DreamWorks Classicsis an Americanentertainmentcompany owned byDreamWorks Animation,a subsidiary ofUniversal Pictures,a division ofNBCUniversal,which in turn is a subsidiary ofComcast.Founded asClassic Mediain 2000 byEric Ellenbogenand John Engelman,[5]The studio's library consists of acquiredintellectual propertycatalogs and character brands, as well as the licensing rights for various third-party properties. In 2012, Boomerang Media sold Classic Media to DreamWorks Animation, who rebranded the company as DreamWorks Classics (the legal name is still Classic Media, LLC).[6][7]DreamWorks Animation became a subsidiary of NBCUniversal in 2016.[8]
 | |
| Classic Media/DreamWorks Classics | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Intellectual property |
| Predecessors |
|
| Founded | May 2000 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Eric Ellenbogen John Engelman Margie Cohn |
| Revenue | US$82 million[1](2012) |
| US$19 million[1](2012) | |
Number of employees | 80[2](2012) |
| Parent |
|
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | www |
History
editClassic Media was founded by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman in May 2000 after acquiring theUnited Productions of America(UPA) catalog and assets from the estate ofHenry Saperstein.[5]Frank Biondi,the former head ofUniversal Studios,and film producerSteve Tischinvested in the company.[9]Classic Media then bought most assets ofThe Harvey Entertainment Companyon March 11, 2001.[9][10]On August 16, 2001, Classic Media andRandom Housewon a joint bid for the assets ofWestern Publishing,with Classic Media acquiring the entertainment division (including theDell ComicsandGold Key Comicslibraries[11]) and Random House acquiring theLittle Golden Bookspublishing properties. Classic then purchased much rights to the Jay Ward characters and formed Bullwinkle Studios, a joint venture withJay Ward Productions,to manage them sometime in 2002.[12][13]On October 31, 2003, Classic Media purchased the assets of the bankruptBig Idea Entertainmentcatalog.[14]By 2007, Bullwinkle Studios became converted to a functioning studio.[6][15]
On April 7, 2005, the company underwent a recapitalization led by a group of investors, including Spectrum Equity Investors and existing investors headed by Pegasus Capital Advisors. Additionally, a senior debt facility of $100 million was secured through a bank group led by JP Morgan Chase Bank. With the deal, Spectrum became a majority owner over the existing investors, with a representative on the company board of directors.[11]
In August 2006, Classic Media announced a joint venture withION Media Networks,NBCUniversal,Corus Entertainmentand book publisherScholastic Corporationto launchQubo,a kids' entertainment network.[16]
On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rivalEntertainment Rightsfor $210.0 million.[17]Before the acquisition was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements withGenius ProductsLLC, replacing theSony Wonderdeal.[18]
Entertainment Rights fell in to administration on April 1, 2009. On the same day, Boomerang Media LLC, formed by Ellenbogen and Engelman in 2008 with equity funding from GTCR, announced that it would acquire Entertainment Rights' principal UK and American subsidiaries, including Classic Media, Inc. andBig Idea Entertainment,from its administrators.[19]On May 11, 2009, Boomerang Media announced that the former UK and American subsidiaries of Entertainment Rights would operate as a unified business under the name Classic Media, while Big Idea would operate under its own name.[3][4]
On February 20, 2010, Classic Media purchased the then-upcoming manga-inspired television seriesMy Life Mefrom the bankruptTV-Loonland AG.[20][21]
Classic Media bought theNoddy[22]andOliviabrands on March 7 and 19, respectively in 2012 fromChorion.[23]
Sale to DreamWorks Animation (2012–present)
editOn July 23, 2012,DreamWorks Animationannounced that they would acquire Classic Media for $155 million from Boomerang Media, with the deal closing in September of that year.[6][7]Afterwards, Classic Media began trading asDreamWorks Classicsto associate itself with its parent company, although the parent company remained under its former name.
