Rysher Entertainment

Rysher Entertainment, Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Television syndication
Predecessor	Bing Crosby Productions
Founded	1991 (1991)
Founder	Keith Samples
Defunct	1999 (1999) (Original)
Fate	Shut down by Cox Broadcasting. Assets now owned by Qualia Capital. Film library is now handled by Paramount Pictures and TV series are distributed by CBS Television Distribution
Successor	Qualia Libraries Co.
Owner	Cox Enterprises (1993–1999)

Rysher Entertainment was the owner of television and film programming content, primarily distributed around the world by CBS Television Distribution and Paramount Pictures. Select rights are also distributed by Warner Bros., Universal, Lionsgate, Fox, Columbia Pictures, MGM and other entertainment distribution companies worldwide.

The company has its roots in Bing Crosby Productions ("BCP"). Its namesake, actor-singer Bing Crosby, founded BCP in 1949, and was best known for producing the sitcom Hogan's Heroes and the medical drama Ben Casey – in succeeding years, BCP was acquired by Cox Broadcasting.

In 1993, Cox acquired Rysher Entertainment. Rysher, founded in April 1991 by Keith Samples, had been established as an independently owned company whose original sole product had been the distribution of NBC's series Saved By The Bell. In 1993, and later distribution of another NBC series California Dreams in 1994, Rysher merged with Al Masini's Television Program Enterprises to form Rysher TPE, its alternate name used from 1993 to 1995. Through Rysher TPE, they produced and distributed shows such as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (renamed Lifestyles with Robin Leach and Shari Belafonte for its final season) and Star Search. Later, they produced and distributed George & Alana, which ran for one season in 1995. The company was shut down in 1999 and the library's distribution rights were acquired by Viacom and integrated into the film and television divisions of Paramount.

Rysher's library, today distributed by CBS Television Distribution (CTD) and Paramount Pictures (for TV series and films, respectively), includes television and feature film classics such as Hogan's Heroes (whose partial rights are held by CBS), Ben Casey, and Walking Tall, as well as more recent programs and films including Nash Bridges (1999–2001 episodes are produced by Paramount Network Television), Highlander: The Series, The Opposite of Sex (with Sony Pictures Classics), Kingpin and Big Night.

Rysher also distributes internationally through CTD several of HBO's award-winning titles including Arli$$, Oz and Sex and the City.

Rysher also produced House Arrest and Zeus and Roxanne, both of which were released by MGM and distributed by HBO Home Video for home release. Rysher's assets were later acquired by 2929 Entertainment in 2001, then in 2006 they were bought by Qualia Capitol, LLC. who then merged them with two additional film companies. The combined entity is known as Qualia Libraries Co. and the Rysher name now serves as a limited liability company.

Feature films

Release date	Title
April 28, 1995	Destiny Turns on the Radio
November 17, 1995	It Takes Two
April 3, 1996	Primal Fear
July 26, 1996	Kingpin
August 9, 1996	Escape from L.A.
August 14, 1996	House Arrest
August 23, 1996	Foxfire
November 1, 1996	Dear God
December 25, 1996	The Evening Star
September 26, 1996	Big Night
September 27, 1996	2 Days in the Valley
January 10, 1997	Turbulence
January 24, 1997	Zeus and Roxanne
February 28, 1997	Hard Eight
March 7, 1997	Private Parts
April 4, 1997	The Saint
August 22, 1997	A Smile Like Yours
October 3, 1997	Kiss the Girls
October 31, 1997	Switchback
May 22, 1998	The Opposite of Sex

External links

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