DreamWorks Classics
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| Type | Private ownership (until 2007) Subsidiary of DreamWorks Animation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Intellectual property, TV, film, entertainment |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder(s) | Eric Ellenbogen John Engelman |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Key people | Eric Ellenbogen, John Engelman Chairman & C.E.O. Robert Friedman, President |
| Products | TV, film, consumer products, home video |
| Revenue | $82 million (March 2011-February 2012)[1] |
| Net income | $19 million (March 2011-February 2012)[1] |
| Employees | 80 (2012)[1] |
| Parent | Independent (2000-2006) Entertainment Rights (2007-2009) Boomerang Media (2009-2012) DreamWorks Animation (2012-present) |
| Website | classicmedia.tv |
DreamWorks Classics (formerly known as Classic Media), is an American animation studio and production company owned by DreamWorks Animation. It was founded in 2000 as Classic Media by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Eric Ellenbogen and former Broadway Video executive John Engelman.[2]
Their library consists of properties that were acquired from other companies, including United Productions of America,[3] Harvey Entertainment,[3] Western Publishing,[4] Big Idea Entertainment,[5] and Entertainment Rights[6] (including Filmation[7] and Woodland Animations[8]).
In 2012, DreamWorks Animation won the bidding to acquire Classic Media from its owner, Boomerang Media, and renamed it DreamWorks Classics.[9][10][11]
Contents |
History [edit]
Classic Media era (2000-2012) [edit]
After its founding in May 2000, Classic Media acquired a number of companies for their portfolio, including UPA and Harvey Entertainment.[3] In 2001, Classic Media and Random House won a bankruptcy court auction for the assets of Western Publishing, with Classic Media receiving its entertainment division and Random House receiving the publishing properties.[4][12] In 2003, Classic Media purchased the assets of the bankrupt Big Idea Entertainment.[5]
In 2005, the company was recapitalized by an investment group led by Spectrum Equity Investors, Pegasus Capital Advisors, and Random House Ventures.[13] In 2006, Classic Media teamed up with ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Corus Entertainment, and Scholastic Corporation in a joint venture to launch Qubo, a general kids and family entertainment network.[14]
On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rival Entertainment Rights for $210.0 million.[15] Before the acquisition was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with Genius Products, LLC, replacing the Sony Wonder deal.[16][dead link]
Entertainment Rights fell in to administration on 1 April 2009.[6] On the same day, Boomerang Media, LLC (also formed by Ellenbogen and Engelman)[17] announced that it would acquire Entertainment Rights' principal U.K. and U.S. subsidiaries, including Classic Media, Inc. and Big Idea Entertainment, from its administrators.[18][dead link][19][dead link] On May 11, 2009, Boomerang Media announced that the former U.K. and U.S. subsidiaries of Entertainment Rights would operate as a unified business under the name Classic Media while Big Idea, Inc. would operate under its own name.[20][21]
DreamWorks Classics era (2012-present) [edit]
On July 23, 2012, DreamWorks Animation acquired Classic Media from Boomerang Media for $155 million; the company became a division of DreamWorks Animation and was renamed DreamWorks Classics.[22][23]
Holdings [edit]
Catalogues [edit]
- The UPA catalogue, (Mr. Magoo, Gerald McBoing-Boing, etc.).[3]
- The Harvey Entertainment catalogue (Casper the Friendly Ghost, Richie Rich, Baby Huey, etc.).[3]
- The Western Publishing catalogue (Magnus, Robot Fighter, Doctor Solar, Turok, Little Lulu, etc.).[4]
- The Big Idea Entertainment catalogue (VeggieTales).[5]
- The Entertainment Rights catalogue,[6] including the Filmation (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, BraveStarr, etc.)[7] and Woodland Animations (Postman Pat)[8] catalogues.
Character brands [edit]
Licensing rights [edit]
- Licensing rights for Gumby.[29]
- Licensing rights for the World Events Productions catalogue (Voltron, Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, etc.).[30]
- Licensing rights for the Jay Ward Productions (The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, George of the Jungle, etc.) catalogue.[28]
See also [edit]
- qubo (co-ownership with Ion Media Networks, Nelvana, and Scholastic Corporation)
- PBJ (co-ownership with Luken Communications)
- Big Idea Entertainment
- Cookie Jar Group (DIC Entertainment and Cinar)
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "Dreamworks Animation Agrees to Acquire Classic Media". DreamWorks Animation. July 23, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
- ^ GTCR and Boomerang Media Announce Acquisition of Entertainment Rights’ Subsidiaries
- ^ a b c d e Jill Goldsmith, Jill Goldsmith (Jan. 9, 2005). "Finding gold in Classic fare". Variety.com. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ a b c "'Poky Little' $84M deal". cnn.com. August 16, 2001. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ a b c Smietana, Bob (9/01/2003). "VeggieTales Creators File for Bankruptcy". christianitytoday.com. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ a b c Entertainment Rights is sold off
- ^ a b Entertainment Rights buys Filmation | News | C21Media
- ^ a b BBC News | BUSINESS | Postman Pat sold for £5m
- ^ Kung, Michelle (July 22, 2012). "DreamWorks Buys Classics". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^ Venkatesan, Adithya (July 23, 2012). "DreamWorks to buy Classic Media for $155 million: WSJ". Reuters. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ Acuna, Kirsten (November 2, 2012). "DreamWorks Plans To Use Classic Media As A Fourth Quarter Bump". Business Insider. Retrieved November 07, 2012.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (August 16, 2001). "2 Companies Pay $84 Million for Golden Books". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
- ^ "Spectrum Equity Investors Takes Majority Stake in Classic Media, America's Largest Independent Family Entertainment Company". PRNewswire. 4/7/2005. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ NBC Debuts Kids Programming Brand Qubo | Media - Advertising Age
- ^ Kids’ programming specialists join hands | Variety
- ^ "Genius Products". Genius Products. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
- ^ GTCR (January 18, 2008). "GTCR Announces Partnership with Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman to Form Boomerang Media". GTCR. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
- ^ Hodkinson, Paul (April 2, 2009). "He-Man, Casper Bought by Private-Equity Firm". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ^ "Boomerang Media Buys ER". World Screen News. April 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ^ "Classic Media Absorbs Subsidiaries". Home Media Magazine. May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ^ "Entertainment Rights to Operate as Classic Media". Animation World Network. May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ^ Verrier, Richard (July 23, 2012). "DreamWorks Animation buys "Casper," "Lassie" parent Classic Media". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ "DreamWorks Classics Debuts At 2012 MIPCOM" (Press release). Classic Media. October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ Chorion sells rights to Noddy | Media | guardian.co.uk
- ^ Classic Media Acquires “Olivia” Rights from Chorion | Cartoon Brew
- ^ 'Lassie' Owner Files $1 Million Lawsuit Against TV Dog Commercial (Video)
- ^ US: Classic Media "disappointed" over Lassie decision | Licensing Industry | News by Licensing.biz
- ^ a b Press Release issued by DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. on July 23, 2012
- ^ ICv2 - Classic Media Nabs Gumby
- ^ Voltron returns with full Force » Kidscreen