On October 3, 2012, Classic Media made its first post-DreamWorks sale by securing licensing and distribution rights to Studio Hari'sThe Owl & Cooutside of France and other French-speaking territories.[24]
On September 17, 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced they had purchased the programming library of the British animation studioChapman Entertainment,and placed distribution through DreamWorks' UK-based TV distribution operation.[25]
On June 18, 2014, DreamWorks Animation bought theFelix the Catbrand and added it to the DreamWorks Classics portfolio.[26]
On April 28, 2016,NBCUniversalannounced it would buy out DreamWorks Animation in a $3.8 billion deal.[27]The buyout was completed on August 22.[8]
In January 2020, Classic Media pre-sold streaming rights to three series;Lassie,George of the JungleandMr. Magoo,by CBS All Access (now asParamount+).[28]
Libraries
editCatalogs
edit- United Productions of America(UPA) (Mr. MagooandGerald McBoing-Boing)[5](excluding theatrical shorts which are still owned bySony PicturesviaColumbia Pictures,and theatrical films owned by third-party companies)
- The library ofThe Harvey Entertainment Company(under Harvey Entertainment, Inc.) (Casper the Friendly Ghost,Little Audrey,Richie RichandBaby Huey)[9][10](excluding co-productions owned by third-party companies and the live-action business)
- Golden Books Family Entertainment/Gold Key Comics(Pat the Bunny,Magnus, Robot Fighter,Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom,TurokandLittle Lulu),[11][12][13]including:
- Broadway Video's former family entertainment library (Lassie,The Lone RangerandSergeant Preston of the Yukon),[30][31]including:
- The pre-1974 Tomorrow Entertainment library
- The pre-September 1974Rankin/Bass Productionslibrary (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,The Little Drummer Boy,Frosty the Snowman,Santa Claus Is Comin' to Townand others)[citation needed]
- Color Systems Technology, Inc. (The Mighty Hercules,The Count of Monte Cristo,The Man in the Iron Mask,Brewster's Millions)
- Total Television(UnderdogandTennessee Tuxedo and His Tales)[citation needed](excluding the2007Underdogfilm,owned byWalt Disney Pictures)
- The pre-1974 Tomorrow Entertainment library
- Shari LewisEnterprises (Lamb Chop's Play-AlongandThe Charlie Horse Music Pizza)[32]
- Broadway Video's former family entertainment library (Lassie,The Lone RangerandSergeant Preston of the Yukon),[30][31]including:
- Big Idea Entertainment(VeggieTales,3-2-1 Penguins!andLarryboy: The Cartoon Adventures)[14]
- Entertainment Rights,[19]including:
- Carrington Productions International
- Link Entertainment
- Filmation(The Archie Show,Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids,He-Man and the Masters of the UniverseandBraveStarr)[33](excluding third-party licensed properties)
- Woodland Animations(Postman Pat,Gran,BerthaandCharlie Chalk)[34]
- Tell-Tale Productions(includingBoo!,but excluding the rights toTweenies,owned byBBC Studios)[35][36][37]
- Sleepy Kids (Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop,Budgie the Little HelicopterandPotsworth & Co.)
- Maddocks Animation(includingThe Family-Ness,Jimbo and the Jet-Set,Penny CrayonandThe Caribou Kitchen)
- Other programs formerly under Entertainment Rights that were produced by other production companies, such asThe Basil Brush Show
- TheChapman Entertainmentlibrary (Fifi and the Flowertots,Roary the Racing Car,Little Charley BearandRaa Raa the Noisy Lion)[38]
Character brands
edit- Noddy[22]
- Olivia[23]
- Felix the Cat[26]
- Where's Waldo?[39]
- Masters of the Universecharacters (via the Filmation catalog; under license fromMattel)[citation needed]
- Roger Ramjet[citation needed]
Joint ventures
edit- Bullwinkle Studios,a joint venture withJay Ward Productionsto produce and manage the Jay Ward catalog (includingThe Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle,Mr. Peabody & Sherman,Dudley Do-RightandGeorge of the Jungle).[6][15]DreamWorks' partnership with Bullwinkle Studios ended in February 2022 when the Ward estate partnered withWildBrain.[40]DreamWorks continues to own its co-productions with Bullwinkle Studios.[41]
Other rights
edit- My Life Me[42][43]
- OOglies(worldwide distribution excluding UK television rights)[44][45]
- Theodore Tugboat
- Tracy Beaker Returns(worldwide distribution excluding UK television rights)[46]
- TheTribune Content Agencycatalog (includingDick Tracy,Brenda Starr, Reporter,Gasoline AlleyandBroom-Hilda)[47][48]
- Voltron[49](under license fromWorld Events Productions)
- The Owl & Co(Worldwide distribution excluding French-speaking territories)
References
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- ^"DreamWorks buys Casper, Lassie owner Classic Media for $155m".Telegraph.July 23, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2022.RetrievedApril 2,2016.
