Classic Media
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Entertainment Rights |
| Founded | 1985, 1998 |
| Headquarters |  New York, New York, United States |
| Industry | Intellectual property, TV, film, entertainment |
| Products | TV, film, consumer products, home video |
| Parent | Boomerang Media |
| Subsidiaries | Big Idea Productions |
| Website | classicmedia.tv |
Classic Media, Inc. is an American production company and distributor of family programming. Formed in 1998 after acquiring Golden Books Family Entertainment, their library consists of properties which they acquired from other companies, including Entertainment Rights, Harvey Comics, Jay Ward Productions, and many others.
Contents |
[edit] Holdings
- The catalogues and characters of Entertainment Rights
- Rankin/Bass pre-1974 library (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, etc.), with few exceptions listed below under "Notes".
- The Filmation catalog (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Ghostbusters, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, etc.)
- The Jack Wrather catalog (The Lone Ranger, Lassie, The Green Hornet)
- The Harvey Comics animated catalog (Casper the Friendly Ghost1, Richie Rich1, Baby Huey, etc.)
- The Jay Ward Productions catalog* (Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle, The Dudley Do-Right Show, etc.)
- Underdog
- US rights to the French-Belgian comics catalog (The Adventures of Tintin and Blake and Mortimer)
- Most of the UPA animated catalog (Mr. Magoo, Gerald McBoing-Boing, etc.)
- Gerald McBoing Boing (the 2005 edition co-produced with Cookie Jar)
- Theodore Tugboat
- Shari Lewis' two PBS series (Lamb Chop's Play Along, and Charlie Horse Music Pizza)
- Turok, Little Lulu, and other comic characters created/owned by Western Publishing (though most of the Lulu cartoons themselves are currently owned by other entities such as CBS Television Studios and Cinar, depending upon when this material was originally made and released)
- Western Publishing's Little Golden Books catalog (The Poky Little Puppy, etc.)
- US rights to certain Godzilla films, including the Godzilla segments of The Godzilla Power Hour
- The Christian animated producer Big Idea Productions (the makers of VeggieTales)
- The animated video producer Britt Allcroft's pre-2002 library (Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends).
- The claymation animator Art Clokey's Gumby shorts
- Felix the Cat from the 1950's
[edit] Entertainment Rights
On April 1, 2009, it was announced that Boomerang Media, LLC, would acquire Entertainment Rights' principal U.K. and U.S. subsidaries, including Classic Media, Inc. and Big Idea, Inc. On May 11, 2009, Classic Media announced that the former U.K. and U.S. subsidiaries of Entertainment Rights would operate as a unified business under the new parent company's name, Classic Media. Big Idea, Inc. would operate under its own name.
On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rival Entertainment Rights (ER) for $210.0 million, and the deal was completed on January 11, 2007.
Before the acquisition of Classic Media by ER was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with Genius Products, LLC, replacing the deal with Sony Wonder.[1]
In addition, because Entertainment Rights now owns Classic Media, the latter company's holdings are now listed on the former company's website.
On April 1, 2009 it was announced that Entertainment Rights would be acquired by Boomerang Media (formed by the founders of subsidiary Classic Media) [1][2] and on May 11, 2009, it was announced that the subsidiaries and offices of Entertainment Rights would be absorbed under the name, Classic Media. Big Idea, Inc., while a subsidiary, would operate under its own name.[3][4]
[edit] Notes
1. In regards to Richie Rich and Casper, the only exceptions are the characters' appearances in media produced by Hanna-Barbera, including Casper and the Angels, the 1980 Richie Rich series, and various Casper TV specials; these are owned by Hanna-Barbera's parent company, Time Warner (through Warner Bros.).
2. The Program Exchange currently holds the TV distribution rights to Underdog, and the Ward catalog, except for George of the Jungle, which is handled via CBS Television Distribution.
3. Britt Allcroft (then Gullane Entertainment) was bought out by HIT Entertainment.
4. The pre-1974 Rankin/Bass theatrical library is owned by French production company StudioCanal (the successor company to original distributor Embassy Pictures), with Anchor Bay Entertainment handling video rights and Sony Pictures Television handling television distribution.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "He-Man, Casper Bought by Private-Equity Firm". The Wall Street Journal. April 2, 2009. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123871979150785001.html?mod=googlenews_wsj. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.
- ^ "Boomerang Media Buys ER". World Screen News. April 1, 2009. http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/20448. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.
- ^ "Classic Media Absorbs Subsidiaries". Home Media Magazine. May 11, 2009. http://www.homemediamagazine.com/studios/classic-media-absorbs-subsidiaries-15704. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.
- ^ "Entertainment Rights to Operate as Classic Media". Animation World Network. May 11, 2009. http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=27629. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.
