Wooden Horse

What Wooden Horse does

Wooden Horse is an independent Australian television and film production company founded in December 2019 by industry veterans Jude Troy and Richard Finlayson, headquartered in Redfern, Sydney with regional offices in Melbourne and Brisbane. The company develops and produces premium scripted series and documentary content for major streaming platforms (Disney+, Stan, Hulu), Australian public broadcasters (ABC, SBS), and international distribution partners, with a slate that includes the global Disney+ psychological thriller The Clearing, the multi-season Stan comedy The Other Guy, the ABC comedy Mother and Son (a reimagining of a classic Australian series), the award-winning documentary franchise Stuff the British Stole, feature documentaries Rose Gold and The Cape, and children's series Emma's Dance Club. The company's value proposition is built on distinctive, provocative storytelling, a curated rather than volume-driven slate, and the founders' relationships with globally recognized on-screen and creative talent.

Wooden Horse's core 'technology' is creative production capability rather than software or platforms; its differentiated asset is the team's track record of placing premium Australian IP with global buyers, evidenced by AACTA, Logie, Rose d'Or, and Canadian Screen Awards, and by marquee commissions such as The Clearing as Disney+'s first major Australian commission. The company co-produces internationally (e.g., Stuff the British Stole with WildBear Entertainment and Cream Productions for ABC and CBC) and is developing a scripted adaptation of the documentary with Warner Bros, signaling a shift from local producer to international co-development partner.

The business model is B2B enterprise project-based: Wooden Horse earns production fees and commissions from commissioning platforms and broadcasters, supplemented by international distribution and licensing revenue through partners including ABC Commercial, Fremantle Media International, and Madman Entertainment. Go-to-market is relationship-driven, with founders leveraging two decades of industry networks to secure commissions. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, revenue, or valuation, and is co-led by Troy and Finlayson as Joint CEOs with a board that includes Damian Keogh (HOYTS Group CEO) and Peter Allen (former Scentre Group CEO).

Name

Wooden Horse

Legal name

Wooden Horse

Website

https://woodenhorse.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wooden Horse is an independent Australian television and film production company founded in 2019 that develops premium scripted series and documentary content for global streaming platforms, Australian broadcasters, and international distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Redfern

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Production Fees and Commissions: Revenue generated from producing content for streaming platforms (Disney+, Stan, Hulu), traditional broadcasters (ABC, SBS), and other commissioning partners. Wooden Horse receives production fees for commissioned content.
2. International Distribution and Licensing: Revenue from international distribution deals for produced content. Content distributed globally through partners like ABC Commercial, Fremantle Media International, and Madman Entertainment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Wooden Horse is an independent Australian production company that develops and produces premium scripted television series, feature documentaries, and documentary series for major streaming platforms and broadcasters. The company secures commissions and development deals with global platforms (Disney+, Stan, Hulu), traditional broadcasters (ABC, SBS), and international distributors, producing distinctive and provocative content across genres including psychological thrillers, comedy, and factual entertainment.