- ^abTribbey, Chris (May 11, 2009)."Classic Media Absorbs Subsidiaries".Home Media Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon March 31, 2016.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^abMoody, Annemarie (May 11, 2009)."Entertainment Rights to Operate as Classic Media".Animation World Network.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2013.RetrievedAugust 31,2013.
- ^abcDeMott, Rick (August 25, 2000)."Classic Media Acquires Harvey Entertainment".Animation World Network.Archivedfrom the original on February 22, 2014.RetrievedAugust 4,2014.
- ^abcdVerrier, Richard (July 23, 2012)."DreamWorks Animation buys 'Casper,' 'Lassie' parent Classic Media".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on October 25, 2013.RetrievedAugust 31,2013.
- ^abAcuna, Kirsten (July 23, 2012)."DreamWorks Studios Buys Classic Media For $155m".Business Insider.Archivedfrom the original on November 2, 2014.RetrievedNovember 2,2014.
- ^abMcNary, Dave (August 22, 2016)."Comcast Completes $3.8 Billion DreamWorks Animation Purchase".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on October 24, 2016.RetrievedAugust 27,2016.
- ^abc"Harvey Sells Out".ICv2.March 11, 2001.Archivedfrom the original on February 22, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 14,2014.
- ^abDeMott, Rick (March 9, 2001)."Harvey Sells All Of Its Classic Characters".Animation World Network.Archived fromthe originalon July 14, 2014.RetrievedJune 27,2014.
- ^abcDeMott, Rick."Classic Media Gets Monetary Backing".Animation World Network.Archivedfrom the original on July 22, 2015.RetrievedOctober 24,2014.
- ^abDeMott, Rick (August 24, 2001)."Random House, Classic Media Buy Bankrupt Golden Books".Animation World Network.RetrievedSeptember 29,2013.
- ^ab"Golden Books sold for poky little $84M".CNN.August 16, 2001.Archivedfrom the original on October 7, 2012.RetrievedAugust 8,2014.
- ^ab"'VeggieTales' goes for $19.3 million ".Chicago Tribune.October 31, 2003.Archivedfrom the original on July 14, 2014.RetrievedJune 27,2014.
- ^abElliot, Stuart (January 16, 2008)."A Classic Series, Retooled and Swingin'".New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on August 16, 2017.RetrievedAugust 3,2016.
- ^Hampp, Andrew (August 24, 2006)."NBC Debuts Kids Programming Brand Qubo".Ad Age.Archivedfrom the original on November 14, 2014.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^Lodderhose, Diana (December 14, 2006)."Kids' programming specialists join hands".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2015.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^"Genius Products Announces Long-term Co-production and Distribution Agreements with Entertainment Rights PLC and Classic Media".Genius Products(Press release). January 8, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2007.RetrievedAugust 31,2013.
- ^abDaswani, Mansha."Boomerang Media Buys ER".WorldScreen.com.Archived fromthe originalon April 2, 2009.RetrievedAugust 31,2013.
- ^"Anime/Manga-Inspired My Life Me Sold to Classic Media".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on October 7, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 24,2011.
