MGM Television
Encyclopedia
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television (commonly known as MGM Television and later MGM/UA Television among other names) is an American television production/distribution launched in 1955 and a subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studios, Inc.
From 2005–2006, MGM Television program
s were distributed by Sony Pictures Television
(as a result from a Sony
-led consortium buying MGM). Since May 31, 2006, MGM Television has resumed sole production and distribution of its programs on television.
. In 1982, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television was renamed MGM/UA Television after the merger with United Artists
in 1981.
In 1986, Ted Turner
bought MGM/UA from Kirk Kerkorian
, including all of the movies and television shows by MGM/UA.
However, Turner was forced by a crushing dept to return Kerkorian all of United Artists and the MGM trademark 74 days later, on October 17, but kept the pre-May 1986 MGM television shows, the holdings of Associated Artists Productions
, and Gilligan's Island
and it's two animated spin-offs The New Adventures of Gilligan
and Gilligan's Planet
. Thus, when Time Warner
acquired Turner Broadcasting System
in October 1996, the pre-May 1986 MGM/UA TV shows became part of Warner Bros.
(via its Turner Entertainment
unit). After Turner's sale, the television division was renamed MGM/UA Television Productions.
In 1987, the TV distribution arm MGM/UA Telecommunications was launched under the new company MGM/UA Communications Co. MGM/UA Television still kept producing the television series Fame
until 1987, the 1980s version of The Twilight Zone
until 1989, and Kids Incorporated
until 1993.
In 1992, MGM/UA Television was reverted back to MGM Television. The television company was reformed as MGM Worldwide Television Group and its distributor MGM/UA Telecommunications Group.
In 1996, the company was reformed for the television brand labels MGM Television Entertainment, MGM Domestic Television Distribution, and MGM Worldwide Television
when Kerkorian returned to MGM; however, MGM uses other names in the credits of their television shows such as MGM Global Television, Inc., MGM Global Holdings, Inc., and MGM Television Entertainment, Inc.
In 1997, MGM bought Orion Pictures
Corporation, The Samuel Goldwyn Company
, and Motion Picture Corporation of America
from Metromedia
(who are best known as the former owners of several TV stations that are now Fox
O&O's and for the taping of television programs at Metromedia Square, now Fox Television Center) Now, MGM Television owns the movies/shows originally handled by Filmways, Inc. except The Beverly Hillbillies
and Petticoat Junction
. These were distributed by Viacom Enterprises
, now CBS Television Distribution
), Orion Television, American International Television, Heatter-Quigley Productions
and Samuel Goldwyn Television
.
In 1997, MGM Television Entertainment was formed by MGM as its network television arm.
In 2005, MGM was purchased by a consortium which includes the Sony Corporation
and Providence Equity Partners
. As a result, Sony Pictures Television
assumed worldwide distribution and certain domestic distribution of the television library from MGM Television. After Sony bought MGM, the company was referred to as MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.
On May 31, 2006, MGM announced that it would drop Sony as its TV and home entertainment distributor by shifting its home video output to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
, and relaunching its TV production/distribution arm. In October, MGM announced that they will distribute the film and television library from New Line Cinema
. In 2008, rights reverted to Warner Bros.
after consolidating New Line into WB.
MGM Television operates three television networks: ThisTV (co-owned and operated by Weigel Broadcasting
), Epix (co-owned and operated by Viacom
and Lions Gate Entertainment
), and MGM HD
. MGM Television is currently headed by Jim Packer, Gary Marenzi, and Gerald Ament.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
Studios, Inc.
From 2005–2006, MGM Television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s were distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, Inc. is an American and global television production/distribution subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.-Background:...
(as a result from a Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
-led consortium buying MGM). Since May 31, 2006, MGM Television has resumed sole production and distribution of its programs on television.
History
In 1955, MGM launched Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television, and the division's first program was The MGM ParadeMGM Parade
MGM Parade is the title of a documentary television series produced by the MGM studio and broadcast by the ABC network during the 1955-56 season....
. In 1982, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television was renamed MGM/UA Television after the merger with United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
in 1981.
In 1986, Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
bought MGM/UA from Kirk Kerkorian
Kirk Kerkorian
Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian is an American businessman who is the president/CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian is known as one of the important figures in shaping Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern, Jr...
, including all of the movies and television shows by MGM/UA.
However, Turner was forced by a crushing dept to return Kerkorian all of United Artists and the MGM trademark 74 days later, on October 17, but kept the pre-May 1986 MGM television shows, the holdings of Associated Artists Productions
Associated Artists Productions
Associated Artists Productions was a distributor of theatrical feature films and short subjects for television. It existed from 1953 to 1958. It was later folded into United Artists. The former a.a.p. library was later owned by MGM/UA Entertainment and then Turner Entertainment. Turner continues...
, and Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
and it's two animated spin-offs The New Adventures of Gilligan
The New Adventures Of Gilligan
The New Adventures of Gilligan is an animated series produced by Filmation and was aired on ABC during the 1974-1975 season. It was based on the 1964-1967 CBS television series Gilligan's Island and featured almost all the actors from the show, except for Tina Louise, who was determined to distance...
and Gilligan's Planet
Gilligan's Planet
Gilligan's Planet is a Saturday morning cartoon produced by the Filmation animation studio and MGM/UA Television which aired during the 1982-1983 season on CBS...