Product overview

Wooden Horse is an independent Australian television and film production company producing a portfolio of premium scripted series and documentary content. The company operates across multiple content categories including psychological thrillers (The Clearing), classic comedy reboots (Mother and Son), documentary series (Stuff the British Stole, Waltzing the Dragon), feature documentaries (Rose Gold, The Cape), and original comedies (The Other Guy). Content is distributed globally through partnerships with Disney+, Stan, Hulu, ABC, SBS, and Warner Bros. The company also develops children's programming (Emma's Dance Club) and upcoming dramas (The Airport Chaplain, Dark Mode).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Clearing Eight-part psychological thriller series for Disney+ globally (Hulu in the USA), adapted from J.P. Pomare's book 'In the Clearing' and inspired by real-life cult The Family, featuring Teresa Palmer, Miranda Otto, and Guy Pearce.
• Mother and Son Reimagining of the classic Australian comedy series starring Matt Okine and Denise Scott, following the comedic misadventures of a recently-single son and his widowed mother.
• Mother and Son Season 2 Second season continuation of the reimagined Australian comedy, featuring Denise Scott as the mischievous Maggie and Matt Okine as her neurotic son Arthur.
• Stuff the British Stole Series 1 Documentary series following Marc Fennell investigating iconic objects taken by the British Empire, exploring global history of looting and repatriation debates.
• Stuff the British Stole Series 2 Second season of the globe-trotting documentary series investigating artefacts looted by the British Empire, continuing Marc Fennell's quest for truth.
• The Other Guy Series 1 Comedy series created by and starring Matt Okine about a successful radio host who finds himself single after discovering his girlfriend's affair with his best friend.
• The Other Guy Series 2 Second season of the comedy series following the radio host back in the dating pool after his long-term relationship ends.
• Rose Gold Feature documentary chronicling the Australian Boomers' journey to winning their first international medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, featuring exclusive NBA player interviews.
• The Cape Documentary series based on the disappearance of Brad and Bevin Simmonds in Australia's deep north, exploring rival fishing clans and a suspected double murder.
• Waltzing the Dragon with Benjamin Law Documentary exploring the complexities of the China-Australia relationship through overlapping histories, presented by Benjamin Law.
• Emma's Dance Club Children's live-action series created by Emma Watkins, featuring four kids discovering a magical dance club in a country town.
• The Airport Chaplain Drama series for SBS starring Hugo Weaving and Shabana Azeez, following the struggles and triumphs of workers at a bustling international airport.
• Dark Mode Tech thriller from Safe Home creator Anna Barnes, receiving development funding from Screen Australia Dynamic TV Fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Clearing won Best Miniseries at AACTA Awards 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Warner BrosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2024Developing scripted heist drama adaptation of Stuff the British Stole documentary series with Warner Bros. Attached talent includes Anchuli Felicia King and Ben Chessell.
• WildBear EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2024Co-production partner for Stuff the British Stole documentary series. WildBear Entertainment partnered with Wooden Horse and Cream Productions for the award-winning factual series on ABC and CBC Canada.
• Cream ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2024Co-production partner for Stuff the British Stole Series 2. Canadian production company partnered with Wooden Horse and WildBear Entertainment for the documentary series.
• Aquarius FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced The Other Guy (2 seasons) for Stan and Hulu in partnership with Aquarius Films. Australian production company partnership.
• Apricot SeaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Emma's Dance Club with Wooden Horse, alongside creator Emma Watkins (formerly of Wiggles).
• ABCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian national broadcaster and major production partner. Commissioned Mother and Son, Stuff the British Stole, Waltzing the Dragon, Rose Gold. Also international distribution through ABC Commercial.
• Disney+flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal streaming platform and major production partner. The Clearing was the first major commission for Disney+ in Australia, distributed globally as Star Original and on Hulu in US.
• StancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian streaming service. Distributed The Other Guy (2 seasons), The Cape, and developing The Cape as major scripted series.
• SBScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian multicultural broadcaster. In production for new drama The Airport Chaplain starring Hugo Weaving, and announced at Series Mania co-pro pitching sessions.
• Fremantle Media InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for Stuff the British Stole series, handling global distribution outside Australia and Canada.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aquarius Films: Australian independent production company co-producing with Wooden Horse on The Other Guy (Stan/Hulu). Directly comparable: similar-sized indie producer of premium scripted comedy and drama for Australian and global streaming platforms.
• Lingo Pictures: Leading Australian premium drama producer (The Twelve, Bali 2002, Upright) for Foxtel/Binge and global streamers. Closely comparable tier-one indie competitor for the same commissioning platforms and talent pool.
• Matchbox Pictures: Australian scripted drama producer (The Newsreader, Mystery Road, Clickbait) distributed globally via NBCUniversal. Comparable premium scripted slate targeting the same streaming and public broadcaster commissioning market as Wooden Horse.
• Goalpost Pictures: Australian production company (Nine Perfect Strangers, Fisk, Upright) producing premium drama and comedy for streamers and broadcasters. Direct competitor in the Australian indie production space targeting similar audiences and commissioning partners.
• Easy Tiger Productions: Australian indie producer (Colin from Accounts, Upright) creating premium comedy-drama for Australian platforms and international buyers. Closely aligned with Wooden Horse on genre, scale, and target streamers.
• WildBear Entertainment: Australian factual and documentary producer and co-production partner of Wooden Horse on Stuff the British Stole. Comparable as a documentary-focused indie with similar commissioning relationships (ABC, international buyers).
• Hoodlum Entertainment: Australian scripted drama and film producer (Five Bedrooms, The Twelve, Harrow). Comparable indie competitor producing premium content for Australian broadcasters and streamers.

Broad incumbents

• See-Saw Films: Larger Anglo-Australian production company (Top of the Lake, The Power of the Dog, Slow Horses) producing premium scripted content for global platforms. Broader and more established competitor in the same premium scripted space.
• Fremantle: Global production and distribution major (American Idol, Midas Man, The Responder) and Wooden Horse's international distribution partner for Stuff the British Stole. A large incumbent that both partners with and competes against Wooden Horse for premium commissions.

Emerging players

• Cream Productions: Canadian factual production company co-producing with Wooden Horse on Stuff the British Stole. Comparable as a documentary producer with international co-production track record and similar target broadcasters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WoodenHorseTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woodenhorse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wooden Horse