Minardi, Sabina (24 February 2011). "Winx, le fatine fanno il botto". L'espresso (in Italian).
  6. ^ Rusak, Gary (April 2011). "Rainbow to rep Nick, lands new master toy deal" (PDF). Kidscreen. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Rainbow buys Canadian animation studio Bardel". Kidscreen. 5 October 2015.
  8. ^ Montanari, Andrea (21 August 2017). "Rainbow-Viacom compra la Colorado" (PDF). MF Milano Finanza. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Winx take to the stock exchange". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 12 April 2018. Rome: The shares will be put on sale by Straffi and Viacom Holdings Italia.
  10. ^ a b c "Rainbow ripensa alla Borsa". Bebeez.it (in Italian). 3 November 2015.
  11. ^ "The Winx Withdraw from the Stock Market". 22 May 2018. The Rainbow studio based in Loreto, Marche, 30% of which belongs to Viacom, decided to go public... However, investors have not responded with the awaited enthusiasm
  12. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (4 February 2011). "Viacom takes stake in Rainbow". Variety.
  13. ^ Bianchi, Nicole (24 January 2023). "Good Morning, Cinecittà!". Cinecittà News (in Italian).