. Thus, when Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
acquired Turner Broadcasting System
Turner Broadcasting System
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is the Time Warner subsidiary managing the collection of cable networks and properties started and acquired by Robert Edward "Ted" Turner starting in the mid-1970s. The company has its headquarters in the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. TBS, Inc...
in October 1996, the pre-May 1986 MGM/UA TV shows became part of Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
(via its Turner Entertainment
Turner Entertainment
Turner Entertainment Company, Inc. is an American media company founded by Ted Turner. Now owned by Time Warner, the company is largely responsible for overseeing its library for worldwide distribution Turner Entertainment Company, Inc. (commonly known as Turner Entertainment Co.) is an American...
unit). After Turner's sale, the television division was renamed MGM/UA Television Productions.
In 1987, the TV distribution arm MGM/UA Telecommunications was launched under the new company MGM/UA Communications Co. MGM/UA Television still kept producing the television series Fame
Fame (1982 TV series)
Fame is an American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show was based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although...
until 1987, the 1980s version of The Twilight Zone
The New Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is the first of two revivals of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series of the same name. It ran for two seasons on CBS before producing a final season for syndication.-Series history:...
until 1989, and Kids Incorporated
Kids Incorporated
Kids Incorporated, is an American children's television program that was produced from 1984 to 1993. It was largely a youth-oriented program with musical performances as an integral part of each and every storyline....
until 1993.
In 1992, MGM/UA Television was reverted back to MGM Television. The television company was reformed as MGM Worldwide Television Group and its distributor MGM/UA Telecommunications Group.
In 1996, the company was reformed for the television brand labels MGM Television Entertainment, MGM Domestic Television Distribution, and MGM Worldwide Television
MGM Worldwide Television
MGM Worldwide Television is the Global operating division of MGM Television formed in 1995, responsible for the production/distribution of MGM's vast television library around the world....
when Kerkorian returned to MGM; however, MGM uses other names in the credits of their television shows such as MGM Global Television, Inc., MGM Global Holdings, Inc., and MGM Television Entertainment, Inc.
In 1997, MGM bought Orion Pictures
Orion Pictures
Orion Pictures Corporation was an American independent production company that produced movies from 1978 until 1998. It was formed in 1978 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and three former top-level executives of United Artists. Although it was never a large motion picture producer, Orion...
Corporation, The Samuel Goldwyn Company
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
The Samuel Goldwyn Company was an independent film company founded by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., the son of the famous Hollywood mogul, Samuel Goldwyn, in 1979.-Background:...
, and Motion Picture Corporation of America
Motion Picture Corporation of America
Motion Picture Corporation of America is an American film production company founded by Brad Krevoy in 1986 to focus on producing, acquiring, and distributing commercial motion picture and television productions.-History:...
from Metromedia
Metromedia
Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
(who are best known as the former owners of several TV stations that are now Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
O&O's and for the taping of television programs at Metromedia Square, now Fox Television Center) Now, MGM Television owns the movies/shows originally handled by Filmways, Inc. except The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
and Petticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction is an American situation comedy produced by Filmways which originally aired on CBS from 1963 to 1970. The series is one of three interrelated shows about rural characters created by Paul Henning; the others are The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.The setting for the series...
. These were distributed by Viacom Enterprises
Viacom Enterprises
Viacom Enterprises was a television distribution company formed in 1971 as the successor to CBS Enterprises, and spun off in 1973 due to now-repealed FCC bylaws prohibiting networks from syndicating their own shows....
, now CBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution is a global television distribution company, formed from the merger of CBS Corporation's two domestic television distribution arms CBS Paramount Domestic Television and King World Productions, including its home entertainment arm CBS Home Entertainment...
), Orion Television, American International Television, Heatter-Quigley Productions
Heatter-Quigley Productions
Heatter-Quigley Productions was an American television production company that was launched in 1960 by two former television writers, Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley....
and Samuel Goldwyn Television
Samuel Goldwyn Television
Samuel Goldwyn Television 1 was a U.S. television production/distribution division of The Samuel Goldwyn Company that started in 1979. SGT's best known series was the competition series American Gladiators, which was very successful in first-run syndication for seven seasons and has recently been...
.
In 1997, MGM Television Entertainment was formed by MGM as its network television arm.
In 2005, MGM was purchased by a consortium which includes the Sony Corporation
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners is a global private equity investment firm focused on media, entertainment, communications and information investments...
. As a result, Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, Inc. is an American and global television production/distribution subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.-Background:...
assumed worldwide distribution and certain domestic distribution of the television library from MGM Television. After Sony bought MGM, the company was referred to as MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.
On May 31, 2006, MGM announced that it would drop Sony as its TV and home entertainment distributor by shifting its home video output to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of the 20th Century Fox film studio. It was established in 1976 as Magnetic Video Corporation, and later as 20th Century Fox Video, CBS/Fox Video and FoxVideo, Inc....
, and relaunching its TV production/distribution arm. In October, MGM announced that they will distribute the film and television library from New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
. In 2008, rights reverted to Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
after consolidating New Line into WB.
MGM Television operates three television networks: ThisTV (co-owned and operated by Weigel Broadcasting
Weigel Broadcasting
Weigel Broadcasting is an American locally based television broadcasting company. The company is based in downtown Chicago, Illinois, alongside its flagship station WCIU-TV , at the apt address of 26 North Halsted Street in the Greektown neighborhood.- History :The company was founded by Chicago...
), Epix (co-owned and operated by Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
and Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California...
), and MGM HD
MGM HD
MGM HD is an all high-definition television channel. It features commercial-free movies from MGM's library of approximately 1,200 movies mastered in a high-definition-compatible format as well as feature films from their library of 4,100 theatrical titles...
. MGM Television is currently headed by Jim Packer, Gary Marenzi, and Gerald Ament.