Turner Program Services
Encyclopedia
Turner Program Services was the former syndication arm of Turner Broadcasting. It served the same purpose as Turner Entertainment
's distribution unit, with the exception that TPS was more involved in distributing television series rather than films.
Founded in 1982, the company was originally responsible for syndicating Turner-produced programs (such as the syndicated game show Starcade
) as well as developing programming for TBS
such as Night Tracks
. TPS expanded its distribution into other networks' series in the 1990s, syndicating series such as The Wonder Years
. When Turner bought the rights to the Hanna-Barbera
library of cartoons TPS became their distributor to local stations.
One of the more notable series TPS was responsible for developing was Captain Planet and the Planeteers
, which was a co-production with DiC Entertainment
and centered around a character created by Turner Broadcasting founder Ted Turner
. DiC and Turner combined on the development of the series while TPS was responsible for the distribution of the series, which aired on both TBS and in syndication. (When the series' sequel, The New Adventures of Captain Planet, debuted in 1993, Turner Entertainment through Hanna-Barbera developed and produced the series on its own, and TPS nor DiC was not involved.)
Also, earlier in 1986, TPS, with the help of veteran anime
translator Fred Ladd
, produced a second English translation of the '70's anime
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
called G-Force: Guardians of Space, which would subsequently air on TBS (1986) and Cartoon Network
(1995–1997). TPS also held partial distribution rights to G-Force (along with King Features Entertainment) until all rights to the series reverted to license holder Sandy Frank Entertainment in 2003.
Upon Time Warner
's purchase of the Turner properties in 1996, TPS was merged into Telepictures Productions
and the combined entity became known as Telepictures Distribution, which is now part of Warner Bros. Television Distribution
(Telepictures still exists as a production company).
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...
's distribution unit, with the exception that TPS was more involved in distributing television series rather than films.
Founded in 1982, the company was originally responsible for syndicating Turner-produced programs (such as the syndicated game show Starcade
Starcade
Starcade was a game show where contestants competed against one another by playing arcade video games. The series originally aired on WTBS from 1982–1983, followed by a run in syndication for the following season....
) as well as developing programming for TBS
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...
such as Night Tracks
Night Tracks
Night Tracks was an American television series which ran from 1983 to 1992 on SuperStation WTBS on late night weekends...
. TPS expanded its distribution into other networks' series in the 1990s, syndicating series such as The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC from 1988 through 1993. The pilot aired on January 31, 1988 after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXII....
. When Turner bought the rights to the Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
library of cartoons TPS became their distributor to local stations.
One of the more notable series TPS was responsible for developing was Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet is the title character of the series. In the beginning of the series, Gaia assembles a modern-day team of "Planeteers" from several nations...
, which was a co-production with DiC Entertainment
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
and centered around a character created by Turner Broadcasting founder 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...
. DiC and Turner combined on the development of the series while TPS was responsible for the distribution of the series, which aired on both TBS and in syndication. (When the series' sequel, The New Adventures of Captain Planet, debuted in 1993, Turner Entertainment through Hanna-Barbera developed and produced the series on its own, and TPS nor DiC was not involved.)
Also, earlier in 1986, TPS, with the help of veteran anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
translator Fred Ladd
Fred Ladd
Fred Ladd , is an American television and film writer and producer. He is notable as one of the first to introduce Japanese animated cartoons to North America....
, produced a second English translation of the '70's anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
is a 5-member superhero team that is composed of the main characters in several Japanese anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions and later adapted into several English-language versions...
called G-Force: Guardians of Space, which would subsequently air on TBS (1986) and Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
(1995–1997). TPS also held partial distribution rights to G-Force (along with King Features Entertainment) until all rights to the series reverted to license holder Sandy Frank Entertainment in 2003.
Upon 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...
's purchase of the Turner properties in 1996, TPS was merged into Telepictures Productions
Telepictures
Telepictures is an American production company, currently operating as a label of Warner Bros. Television, with Hilary Estey McLoughlin currently serving as President...
and the combined entity became known as Telepictures Distribution, which is now part of Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Warner Bros. Television Distribution is an American television distribution arm of Warner Bros. Television, itself a part of Time Warner formed circa 1960. In 1989, the studio formed Warner Bros...
(Telepictures still exists as a production company).