Starz Distribution
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 2003 (as IDT Entertainment) |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California, U.S. |
Key people | Chris Albrecht, CEO |
| Owner | Lionsgate |
| Parent | Starz Inc. |
| Divisions |
|
| Website | www |
Starz Distribution (formerly IDT Entertainment and Starz Media) is the motion picture, animation, television, and home video operating unit of Starz Inc., a subsidiary of Lionsgate. Starz Distribution develops, produces, and acquires original programming content (Starz and AMC), feature films (Anchor Bay Films), anime (Manga Entertainment) and other filmed entertainment. Distribution methods include DVD, digital formats and traditional television.[1]
History
In 2003, IDT Corporation, a telecommunications company based in New Jersey, formed a film, home entertainment and television division known as IDT Entertainment following its acquisition of the animation studio Film Roman. Later on in the year, it acquired Anchor Bay Entertainment, owned DPS, and stakes in Mainframe Entertainment and Vanguard Animation, and also acquired DKP Studios and turned it into their own animation studio.
In May 2004, IDT Entertainment purchased a minority share in POW! Entertainment with exclusive distribution rights to POW's animated DVD properties and joint development of 6 cartoon films.[2] In 2005, IDT signed a deal with 20th Century Fox.[3] On May 16, 2006, IDT agreed to sell its IDT Entertainment division to Liberty Media "for all of Liberty Media's interests in IDT, $186 million in cash and the assumption of existing indebtedness."[4] On August 31, 2006, the sale of all of IDT Entertainment's US operations and several international operations was completed. "The remainder of the deal, to include the Canadian and Australian operations, is expected to be closed in the next few weeks after regulatory approval has been given."[5] This sale was completed on September 29, 2006.[6] Liberty then merged IDT Entertainment and its divisions with the Starz cable network to form Starz Media.
On January 4, 2011, The Weinstein Company purchased a 25% stake in the operating unit. While not including TV rights, the deal spans Blu-ray, DVD and VOD, pay-per-view and digital distribution and covers up to 20 TWC and Dimension titles per year. They include The King's Speech, Blue Valentine and Company Men.[7] Starz acquired the 25% stake owned by Weinstein in October 2015.[8]
On January 11, 2013, Liberty Media Corporation completed the "spin-off" of its Starz Entertainment segment as a separate entity. Under this new structure, the entity that was known as "Starz Media" became Starz Distribution.[9]
In November 2015, Waterman Entertainment purchased Film Roman from Starz Distribution.[10]
On December 8, 2016, Lionsgate purchased Starz Inc. for $4.4 billion.[11]
Subsidiaries
Starz Distribution's units include:
- Digital Production Solutions (DPS)
- Global Animation Studio - a division of DPS.
- Starz Media Sales
- Starz Digital
Minority stakes
Starz Distribution holds minority stakes in:
- Vanguard Animation (Minority interest);
- Joint venture with NorthStar Entertainment Group, Inc., a subsidiary of the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Former assets
- Mainframe Entertainment (now owned by Wow Unlimited Media)
- Film Roman (now owned by Waterman Entertainment)
- Arc Productions (now owned by Boat Rocker Media as Jam Filled Entertainment’s Toronto office).
- POW! Entertainment (5%, now owned by Camsing International Holding)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (shut down, folded into Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
- Manga Entertainment - distribution of anime (transferred to Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Live-action films
- Jericho (2001)
- It Waits (2006)
- Room 6 (2006)
- Queen Sized (2008)
- Lower Learning (2008)
- Blue Seduction (2009)
- Table for Three (2009)
- The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009)
- A Nanny for Christmas (2010)
- The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation (2010)
- The Dog Who Saved Halloween (2011)
- Flock of Dudes (2017)
Animated films
Starz Distribution/IDT Entertainment have been in charge of the animation production or distribution of the following films:
Theatrical
- Hair High (2004; with Plymptoons) (distribution only)
- Everyone's Hero (2006; with 20th Century Fox)
- The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008; with Big Idea Productions & Universal Pictures)
- Space Chimps (2008; with Vanguard Animation & 20th Century Fox) (distribution only)
- 9 (2009; with Focus Features)
TV specials
- The Happy Elf (2005; with Film Roman and NBC)
- Wubbzy's Big Movie! (2008; with Bolder Media and Film Roman)
- Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: Wubb Idol (2009; with Bolder Media and Film Roman)
Direct-to-Video
- Hellboy: Sword of Storms (2006; with Revolution Studios)
- Stan Lee Presents: Mosaic (2007; with POW Entertainment & Anchor Bay)
- Turok: Son of Stone (2008; with Classic Media, Film Roman, and Genius Products)
- The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009; with Film Roman, Carbunckle Cartoons, and Anchor Bay Films)
- Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic (2010; with Production I.G)
- The Legend of Secret Pass (2010; with JC2 Animated Entertainment)
- Dead Space: Aftermath (2011; with Pumpkin Studio, Visceral Games, & Electronic Arts)
References
- ^ "Starz (STRZA.O)". Reuters. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- ^ Graser, Marc (May 7, 2004). "IDT joins Lee in POW! to distrib toon DVDs". Daily Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ Fritz, Ben; Brodesser, Claude (June 8, 2005). "IDT animated over 20th". Variety. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ IDT Corporation – Press Releases
- ^ UK Film and Television News – Liberty Completes First Stage of IDT Acquisition
- ^ "Liberty Completes Final Stage of IDT Entertainment Acquisition". IDT Corporation. Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- ^ "Weinstein Company Acquires 25 Percent Stake in Starz Media". The Hollywood Reporter. January 4, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- ^ "Starz - Annual Report". February 22, 2016. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016.
- ^ "Liberty Media Corporation and Starz Announce Completion of Spin-Off". Reuters. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ^ McNary, Dave (November 12, 2015). "'Simpsons' Animator Film Roman Bought by Waterman Entertainment". Variety. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ Lieberman, David (December 8, 2016). "Lionsgate Closes Deal To Buy Starz". Deadline. Retrieved December 9, 2016.