Cinar Corp

Cinar Corp., a Canadian maker of children's cartoons such as "Arthur," agreed to be sold to an investor group for about $143.9 million, the company said. The buyers include Michael Hirsh and Toper Taylor, former executives at rival animator Nelvana, and TD Capital Canadian Private Equity Partners, Cinar said. -- James Bates

Cinar Corp., a Canadian maker of children's cartoons such as "Arthur," agreed to be sold to an investor group for about $143.9 million, the company said. The buyers include Michael Hirsh and Toper Taylor, former executives at rival animator Nelvana, and TD Capital Canadian Private Equity Partners, Cinar said. -- James Bates

Cinar Corp., a children's television producer that has been plagued by a string of financial scandals, said it had cut 54 staff and appointed new auditors. The Montreal-based firm said the cuts were in its corporate offices and entertainment division, reducing its staff in the city from 164 to 110.

Cinar Corp., a children's television producer that has been plagued by a string of financial scandals, said it had cut 54 staff and appointed new auditors. The Montreal-based firm said the cuts were in its corporate offices and entertainment division, reducing its staff in the city from 164 to 110.

Cinar Corp. stock lost two-thirds of its value after the producer of children's television programs said Monday that $122 million earmarked for acquisitions was improperly invested in corporate bonds. The producer of such programs as "Wimzie's House" and the Emmy-winning "Arthur" said Tuesday that about $35 million of the securities is "freely available," and that the remaining $86 million has been "pledged to secure other investments."

Cinar Corp., producer of the children's TV program "Arthur," said Thursday it had not prepared its year-end and first-quarter financial results in the required time, preventing its stock from trading again on Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Two hundred professional animators are expected to picket public television station KCET Channel 28 on Thursday to protest what they say is increasing use of foreign animators in programming by station parent Public Broadcasting System.

Here's a problem for "Arthur" to ponder in an upcoming episode: What impact will the unfolding financial woes of the series' co-producer, Montreal-based Cinar Corp., have on the future of the PBS children's series? The answer could mean a lot to the Public Broadcasting Service. The animated "Arthur," based on the best-selling books, is PBS' top-rated children's show, and by PBS calculations, the most-watched children's show on television.

Micheline Charest, co-founder of Canada's award-winning but scandal-plagued children's television producer Cinar Corp., died Wednesday at a Montreal hospital of complications from plastic surgery. She was 51. Charest's death came a day after she was rushed to the emergency ward from a nearby plastic surgery clinic, where she had undergone procedures that a former colleague described as routine. An autopsy was performed Thursday, but the results were not immediately released.

TV & MOVIES 'Psycho' Stock Games: Thanks to the Internet site Hollywood Stock Exchange (http://www.hsx.com), Lions Gate Films will allow consumers their first chance to share--however slightly--in a feature film's box-office revenue. The site lets users purchase, sell and trade virtual shares of movies, celebrities and music. But this time, users may be able to turn their virtual "Hollywood dollars" into real cash.

Cinar Corp., producer of the children's TV program "Arthur," said Thursday it had not prepared its year-end and first-quarter financial results in the required time, preventing its stock from trading again on Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Cinar Corp. stock lost two-thirds of its value after the producer of children's television programs said Monday that $122 million earmarked for acquisitions was improperly invested in corporate bonds. The producer of such programs as "Wimzie's House" and the Emmy-winning "Arthur" said Tuesday that about $35 million of the securities is "freely available," and that the remaining $86 million has been "pledged to secure other investments."