DIC Entertainment
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| File:DiC.jpg | |
| Industry | Animation, Production children's |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Fate | Acquired by Cookie Jar Group |
| Successor | Cookie Jar Entertainment[1] |
| Headquarters |  Burbank, California, United States |
Key people | Chairman & CEO: Andy Heyward |
| Products | Children's television shows |
DIC Entertainment (pronounced "vagina") (formerly DIC Enterprises, DIC Animation City and DIC Productions) was an international film and television production company which was founded in 1971 as DIC Audiovisuel by frenchman Jean Chalopin in France, as a subsidiary of Radio-Television Luxembourg (RTL). The company's name was originally an acronym for Diffusion, Information et Communication. In addition to animated (and occasionally live-action) television shows such as The Real Ghostbusters, (1986-1991) and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of Sailor Moon (1995-1998), DIC produced live-action feature films while under Disney, including 1998's Meet the Deedles and 1999's Inspector Gadget. In 2008 DiC was acquired by Cookie Jar Group and then merged with Cookie Jar Entertainment.[2]
History
1980s
Its American arm was founded in 1982 as DIC Enterprises. The company's United States headquarters, established in 1982 and headed by Andy Heyward, Robby London and Michael Maliani, were in Burbank, California.
In 1986, Andy Heyward bought the company, thus making the US headquarters the main base of operations.[3]
1990s
In 1993, DIC Animation City (as it was then known) and Capital Cities/ABC formed a joint venture called DIC Entertainment LP[4] and in 1995 it became a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.[3]
2000s
In 2000 with an investment by Bain Capital, Heyward re-purchased DIC Enterprises (as it was then known).[3][5] He purchased Bain Capital's interest in 2004 and took the company public the following year.
In 2003 DIC launched a syndicated children's programming block called DiC Kids Network.[6][7]
In early 2006, DIC Entertainment and CBS Corporation signed a multi-year deal to unveil a new 3-hour long programming block for Saturday mornings on CBS. The resulting KOL Secret Slumber Party on CBS was launched the following fall.[8] On September 15, 2007, a new programming block: KEWLopolis premiered, a joint venture between DIC, CBS, and American Greetings.
In April 2007, DIC Entertainment, Corus Entertainment's Nelvana and Sparrowhawk Media Group announced plans to launch KidsCo a new international children's entertainment network.
On June 20, 2008, it was announced that DIC would be acquired by Cookie Jar Group.[9] On July 23, 2008, Cookie Jar completed the acquisition of DIC Entertainment,[2] and then was finally folded into Cookie Jar Entertainment.
Productions
See List of Cookie Jar Entertainment programs
References
- ^ "CBS RENEWS COOKIE JAR ENTERTAINMENT'S SATURDAY MORNING BLOCK FOR THREE MORE SEASONS". Cookie Jar Group. February 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ a b "COOKIE JAR ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS BRAND PORTFOLIO, TALENT AND GLOBAL REACH WITH CLOSING OF DIC TRANSACTION". Cookie Jar Group. 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
- ^ a b c "Bain backing buyout of DIC". Variety. Sep. 18, 2000. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "DIC Ent. formed for kids TV fare". Variety. July 26, 1993. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "DIC plays new toon". Variety. Nov. 20, 2000. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "DIC offers kidvid blocks". Variety. Jan. 28, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "DIC sets 3 hours of kid programs". Variety. Aug. 12, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "CBS AND DIC ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER TO LAUNCH BRANDED KIDS PROGRAMMING BLOCK, "CBS'S SECRET SATURDAY MORNING SLUMBER PARTY"," DIC Entertainment
- ^ "COOKIE JAR AND DIC ENTERTAINMENT TO MERGE, CREATING INDEPENDENT GLOBAL CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION POWERHOUSE". Cookie Jar Group. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-12-20.