- ^Bynum, Aaron."'My Life Me' Animation Now in New Hands ".Animation Insider.Archivedfrom the original on April 4, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 24,2011.
- ^abSweney, Mark (March 7, 2012)."Chorion sells rights to Noddy".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^abArrant, Chris (March 19, 2012)."Classic Media Acquires" Olivia "Rights from Chorion".Cartoon Brew.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^"Dreamworks Classics représente la Chouette & Cie à l'international".October 3, 2012.
- ^Wendy Goldman Getzler (September 17, 2013)."DreamWorks scoops up Chapman's library".Kidscreen.RetrievedJune 27,2014.
- ^ab"DreamWorks Picks Up Felix the Cat".License! Global.June 18, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2016.RetrievedJune 20,2014.
- ^James, Meg (April 28, 2016)."Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2018.RetrievedApril 28,2016.
- ^Tuchow, Ryan (January 13, 2020)."CBS All Access scoops up DreamWorks Classics".Kidscreen.Archivedfrom the original on May 17, 2020.RetrievedJune 24,2020.
US SVOD CBS All Access is growing its children's programming with three new animated series from DreamWorks Animation-owned distributor Classics Media.
- ^"Classic Media Reissues the Original GODZILLA on DVD".Scifijapan.com.May 13, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2019.RetrievedAugust 10,2014.
- ^"Golden Books Agrees to Buy a Video Library".The New York Times.Reuters. July 31, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on August 12, 2014.RetrievedAugust 10,2014.
- ^"Golden Books To Buy Family Entertainment Library From Broadway Video".Associated Press.July 30, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on August 12, 2014.RetrievedAugust 10,2014.
- ^"Lamb Chop and Charlie sign on for a Golden deal".Deseret News.July 31, 1997. Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2016.RetrievedDecember 21,2016.
- ^"Entertainment Rights buys Filmation".C21Media.March 25, 2004.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2022.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^"Postman Pat sold for Ł5m".BBC News.November 8, 2001.Archivedfrom the original on October 16, 2013.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^"Postman Pat buys Tweenies prodco".
- ^"Tweenies maker bought for £3.1m".BBC News.September 13, 2004.Archivedfrom the original on October 16, 2013.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^Ball, Ryan (September 13, 2004)."Entertainment Rights Acquires Tell-Tale Prods".Animation Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2015.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^"DreamWorks scoops up Chapman's library".Kidscreen.June 27, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on February 1, 2014.RetrievedJune 27,2014.
- ^DreamWorks Animation SKG (July 23, 2012)."Dreamworks Animation Agrees to Acquire Classic Media".PR Newswire(Press release).Archivedfrom the original on December 17, 2015.RetrievedOctober 11,2015.
- ^Yossman, K. J. (February 3, 2022)."'Rocky & Bullwinkle' Owner Jay Ward Productions Inks Deal With WildBrain (EXCLUSIVE) ".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on February 10, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 10,2022.
- ^Dickson, Jeremy (February 4, 2022)."WildBrain to refresh classic Jay Ward animation".Kidscreen.Archivedfrom the original on February 23, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 8,2022.
- ^"Anime/Manga-Inspired My Life Me Sold to Classic Media".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on October 7, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 24,2011.
- ^Bynum, Aaron."'My Life Me' Animation Now in New Hands ".Animation Insider.Archivedfrom the original on April 4, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 24,2011.
- ^"Classic picks up Ooglies".
- ^Washington, Ed (March 13, 2012)."Classic Media Inks Deals Across Central, Eastern Europe".Animation World Network.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
- ^"Classic picks up Ooglies".
- ^"Dick Tracy, Brenda Starr Ink With Classic Media".Billboard.June 14, 2005.Archivedfrom the original on November 28, 2015.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^Paskin, Willa (June 13, 2005)."Tribune, Classic in cartoon venture".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on April 19, 2014.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
- ^Goldman Getzler, Wendy (June 7, 2010)."Voltron returns with full Force".Kidscreen.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2012.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.