(Adds details on results, deal, background)
Oct 11 (Reuters) - Entertainment One Ltd ETO.L on Friday posted a wider first-quarter loss, dented by lower sales in its film, television & music segment, as the Canada-based company prepares to be acquired by U.S. toy maker Hasbro Inc HAS.O .
The company said its loss before tax widened to 43.9 million pounds ($54.65 million) from 6.8 million pounds last year. sales were dragged by leaner performance in the film, television & music division due to lower broadcasting and licensing revenues, the entertainment firm said.
Revenue fell nearly 7% to 173.1 million pounds compared with the same period last year. August, Hasbro said it will buy Entertainment One for about $4 billion in cash, adding the independent studio with preschool brands such as Peppa Pig to the U.S. company known for Nerf and Power Rangers. One, which started life as a Canadian record and tape retailer, recently signed a multi-year production deal with award-winning producer Mark Gordon, who has worked on "Saving Private Ryan" and "Grey's Anatomy".
($1 = 0.8033 pounds)